Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has expressed his disappointment following FIFA’s decision to suspend midfielder Themba Zwane for three matches after the red card he received during South Africa’s Group A opening match against Mexico last Thursday.
Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-0 defeat against the hosts, with Zwane and Yaya Sithole both receiving red cards during a frustrating evening for the South Africans.
Speaking ahead of Bafana Bafana’s crucial second group match against Czechia at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday night, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm, Broos questioned the decision to dismiss Zwane.
“First of all, I think the red card was too severe. I saw the situation where Themba got the red card, and I don’t think it deserved a sending-off,” said Broos.
“When I saw what happened with Messi yesterday, where he escaped a red card during Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria despite a studs-up challenge on Aïssa Mandi, I don’t agree with the decision against Zwane. There was not even a VAR review for Messi’s incident.”
The 74-year-old Belgian coach, who has transformed Bafana Bafana’s fortunes since taking charge, believes his team can still revive their World Cup campaign despite the disappointing start.
“It will be a very important game on Thursday. If you do not lose, you still have a chance, but if you lose, qualification may depend on calculations involving results in other groups,” he said.
“For me, this game is decisive and extremely important. If you lose, it will become very difficult.”
The match is expected to be fiercely contested as Czechia are also searching for their first points of the tournament, making the encounter vital for both teams.
Maximum points would significantly boost either side’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages while reducing the gap on group leaders Mexico and second-placed South Korea, who both sit on three points.
Broos faces another concern with midfielder Tebogo Mokoena, who enters the match carrying a yellow card from the opening fixture. Any further disciplinary action could leave the team vulnerable in their final group match.
There is also growing pressure on the Belgian mentor to hand winger Oswin Appollis a place in the starting line-up after the team’s lacklustre attacking display against Mexico.
Despite the setback,
Bafana Bafana stillhas ae reason for optimism. The tournament format allows all 12 third-placed teams across the groups to qualify for the next round, provided they rank among the best-performing third-placed sides.
If teams are level on points, the following tiebreakers will be applied in order:
Total points obtained in group matches.
Superior goal difference in all group matches.
Most goals scored in all group matches.
Fair play record, based on yellow and red cards received.
FIFA World Ranking position.
With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Bafana Bafana will be desperate to secure a positive result against Czechia and keep their World Cup dream alive.