Group A looks too close to call after two draws on the opening day, but hosts South Africa and Uruguay should have a clearer idea of their destinies at this World Cup after what promises to be a hotly contested encounter in the heartland of Pretoria. While it is far-fetched to suggest that their Loftus Versfeld Stadium encounter will be decisive, a victory for either side would go a long way to booking a place in the Round of 16.
Score – South Africa 0 – 3 Uruguay
SA coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has made one change to his starting line-up against Uruguay, with Tsepo Masilela replacing Lucas Thwala.
Teams
South Africa: 16-Itumeleng Khune; 2-Siboniso Gaxa, 3-Tsepo Masilela, 20-Bongani Khumalo, 4-Aaron Mokoena; 12-Reneilwe Letsholonyane, 13-Kagisho Dikgacoi, 10-Steven Pienaar, 11-Teko Modise, 8-Siphiwe Tshabalala; 9-Katlego Mphela.
Uruguay: 1-Fernando Muslera; 2-Diego Lugano, 3-Diego Godin, 4-Jorge Fucile, 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 15-Diego Perez, 17-Egidio Arevalo, 7-Edinson Cavani, 11-Alvaro Pereira, 9-Luis Suarez, 10-Diego Forlan.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
They may be riding a wave of optimism inside the host country, but Carlos Alberto Parreira’s South Africa will face a tough task against Uruguay. In their opening game against France, the Uruguayans showed that they possess the ability to contain teams and launch dangerous counter-attacks. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has hinted that against South Africa they will be more adventurous compared to that safety-first approach.
Uruguay have been preparing in Kimberley, a town famous for the surrounding gold mines, but it is goals that Uruguay want after their stalemate with France hence Tabarez’s expected decision to go with an extra striker in Edinson Cavani. The South Africans too want to improve on their finishing after the 1-1 draw with Mexico, where striker Katlego Mphela missed a glorious chance in the dying moments, watching in agony as his shot shaved the upright.
Still, South Africa gave their millions of home supporters cause for optimism with their opening display against Mexico. When pressed against the ropes in the first 20 minutes, they were able to absorb the pressure and, having overcome the stage fright that gripped them early on, found a head of steam in the second half. It was a performance that served notice that the hosts should not be taken lightly and the fact that they were less than 10 minutes from victory against an organised and polished Mexican side earned them rave reviews.
Players to watch
Itumeleng Khune v Diego Forlan
South Africa’s exciting young goalkeeper, Itumeng Khune, is in the form of his life, as seen by his flying save from Alessandro Dos Santos in the second half of the game against Mexico. He showed his importance to Bafana Bafana in that Opening Match and may need to be at his best again to deny a Uruguay front line including Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan. Although expected to play behind the front two, Forlan will be hustling for an opportunity to open his account after missing a late scoring chance against France. South Africa showed a lack of concentration when conceding an equaliser to Mexico and Forlan will be looking to exploit any such weaknesses.
The stats
7 – the number of goals scored between the two sides in their two previous meetings. All the goals came during the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup match in Saudi Arabia where South Africa lost 4-3.
What they say
“I think we broke the ice [against Mexico]. We will be much better against Uruguay because now we know what we’re going to get and what to expect. I think there are some things that we need to fix as well. We need to concentrate until the last minute and we need to take our chances in a game like this because they are a really good team,” South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar.
“All matches are different – now we’re facing South Africa, then Mexico, they will all be different, all difficult games. Hopefully we will be able to get more control of the ball; that way we will be able to run less and rest more, and manage the flow of the game better. South Africa is a team with good players, fast players that can counter and come out very quickly so we are going to have to be very careful,” Uruguay forward Diego Forlan.
Have your say
Who do you think? Can Bafana Bafana get their first win of their FIFA World Cup?
F0k this mamparra ref wouldn’t be fit to ref a Varsity Cup game. A real palooka. Does he want to leave Loftus alive?! Omw I’m livid. The bias is crazy esp with the tackle calls..
Puma what i know of this stuppid bloody game is that the refs are like gods. Even the yellow cards is unnecessary.
@ Partizan:91 – Rubbish ref. How could he have sent our goal keeper off with a red card? Was that player not off side? What a mamparra ref for sure. Feel so angry now. Us down 2 zip here will make it very hard now for us to go through to the next round. Will have to beat France by 2 zip ourselves. Going to be very tough. Also have to hope Mexico and France draw.
@ Partizan:
i must say i am fuming over a game i never really take serious.
@ superBul:92 – Yip Super agree. Also Pienaar gets a yellow for a high kick and just about the same time one of their players done the same and got nothing!!! No yellow card at all.
This ref should be dropped.
@ Puma:
the offside call had to come from the touch judge, so there i dont blame him, but the little touch by the keeper was accidental . I will listen to the discussion in the studio after the game.
Feel for our people now with this game. Damn hope we come out and beat France 3 zip. Really wanted our team to make the 2nd round.
Okay that is me for now. Catch up tomorrow.
Sorry about our loss. Really feel for the players.
That ref should be dropped.
3/0 Think we will never make the 2nd round now.
Shame feel for the players.
Cheers all catch up tomorrow.
Man, I’m gutted. The worst possible result. Me now need a miracle against France. Cheers ouens.
I was never a fan of soccer but my heart goes out for the whole nation. This sport has never piqued my interest but this game has the power to bring us together as a nation. I really feel sorry for the BB and the die hard soccer fans. On another note I’m glad the people for Uruguay can celebrate, it must mean so much for them as well.
We were outplayed , sad after all the high expectations.
But this game(soccer) is not for me , not even a Maruis Jonker push my blood pressure up as high as the unfair dives and plain skelm(cheat) play. The studio discussion said the penalty was milked by the Uruguayn player, he was barely touched and knew the rules and took the dive. Playing by the farked rulebook. They more than Rugby need a TV referral system.
Well that enough about this game.
Sorry Bafana i really wished a better result.
Sportsmanship in soccer is dead; soft penalties (falling over when touched to milk penalties), illegal scoring (hand ball, offside, etc), dissent and disregard to ref’s authority (as well as ref’s lax application of the rules). The bureaucratic fat cat administration…
There are many positives to soccer but I fEel it has become a circus, the way it is handled is an eyesore to any objective spectator. I struggle to find the words to describe how I feel about the handling of the game but I’d describe it as embarassing, the TRUE and noble spirit of the game is dead. Now any underhanded tactic is resorted to just for a win
Sadly, what we see in terms of soccer’s win at all cost attitude and its impact on gamesmanship and sportmanship is not unique to the game.It has already startedi to raise its ugly head in rugby.
Bafana Bafana was totally outplayed… we only had about 2 or 3 shots on target at goal the whole match and none of them were quality shots.
We never had enough play or players in the penalty box and Uruguy’s defence was top notch.
Damn, this was a let-down!
They’ve left themselves a mountain to climb, or suffer the ignomy of being the only host team to out in the first round. Bad administration in our football, plus lack of discipline and will to win, leaves SA football nowhere. A sport that I loved watching and playing as a child now holds no interest for me ad I cannot stand watching Saffers not living up to their potential.
I faithfully watched the game last night and was very miffed at the end… I suppose this is what New Zealanders feel like during each Rugby World Cup….. hehehehe
@ 4man:105
4man, Yip it is so sad to see our team losing like they did last night. I feel gutted for the players and supporters. We will be the only hosting nation not to make the 2nd round.
The admin in Soccer is a disgrace in our country. We have had sooooooo many coaches in the past few years. Also why all the desperation to have a coach from Brazil? We done far better with Clive Barker. I think we should have had a European coach or a local coach.
Feel so bad for the players they must feel terrible today. The whole country was supporting them. WE all got behind our team. I especially feel sorry for the people in the townships. This will hurt them bad. They are so poor and the one thing to lift them is soccer. So wanted our team to make the 2nd round especially for them. Sad for them and the players.
Well even though they will go out. I will still support them. Wont take off my flags off my car until after the world cup is over. See quite a few have taken their flags off their cars. Those are rubbish supporters. You support your team win or lose.
Once our boys are out I will put my support behind Ghana then Holland. Holland cause I lived there. Ghana cause they are African and seem the only African team that might make the 2nd round.
@ Puma:Hmm I expect Cameroon to start doing something. I always support South AFrica no matter what through thick and thin, but have said from day one that Germany are the ones for the cup this year, we’ll see if they are as sublime as the other evening tonight. My ancestral roots are German or Scottish, so Rugby in the UK I support Scotland.
Yip, the fans are going to be dissapointed.
But I dont think much of the coach, he had all the players in the midfield and back bar one who was up as a striker and this was when they were already 1 down, you have to throw caution to the winds and go for goals in a situation like that. Also all the midfield players falling back were getting in each others way and clearly they didnt have a marking plan, Its like the no 15 and winger in rugby trying to catch every high ball and not calling for it. You are just going to get handed your arse. Ref aside, the team was badly prepared or badly coached. The need to win like 3-0 against France to have a chance of going thru. I cant see it.
@ 4man: I don’t know much about football, but thought we really never looked up to it last night at all.
Really don’t think we had the right coach at all. Should have had one of our own or a coach from Holland, Germany or England. Also needed a to be with the team for 4 years. This coach left after a year and a half got his mate the job then he got fired (I think) then this one came back. Not good at all. I blame the soccer admin here for the mess up. Feel for the soccer supporters in this country. Will still support them but really like you say we would now have to beat France 3 zip to make it. That will never happen. Also have to hope that France and Mexico draw today with nothing each. Then hope that Uruguay beat Mexico. Just far too much to hope for. Not going to happen. We will be out of the next round. A huge pity. Such a great support from the whole country here for Bafana. I will still keep my flags on my car until after the cup is over. Only once they out will support probably Ghana think they might make it. Cameroon never looked good to me the other day. Then I know just about zip in football. Will also support Holland from the next round. I lived there and was there for the 1994 world cup. It was held in USA then but it felt like it was in Holland. Everything there turns Orange during the world up. Heard on the radio this morning that 70 busses with Dutch supporters heading for Durbs. Then plenty Dutch flying here today and tomorrow. They play Japan in Durbs on Saturday. They bring such a fantastic atmosphere too. The Spanish were superb yesterday, their supporters. Plenty fun.
Back in a half hour.
Argies & Korea is on now… 9 min gone, no score yet
Am I imagining it or are there very few goals scored this SWC…. 28 or so only now, I think.
Argies go ahead, 1 / 0 after 14 min… own goal….. oi.
Argies 2 / 0 up
Korea grab 1 goal back
Argies 2 / 1
@ grootblousmile:113
gbs, Think you are right. Not many goals scored so far in this world cup. The most was from Germany then they played Oz, so maybe why. Then Uruguay against us last night.
Pleased to see Korea fighting back here.
Matter of time before Argies score again
Ja, Gbs the scoring has been low thusfar as most teams have followed a katvoet approach, but I think it will pick up now in the second round of group games. Many teams will have to chase the games in their attempts to qualify for the second round.
Also we’ll probably see some teams that have secured qualification opting for a Bulls B-team approach in the last round of group matches in an attempt to rest key players. Given that their last round opponents might be highly motivated to beat these “weakened” teams the last round of group games will be highly entertaining.
I have no doubt that the best is yet to come….
I am so glad i am not a huge soccer and Bafana Bafana supporter because last night just freaked me out. I was screaming at a player called Tshabalala he was a selfish shit and should have passed to the Everton guy to score cause he was open twice, bit nooooooooooooooooo the selfish glory boy had to try and score himself.
Then there is staying near our own goal box all the time just aimlessly passing to each other instead of advanceing and passing, WTF.
But then again i dont know much about soccer and am very relieved i follow rugby, because to be a soccer supporter in this country is heart breaking stuff.
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