Czech Republic and South Africa meet at the World Cup with elimination looming
Two teams with zero points, one defeat each and an urgent need to react. This Wednesday, in Atlanta, the Czech Republic and South Africa face off in the second round of Group A in a match that already has the flavour of a decider: whoever loses is practically out of the World Cup.
What went wrong on the opening day
Bafana Bafana did not just lose – they were destroyed. In the 2-0 defeat to Mexico, the tournament hosts, the South African side finished the game with nine players. Yaya Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute and Themba Zwane also saw red before the final whistle. To put the absurdity into perspective: in the entire 2022 World Cup in Qatar, only four red cards were shown. The South Africans practically matched that number on their own. Two men down, they managed just two touches in the opponent’s box. Offensively, they were invisible.
The Czechs suffered in a different way, but one equally frustrating. They opened the scoring against South Korea through Ladislav Krejci with a header – the Wolves defender scored in his third competitive game in a row – and controlled much of the match. The problem was the ending: the South Koreans turned it around in the last 20 minutes and closed it out 2-1. Tomas Soucek even had a goal ruled out for offside and substitute Adam Hlozek was denied by a spectacular save. Bad luck, yes. But consistency was also missing.
What to expect from the clash in Atlanta
With Sithole and Zwane suspended, the South African coach is expected to turn to Oswin Appollis to bring pace to the attack, alongside Burnley centre-forward Lyle Foster. Bafana Bafana have no choice: they need to attack more. Three of their four games at the last Africa Cup of Nations ended with more than 2.5 goals – and none of those opponents were at the Czech Republic’s level.
The Czechs arrive with no absentees and with Hlozek pushing for a starting spot. He scored in the 6-0 rout of Gibraltar and also in the 5-1 reverse in Croatia. His aerial threat is constant – both from set pieces and in open play. And the Czechs love a set piece: Krejci had already found the net in the play-off rounds against Ireland and Denmark before even reaching the World Cup.
Up front, Patrik Schick leads the attack with 22 goals in 32 games for Bayer Leverkusen last season. Lukas Provod and Pavel Sulc complete the attacking trio. South Africa, who have won just once in their last eight outings and have been breached in nine of their ten most recent games, will have plenty of work to contain this system.
What is at stake
A draw is of little use to either side. With Mexico and South Korea already ahead, whoever leaves Atlanta without the three points will be left depending on other results to advance. It is that simple. The context favours an open match, with both teams forced to chase the goal – which could result in an afternoon of plenty of emotions for the fans and plenty of suffering for the coaches. The winner keeps the dream alive. The loser starts packing their bags.
