Mexico 2 - 0 South Africa
Before the game I expected this defeat (I said 2-0, 3-0 or 3-1) and actually I expect them to be defeated in the next 2 games also. So left me just explain why I believe this is the case and the very poor showing (they chocked!) in this morning game.
Reason 1:
Bafana has had one of the worst World Cup preparations among the 48 qualified teams. Bafana played Panama twice. Yes that's right a 2 for 1 deal. Now selecting Panama, ranked 34, is not a bad team to prepare for Mexico, but to play them twice is a joke. They then played Nicaragua (131st), who came to Johannesburg and parked the bus very successfully. For their final preparation game, the coach Hugo Broos asked for a European team to play. Now this is important because Bafana has Czechia in their group and they haven't played a European team since........Andorra in March 2024. Against a quickly assembled Bafana C team. So who did they play? Jamaica. Piss take.
And you might be wondering, when was the last time Bafana played an Asian team, as they have South Korea in their group? "Forget about it!" So where has all that FIFA money gone? "Forget about it!"
Reason 2:
After a poor showing at the AFCON (getting knocked out in the round of 16 against Cameroon), Bafana coach Hugo Broos said one of the main reasons is Bafana players don't play in Europe. Great! I agree. So is he going to select a host of South Africans that are playing in Europe? No he is not.
How about a Portsmouth fc player? "No!". How about 2 players playing and doing well in the Austrian top division?. "No!". How about a player in Portugal's top division? "No!" How about a player that has been selected in the "Danish Superliga team of the year" x 2 (two years in a row). "No!, He is not good enough." Teeth puller
Reason 3:
South Africa is very much like Turkish football. Big countries with good leagues, resources who continually underperform on the international stage. Most owners in the PSL are only concerned about winning within the league and finding the players to keep them up (top division). The frequency of European teams being turned away from signing players is a joke. Rejecting good offers in order to keep their talent has damaged the national team.
https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/local/vuyo-letlapa-attracts-interest-from-five-european-clubs-after-standout-displays-for-sekhukhune-unite One of the worst offenders is Caf Champions league winner Mamelodi Sundowns. All of the Mamelodi Sundowns players in the Bafana team (think 8 players) have received offers from Europe (over the years) and all have been rejected. Even worse they actively try to recruit back European based South African players into their team. Big fish swimming in a very small pond. The latest is Antonio van Wyk (23) who had an excellent season in the Austrian Bundesliga. Signing fee to SV Reid is somewhere between Euro 1 million and Euro 1.5 million. Super wasteful because Mamelodi Sundowns have excellent young players that can easily player in that position. But we must have a "marquee signing" because we lost the league to Orlando Pirates. SV Reid, who are losing about half their team (loans and purchases) are now looking to another South African to fill their team for next season....
https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/psl/sa-players-abroad/sa-star-linked-with-austria-switchLets see if this happens...
Sorry guys...pure frustration today
