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Group A - Mexico | South Africa | South Korea | Czech Republic
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Mexico and South Africa game should be good. Replay of 2010 tournament reversed!
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I was in Durban for the 2010 world cup and the celebration when Tshabalala scored was one of the most incredible moments. Hope the Mexicans get to experience that
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
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1-0 to Mexico after 9 mins, poor touch from SA's defence and great press from Mexican front man.
The noise from the mexican fans almost tops the vuvuzela's in SA.
The noise from the mexican fans almost tops the vuvuzela's in SA.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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Mexico 2 nil, a goal in each half. 2 red cards for South Africa and 1 for Mexico.
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Mexico definately looked dominant and deservedly winners. Three red cards in the first game has set a very low bar for tolerance levels going forward. Thought the fist was ok, very clear DOGSO, second not so sure about, was it really an intentional slap in the face or just an incidental coming together, especially when the Mexican player initiated contact. Third red for the second DOGSO was also questionable given the attacking position.
Will be interesting if the cards keep flying for the rest of the tournament, bigger squads may prove necessary. 3 players in this group already missing their next game!
Will be interesting if the cards keep flying for the rest of the tournament, bigger squads may prove necessary. 3 players in this group already missing their next game!
Queenslander 3x a year.
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Massive win for Mexico in terms of relieving of pressure - the Mexican public is very demanding when it comes to El tri so this win was mature, which Mexico have struggled with in recent years... Really like this Mexican side, Figaldo & Roberto Alvarado are excellent players and Javier Aguirre I think has done a great job in building a team, albeit early days.
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theprof wrote:
Mexico definately looked dominant and deservedly winners. Three red cards in the first game has set a very low bar for tolerance levels going forward. Thought the fist was ok, very clear DOGSO, second not so sure about, was it really an intentional slap in the face or just an incidental coming together, especially when the Mexican player initiated contact. Third red for the second DOGSO was also questionable given the attacking position.
Will be interesting if the cards keep flying for the rest of the tournament, bigger squads may prove necessary. 3 players in this group already missing their next game!
See I don't have a problem for all three of those reds. For the second DOGSO, all four Ds have been met, just because it may have not been the best chance/shot from the next movement, doesn't mean it shouldn't have been DOGSO. I think the problem there is actually to many referees go with the safer option of the yellow, instead of making the big call for Red.
As for the striking, I first questioned it as well but I've since seen the referees cam view and he clearly striked out at the face after he got past the defender. It may not have been a strong hit but even an attempt is a red but he got the player with his hand.
I'm an optimistic pessimist.
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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Qatar's World Cup only had four red cards in total, so it's quite crazy to think the first game has almost totaled that number alone.
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1-1, Korea strike back with a lob over the keeper that dribbles across the line./
Queenslander 3x a year.
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Offside down one end, goal down the other. Been a good second half!
I'm an optimistic pessimist.
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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Pleased that Korea won.
They play a game that is very easy on the eye.
They play a game that is very easy on the eye.
Auckland will rise once more
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I only started watching just before the first goal. Turned out to be a fascinating arm wrestle. Good 1/2 hr of football.
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Cracking game that could have gone either way. Tuned in and out, but great finish.
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Great start to this World Cup. Korea-Czechia game in particular was very entertaining.
Looking forward to Brazil-Morocco on Sunday morning and then the Aussies getting started on Sunday afternoon.
Looking forward to Brazil-Morocco on Sunday morning and then the Aussies getting started on Sunday afternoon.
Three for me, and two for them.
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Saffa said:
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-switch
Lets see if this happens...
Sorry guys...pure frustration today
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Geez that sounds frustrating compared to our selection gripes.
Geez that sounds frustrating compared to our selection gripes.
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Anyone else impressed with the ref in the Korea/Czechia match? That's one serious death stare he's got!!
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's living in Agadez, Niger. Spending more time in town, Agadez, as bad people in the desert are spoiling the good life.
19/4/26.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's living in Agadez, Niger. Spending more time in town, Agadez, as bad people in the desert are spoiling the good life.
19/4/26.
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Agreed!
And the ref was excellent 👌
Painfully ineffective football from both teams. To concede a goal in the 6th minute is just super poor from Bafana.
But then what do you expect from a central defensive partnership that are 20 and 21 years old respectively. It just shouldn't happen. Olympics yes, not a WC.
Happy to be wrong on the three defeats prediction. :)
And the ref was excellent 👌
Painfully ineffective football from both teams. To concede a goal in the 6th minute is just super poor from Bafana.
But then what do you expect from a central defensive partnership that are 20 and 21 years old respectively. It just shouldn't happen. Olympics yes, not a WC.
Happy to be wrong on the three defeats prediction. :)
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So just an update on the best left back/wing back in the Danish Superliga (see above) for 2 seasons in a row, who the Bafana coach said "was not good enough" as a reason for not selecting him in the World Cup Squad. Well...
https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/psl/sa-players-abroad/rc-lens-could-return-with-record-breaking-bid-for-gift-links-after-agf-reject-initial-offer
Piss take 🤣
I'm putting national team coaches/managers in the dentist column. 😤🤬
O' and just to add, he picked a left back (Bradley Cross) from Kaizer Chiefs with zero caps (now 1) to appease their fans after he took the "piss" and didn't pick 1 player from that team in two years. Now Bradley Cross is a good player, but to pick him out of the blue for the WC instead of Gift Links is maddening
https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/psl/sa-players-abroad/rc-lens-could-return-with-record-breaking-bid-for-gift-links-after-agf-reject-initial-offer
Piss take 🤣
I'm putting national team coaches/managers in the dentist column. 😤🤬
O' and just to add, he picked a left back (Bradley Cross) from Kaizer Chiefs with zero caps (now 1) to appease their fans after he took the "piss" and didn't pick 1 player from that team in two years. Now Bradley Cross is a good player, but to pick him out of the blue for the WC instead of Gift Links is maddening
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South Africa through to the next round after a 1-0 win vs South Korea....they played a lot better than the previous games, quite unexpected to be honest but on they go!
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Wow!
Super happy to be wrong. What a performance from Bafana.
1. I spoke about the terrible preparation of Bafana Bafana before the tournament (see above) and now after 2 tough games at this WC, was Bafana finally mentally and physically ready for this game?
2. Rele Mofokeng(21), PSL Player of the year and Adj teammate, finally starts and gave South Korea a torrid time in midfield. Bafana were so much better when he came on 2nd half against Czechia.
3. How did the South Korean coach not start Son? Shocking decision.
4. South Africa could have been a much better team with European/MLS based players. Really happy for the 90% locally based players. I think this is a strong message to the next All White coach to trust A-League based players instead of benched European based players.
Come on All Whites!
Super happy to be wrong. What a performance from Bafana.
1. I spoke about the terrible preparation of Bafana Bafana before the tournament (see above) and now after 2 tough games at this WC, was Bafana finally mentally and physically ready for this game?
2. Rele Mofokeng(21), PSL Player of the year and Adj teammate, finally starts and gave South Korea a torrid time in midfield. Bafana were so much better when he came on 2nd half against Czechia.
3. How did the South Korean coach not start Son? Shocking decision.
4. South Africa could have been a much better team with European/MLS based players. Really happy for the 90% locally based players. I think this is a strong message to the next All White coach to trust A-League based players instead of benched European based players.
Come on All Whites!
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