South Africa came within two minutes of taking South American powerhouse Brazil to extra time in the second semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. It wasn’t to be though for Joel Santana’s men as Barcelona’s rampaging right-back Dani Alves scored the winning goal in the 88th minute from a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Image: Kick-off.com
For the first time in this tournament Brazil were given a hard time as Bafana pressed and hurried them for the entire 90 minutes in what will be a confidence booster for the team ahead of Sunday’s 3rd/4th placed play-offs.
Bafana dominated the first half but were made to rue the lack of a cutting edge up front as they failed to convert possession into clear cut chances, Aaron Mokoena having the best chance of the game with a header from Modise’s free-kick. The game was heading to extra-time until we gave away a needless free-kick in the 87th minute and the substitute Alves blasted the ball past a hapless Itumeleng Khune in goal, a disappointing finish to spirited performance from Bafana.
Personally I think we’ve made a lot of progress during this tournament, a year ago I would never have bet on Bafana giving football’s super powers Brazil and Spain a run for their money. There are plenty of positives to take out of this Tournament but there’s also a lot to work on during the next 11 months as we prepare for the biggest tournament of them all, the 2010 Fifa World Cup. I expect there will be calls for Santana and Mokoena’s head to roll from some fans, but I can honestly say that I haven’t seen Bafana playing this well in ages. Bafana will now face Spain in the 3rd/4th place play-off on Sunday before the USA takes on Brazil in the final.
Well done to the Brazilians, tough luck to Bafana. You’ve made us proud!
[Thanks Ash for this report]
June 26th, 2009 at 9:04 am
The Coach well done to you, you have brought our boys to a level that may have been in question in the past when it came to the matches we had, but all that is put to rest. The boys played a level of soccer that not even Kaka, robhino or captain and fellow team mates were expecting, We made them frustrated, stress, and sweat on facing the Mighty South Africans. HA HA HA to Dunga were was your fair play that you would be famous for? you would think that ur players were using soccer boots when playing but instead the number of times they were falling one would think twice. The Brazilian captain should set an example on the field and NOT STOMP OFF WITH YOUR BAND OFF.
Learn from us In the land of milk and honey you came here to our country saw our talent now prepare yourself for 2010 we will teach you a lesson. Remember our country is rich with culture and diverse with it’s people but all share the passion and love of soccer and fair play.
WATCH OUT SAMBA KING’S your tune is outdated, old and fading, out of style…
June 26th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I never followed soccer before as I’m a rugby fan (Bulls are King) but must say I followed the SA team the past weeks. Well done Bafana. Now its time to get ready for 2010
June 26th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Dear Footballfevr Fans maybe you already read this- Sorry to put this here but the nerve of these people that come here and try to tell us how things should be done here…
Did you Forget this is SOUTH AFRICA not Spain. You don’t like it in our country co back home be happy in front of your T.V it does not change our world but it should make a difference for you in your’s… Yess i am Proudly South African so get lost…Spainards with a country beautifull with no respect for other countries rich with culture…Please don’t breath our air,eat out food, use our transport or step on our land…The Vuvuzela is south african don’t be jealous because we thought of it first it’s part od our identity and our passion for soccer….
Spanish star wants vuvuzelas banned, Spanish fans want Africans banned
Just a day after Spanish football star Xabi Alonso called on FIFA to ban vuvuzela horns, Spanish fans have called on the football body to ban Africans. “They are just so black,” said fan Enrique de Torquemada. “And there are so many of them here in Africa. It is very upsetting.” Meanwhile South Africans have asked the Spanish to stop lisping.
Alonso was widely quoted this week referring to vuvuzelas as an “annoyance” that should be banned.
However, FIFA godfather Sepp Blatter has defended the horns.
“South African football is all about noise, excitement, shouting and enjoyment,” he said. “And sometimes goals. But mostly just noise.”
Alonso’s South African hosts say they are taking the star’s complaints seriously, despite “Xabi” meaning “doos” in the ancient San language.
“Obviously as a footballer Mr Alonso is a very unique person,” said Confederations Cup local organizer Sonnyboy Laduma. “I mean, it’s not everyone who has a Grade 9 education, is unemployable after 35, and who spends hours every day training to kick an inflated sack in to a net, who then tries to dictate the culture of another continent.”
However, Laduma confirmed that Alonso was not alone in feeling that Africa needed to change to suit Spanish tastes.
He said that thousands of Spanish supporters had signed a petition asking FIFA to ban not only vuvuzelas but Africans as well.
“Apparently when they bought their airline tickets nobody told them that Africa is full of Africans,” explained Laduma.
According to fan Ignacio Tortilla, the Confederations Cup has been an “ordeal”.
“Wherever you look it’s just Africans,” he said. “Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not a racist, but do they really have to be so aggressive with all the singing and smiling and hand-shaking?”
Florida de Porpoise, a retired Jew-bater from Barcelona, said he would have no problem with Africans “if they only tried to be more European”.
“We’re not asking for a lot,” said de Porpoise. “Just perhaps a little hair relaxant, some cigarettes, and an overwhelming sense of the futility of hope.”
Meanwhile, a delegation of South Africans has asked visiting Spaniards to stop lisping.
“For God’s sake, English is our sixth language and we can still say ’s’,” said Jumpstart Moloi, who led the delegation to the Spanish embassy this morning.
“It’s not Nelthon Mandela, okay? It’s Nelson. Nelssssson.”
He also appealed to Spaniards to “think long and hard” before asking locals for directions to Thanton Thquare and the thocker thtadium at Thocker Thity.
“Spanish is just such a freaking ugly language,” said Moloi. “It’s all just ‘eth eth eth eth’. FIFA should do something.”
So football fans who share the love of soccer what is your verdict on people who want us to stop being South African…
June 27th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Agh we weren’t bad but we need to consider how we performed in the other games….
… we need consistency and an ability to beat weaker sides. We can’t afford to be dropping points against sides like Iraq if we meet them in the World Cup.
Need to get ourselves established as an African football power.
June 27th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
PS I’ve added the links from the Football Strategist and Sports Mongrel blogs back to here – nice blogs.