Czechia and South Africa face early exit threat

TDT | Manama

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Defeats in their opening Group A matches leave the Czech Republic and South Africa playing catch-up when they meet in Atlanta tonight (7pm Bahrain time). Both sides will need a significantly improved performance to keep their World Cup Round of 32 hopes alive.

South Africa had the privilege of featuring in the World Cup opener, but in a match where they had two players sent off, they fell to a 2-0 defeat against co-hosts Mexico. It was a damaging start for a side appearing at the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010, and their fourth overall appearance, with their record of never progressing beyond the group stage still intact. Against Mexico, there was little to suggest that trend is about to change.

The Czech Republic, meanwhile, stuck to their pragmatic, route-one approach in their opener against South Korea, relying heavily on set pieces to create chances. They did briefly take control when Ladislav Krejci headed home from a throw-in to give them the lead, but they were eventually overpowered in a 2-1 defeat. Their final group game comes against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, meaning this match against South Africa is widely viewed as their best opportunity to take points and stay in contention.

South Africa will be without the suspended Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, forcing manager Hugo Broos into changes, with a switch back to a traditional back four a possibility after he used a back five against Mexico.

The team will be hoping lessons were learned from that opening defeat as they attempt to reset their campaign.

Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams struck a determined tone after the loss, insisting the group still has time to respond. "Now that we've seen the level of this competition, we'll come back stronger," he said. "We'll prepare with even greater intensity and continue working hard. There are still two massive games left for us."

The Czech Republic have waited even longer for a World Cup return than South Africa, with their last appearance coming 20 years ago.

That long absence adds further weight to this fixture, especially with defender Jaroslav Zeleny stressing its importance. "Against South Africa, we have to get it right," he said. "Mexico will probably be a tougher challenge afterwards, so we have to give everything in the match against South Africa and absolutely make sure we win it."