Today South African National Football Team Bafana Bafana takes on Germany in Leverkusen.
According to Football 365.co.za, German defender Philipp Lahm believes the clash with South Africa will provide his teammates with the perfect platform to rediscover their form ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier with Russia and the return tie with Azerbaijan.
The German team is looking forward to improving in defense and attack in their match against South Africa and see it as a tough but winnable game. The football superpower is fourth on the FIFA rankings, with Bafana Bafana a disappointing 73rd
Group Four 2010 World Cup Leaders
As Group Four leaders in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying Rounds, Germany take on Azerbaijan in the return match in Hanover next Wednesday after beating them 2 – 0 in an unimpressive performance in Baku last month. The 2006 World Cup hosts face their biggest test of the qualification campaign so far in Moscow on October 10 when they take on Russia.
Bafana Bafana Confident of an Upset
After a good showing in the Confederations Cup, Bafana are confident of causing an upset, despite recently losing 3-1 Serbia in a warm-up match.
“We know our record against European opposition in Europe is not great but we are not going to let that worry us,” left back Siboniso Gaxa told his club Mamelodi Sundowns‘ official website.
The overall conclusion from the Bafana camp is that the side needs to start converting their goal scoring opportunities if they aim to record a victory.
Mphela and Parker up Front
Kickoff suggests that Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana is likely to start with Mphela and Bernard Parker up-front, with Khenyeza set to come in as substitute later in the match.
But it is in the midfield and the back where the Bafana Bafana might struggle,
Belgium-based defender Anele Ngcongca looks set to get his first Bafana Bafana cap in the absence of injured Matthew Booth. With Itumeleng Khune also injured, veteran Brian Baloyi may start in goal ahead of Rowen Fernandez although I still believe that Orlando Pirates in form goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs would have been a much better choice for this tour.
Even though plagued with injury, coach Joel Santana is spoilt for choice with experienced campaigners like Siyabonga Nkosi, Mabhuti Khenyeza and Bevan Fransmann available this time. He also has tried and tested players like Steven Pienaar, Bernard Parker, Benson Mhlongo and Simphiwe Tshabalala., so a good result might just be possible.
Amajita play Germany’s Under- 20s in Hamburg at 3.30pm.
Look at some Interesting Stats between Bafana Bafana and Germany.
Photo: Gaxa Siboniso – photo Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club
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We have good material to compit with the best in world,but it dipent how do we use it,SANTANA USE THIS MATERIAL IN A WRONG WAY so far we change what i have seen Pareira was doing,Santana must stop defending nothing.Defending 0 in our bag?the best way of defending is to atack nothing els.I say this because i watched Bafana vs Germany,he put 1 striker upfront,if we were having 2 we were going to punish them because of their keeper’s mastake if it was Fernandez,we were going to lose 7 zero because they come with numbers in OUR eighting area,instate of taking their keeper’s mastake and go in numbers in their eighting area we just sent 1 striker,we need a fenisher but NOT BENNY.PARKER,MPHELA,FANTENI AND MASHEGO IS OUR ANSWER.PLEASE STOP CALLING NEW PLAYERS AT THIS TIME,SANTANA YOU WANT TO TELL US THAT YOU’R STILL BUILDING A TEAM?IF NO,WHY ARE YOU STILL CALLING NEW PLAYERS?We don’t need new players now you must play many games with the same team that were selected doring CONFED.CUP if you mean it when you say you build for 2010 WORLD CUP.PLEAS STOP DEFENDING.