Bafana Brazil
Last night was disappointing. That Red Card was absurd and Forlan punished Bafana, but there is something I want to add, something I saw against Mexico and the Danes, something that makes me wonder just what type of football we are currently playing?
Firstly backtrack to 1968, when our current coach accepted the position to manage Ghana, and he did so for seven years. One thing that stuck by me was the fact that he compared Brazilian footballers to their African counterparts, and said that if African’s stuck to their style they could equal the Brazilians in flair and attack and with time even surpass the Samba Kings.
Forward to 1994 and Parreira won the World Cup with Brazil. The flair with which they played was testament to Brazilian dominance on the grandest stage of them all. Forward years later and here he is coaching Bafana Bafana. Now in all fairness, he is doing an excellent job,despite the Boys losing last night against Uruguay but if there is one thing that is a tad disappointing then it is their attacking game. They just don’t possess the athletes that can penetrate the back four, rather they pass it amongst their own back 4. We lack the attacking flair of top sides and this is where experience comes in I guess. Now the players in the squad are some of the best this country has to offer, but in no means are they experienced enough to compete at top level football.
I can see them winning against the French if they adopt a more attacking game plan, one that is based upon Gaxa and Tshabalala on the wings, which sees Moriri and Pienaar introduced to game more often. I also hope that European clubs would snatch up the likes of Tshabalala, Mphela and Modise, so they too can get some much needed experience under their belts, and learn how to play as South Africans, not Brazilians.
Till Later
Ciao
dean blom:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Were the Uruguayans….diving ?????? Pissed me off the way they were rolling in pain each time slight contact was made. The ref. fell for it instead of booking the clowns.
uysh:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Yip, Europe will surely make Siphiwe an offer. I also believe we have the ability to beat Uruguay and France, we just didn’t play the game last night, we were way too defensive in our attack. One or two players in the box when we had made good ground etc. I think our boys were spooked and I did feel we would not come back in the game once Ur have scored.
whistleblower:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:51 am
I think we should give some credit to Uruguay, I am impressed with their defence, they kept France quiet and slowly but surely pegged us back.
Unicorn007:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:56 am
The one good thing is that against France we can throw caution to the wind and go for broke.
ayamom:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:58 am
I do also think that is the problem we trying so hard to make bafana play brazilian game which is not working for us…Pienaar said it himself that he is tired to let him play until the end of the game was uncalled for as for the Captain no words for him.
I am praying very hard for a miracle with France.
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Dean it was somme pure kak as jy my vra ou maat, bliksemse ref vat hulle kant al the way
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Uysh they had some good chances to play the ball out wide when instead they passed the wrong passed at the right time. That is where experience comes in
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Whistle they dived too much and that pissed the boys off i think
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:10 am
DAr i agree. Nothing left to play for so go for it. Lets hope for a goalless draw for France and Mexico, should keep our hopes alive
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Arent we all?? I think it is high time that they play to their attacking strengths and forget about the defensive approach they have. It has given us an impressive run of 13matches unbeaten which is awesome considering how kuk we have been playing the last couple of years
princess3:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Irrespective of what happened at the game, I want to comment on the work done by the Tshwane metro cops – it was fantastic and orderly – those cops in Joburg should really learn that traffic must be directed straight from the parking areas along the various routes – it does not help to only stand at traffic lights as was experienced near Soccer City…well done to those Tshwane metro cops – it was a pleasure getting out of the parking areas last night!
dean blom:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Just received mail from Iceland of all places stating that the ref was a disgrace and should be banned……eeeeish
Ben.Roth:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:29 am
I really hope some of our players get picked up by the Europian clubs. Playing against other Europian teams will bring a bigger diversity to their play. I am not too sure of what is African or South African style of play. Maybe someone can help me there.
I read or heard somewhere that one of the reason for the African teams not producing is that they are all so aware that this is the first WC in Africa. ~They are not playing with there normal flair. Last night Bafana played poorly. Their passing was lazy and badly directed. Compaired to the game against Mexico, and the months leading to the WC it seemed that they were drained. They seems very lacklustered. its sad but i am hoping for a miracle and some crazy results to go our way…
whistleblower:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:36 am
That’s for sure!
When we had possession they closed us down and nullified our game plan. I was thinking we could really open a can of worms and say that Bafana needed a change of plan, go route one maybe and play some long balls in but then we need the right players for that and he got left out… We needed Benni Mac out there for last 15 minutes! LOL.
lahmi:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Hey REM…
Yes the coach is doing a good work but I think he failed to really change his tactics after the Mexico game. He went into the field with the same game plan. Teko and Mphela need to be rested, even DIkgacoi. Dikgacoi loses balls cheaply and I haven’t seen him make passes to moving midfielders, instead he always passes the ball back to Aaron, who then passes it to the keeper and then the keeper send the ball flying to the front and loses it.
Teko has just shown that he is really not cut for the big games. His runs were awful, his movement off the ball horrendous and his passing left nothing to be desired.
Mphela is supposed to be our Onform striker, but look at the chances he misses… It was with Mexico and now with Uruguay he closed his eyes while heading the ball…
Aaron has caused us much in the Uruguay game. The team needs change if they want to see themselves progressing.
Pienaar must be put on his comfortable position to work his magic.
The coach has a team of 23 players, but it seems as though he doesn’t trust the other guys he has in the team. He needs to reshuffle things in that team.
Starting XI for the France game:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Josephs
Sangweni
Khumalo
Masilela
Gaxa
Pienaar
Tshabalala
Letsholonyane
Khuboni
Nomvethe
Mphela
Play two strikers for a change because clearly we don’t have talent like that of Diego Forlan…
Sorry for writing a long comment on your blog…
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Parreira was probably wishing he had Benni. Then again I always say that no matter how evperienced or how good a striker, he can only be awesome if he receives the proper service from the engine room
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:49 am
No need to apologize bud, some interesting points you raise and I second that. Modise is just not cut for it, not now anyway. Mphela is crap, but I have been saying for a while now that two strikers upfront is probably our only chance, put Pienaar in his comfort zone and bring the wings into the game more
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:49 am
lol, Iceland….
Greencap:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Couple of things I noticed last night is the fact that our players are much smaller than the other teams and it showed when we were run off the ball cheaply. We need Two or Three big men up front. Also were is our tactical brain, we gave Forlan too much space and time, no one really put pressure on him. The last thing is the basic passing, we gave too many passes away cheaply. I’m no soccer fundi but these points summed up our loss last night for me.
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Keppie, our midfield engine is not firing. and true that we are robbed off the ball way to easily
Gmeister07:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
What Bafana lacks is the momentum to score at any given chance whether it be a mistake by the opponents or referee’s mistake, we just shoot blanks. Football is a simple enough game, that’s why i’m going to go for my coaching course as of next year. We knew Forlan was the danger man, what did we do, give him all the room to destroy us, play like the South Americans do, kick and break but cleverly the opposition danger man. The red card was an injustice, Karma rules though however, watch there be odd happenings in either Uruguay or where ever that referre’s country is soon or just both countries, mark my words. Go South Africa go.
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Gmeister I say so too mate.Penetrating passes is all that is needed for us to go far. They lack the players to do so. I was also thinking of doing my bit for football in my community,but will see next year when the funding comes through
Gmeister07:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Even though we equaled our worst SWC loss (3-0)last night, but Bafana and the rest of the world must know what a country and a people we are.
The problem with the so-called South African-style of soccer there isn’t none, our PSL clubs must use local coaches and maybe we can bounce back to the soccer played in the 60s, 70s and the 80s and early 90s. Foreign coaches in the PSL failed to reach the top level in their own countries and come here to confuse our players.
The typical English style of football is called Bomb Germany or as in Germany’s case Bomb England and Germany still uses till this day where as England is playing a mushy type of whatever Capello calls.
I hope Perreira is the last Bafana foreign coach, he’s done well, but we need our own person to lead our boys.
mspr1nt:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Which keeper do you prefer? I’ve had many slate poor Khune…I wonder if they are going to appeal the card. My big problem Tshabs last night was that since that glory shot against Mexico he seems almost desperate to recreate it :/
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
mspr1nt, I think that he should learn that football is a team sport and that yes, the goal was excellent but no, elke dag is nie krismis nie.
On the goalies, I like Khune, but in all honesty would put Slimkat in because he is just better (more clean sheets) then anyone in the PSL tells you a story
abrham:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
it will take some more effort and perhaps we could be better in 2026. just a pity i wont be around to see it. to win you need to learn to create just that from losing. go bafana go
mspr1nt:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
lol @ tshabs comment. I think maybe Khune gets chosen because he is so entertaining to watch and he is a black laaite van Ventersdorp – how kwaai is that?
fingers crossed slimkat can keep a clean sheet against the frenchies..
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I think he is entertaining but for me Slimkat is more of a entertainer. Reminds me of Grobbelaar of Liverpool before he steps up to defend a penalty. Don’t get me wrong on my next statement, it’s not racist but fact, but Bafana played better when they had a stronger midfield and Kallit strikers. Remember how Tinkler, Khumalo, and co use to dazzle the midfield and guys like Benni, Shaun and Mark finished off the opponents.
uysh:
June 17th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I think Khune was excellent but also do not know that much about the players so if Slimkat (??) is better bring him on!
Randy85:
June 17th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Slimkat Uysh is Moneeb Joseph, in my opinion worth it