Bafana goalkeeper Ricardo Goss says the camp remains unified and fully committed to their style of play as they prepare for a high-stakes Group A showdown against the Czech Republic this Thursday. Photo: Backpagepix
There is a strong belief within the Bafana Bafana camp that the team will return to winning ways during their next Group A clash against the Czech Republic on Thursday (6pm), following a disappointing start to the Fifa World Cup 2026 in North America.
Bafana arrived at the World Cup with high confidence. They were drawn against co-host Mexico for the tournament’s opening match at the Azteca Stadium – a repeat of the 2010 opening clash on home soil.
However, they struggled. Bafana lost 2-0 to El Tri, with coach Hugo Broos receiving significant criticism for adopting an overly defensive approach. He fielded seven defensive-minded players, abandoning the free-flowing, high-pace tactics that usually define the team’s play.
The team must improve in their remaining group matches against Czech Republic this week and South Korea a week later. Failure to do so risks an early exit, preventing them from reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their four World Cup appearances following 1998, 2002, and 2010.
