BAFANA GO FOR BROKE
South Africa are not expecting to gain any advantage from the turmoil in the France camp when the two countries meet in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said on the eve of the Group A game.
He also promised an attacking approach to a match the hosts must win by a comfortable margin to stand any chance of making the knockout phase, announcing he would make five changes.
The impending early exit of the host nation, and the impact on the World Cup, has been overshadowed in the last days by a French player strike over the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka, who refused to apologise for allegedly swearing at his coach.
“We don’t consider this a positive aspect in any way,” he told a news conference in Bloemfontein. “We expect France to come out and play.
“We know that the French have had long standing problems in their camp, even from before the World Cup but what has happened over the last two days we don’t expect to carry over to the pitch.
“When the French players enter the field, they will be watched by the whole world. They know it is important to win.”
France have the same mathematically possibility to qualify as Bafana Bafana. Both sides have a single point and depend on there being a winner in the match between group leaders Mexico and Uruguay, who are on four points apiece.
A draw between Mexico and Uruguay would put both through but the South Africa coach said he believed they both wanted a win to avoid the possibility of playing Argentina in the next round.
“I am sure the players will not make a deal. But our problem is to go and win our game and hope the other result is good for us.”
Parreira said he would be fielding an attacking line-up but did not give details of the changes until he had informed his players overnight.
“I have my mind made up. The team is already set,” he said
Two changes are enforced by suspension but Parreira is expected to introduce new wingbacks and more attack in the midfield.
If the ploy fails, South Africa will become the first World Cup nation to fail to get past the first round, a prospect Parreira claimed would be disappointing but not a failure.
He insisted South Africa had been handed a tougher group than most previous World Cup hosts.
“It was always going to happen one day. There have already been a long list of firsts in this competition. Look at how difficult (this tournament) has been not only for South Africa but for the other powerhouses too.”
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