From now onwards it’s knockout football in the Fifa World Cup and the first action in the Round of 32 sees South Africa take on Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
South Africa:
Bafana finished as runners up in Group A, making history in reaching the knockout rounds for the first time. Co-hosts Mexico topped the group with 6 points, South Africa finished on 4 points, South Korea 3 and Czech Republic earned just the 1.
Bafana’s qualification for the first knockout round was sealed in their final group match which saw them beat South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey in the early hours of Thursday morning. Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal half way through the second half, Bafana were well drilled, disciplined in defence and played on the counter and were full value for the win.
South Africa played out a 1-1 draw with Czech Republic in their second group outing in Atlanta. It wasn’t looking good when they conceded after just 6 minutes but they regained composure and gradually grew into the game and in the 83rd minute Teboho Mokoena made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Bafana took on co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in the opening match of the tournament and they went down tamely by a 2-0 scoreline. They gifted Mexico a goal after just 9 minutes and were fortunate to go into half time only 1-0 down. Sphephelo Sithole was red carded on 49 minutes and Mexico went 2-0 up on 67 minutes. Substitute Themba Zwane also picked up what looked a very harsh red card on 84 minutes.
Canada
Co-hosts Canada were runners up in Group A and are also in the knockout rounds for the first time in their history. Switzerland topped that quartet with 7 points, Canada finished with 4 points ahead of Bosnia & Herzegovina on goal difference and Qatar were bottom with 1 point. Finishing second in the group rather than first means Canada will not play on home turf again during the tournament.
Canada’s only defeat came in their final group match when they went down 2-1 to Switzerland in Vancouver on Wednesday night. It was 0-0 at half time but the Swiss struck twice early in the second half. Substitute Promise David pulled a goal back for Canada but there was no further scoring.
Canada dished out a 6-0 hiding to Qatar in Vancouver in their second match. Cyle Larin opened the scoring and Jonathan David grabbed a hat trick, Nathan Saliba was also on target and Qatar also scored an own goal. Canada’s task had been made easier by Qatar being reduced to 10 men when the score was 2-0 and then 9 men when they led 3-0 but there was a horrible moment for the co-hosts when midfielder Ismael Kone picked up a horrendous looking leg injury which ends his tournament.
Canada had started with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto. They were 1-0 down from the 21st minute until a 78th minute equalizer from Cyle Larin who had only just been introduced off the bench.
The Betting (Regulation time unless stated otherwise)
South Africa are priced at around 4/1 to win the game with the draw available at 24/10 and Canada are odds on favourites at around 15/20.
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 23/20 and its 21/20 for both teams to score
Thapelo Maseko is 54/10 to repeat the heroics against South Korea by scoring in regulation time for South Africa
Jonathan David is 7/4 to score in regulation time for Canada
To qualify for the next round by any method of victory Canada are 4/11 and South Africa are 21/10
The Verdict:
It’s a short turn around for both nations. Canada travel outside of their country for the first time whilst Bafana, who started and ended their group campaign in Mexico either side of a trip to Atlanta, now return to the USA.
Bafana have improved with every match and might need to step up even further to make it to the Round of 16. Keeping it tight in defence and looking to hit Canada on the counter will be the likely blue print for Bafana and they can carry the first part of that scenario off it will be a low scoring game.
Bets: Both halves under 1.5 total goals at 21/20 with Lucky Fish
Note, odds are subject to change