Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is hoping for Denmark to slip up in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the UEFA play-offs.
The Danes are taking the last shot at booking a ticket for the global football tournament. They remain on course to qualify after thumping North Macedonia 4-0 in a semi-final showdown of Route D at home on Thursday night.
That victory set up a final date with the Czech Republic, who sailed through 4-3 past the Republic of Ireland on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time in Prague. Denmark and the Czech Republic will now clash on Tuesday in what would be the decisive encounter.
The winner of this play-offs group will complete Bafana’s Group A at the World Cup, which also has co-hosts Mexico and South Korea. Should Denmark qualify on Tuesday, it would be the second time they meet Bafana at the World Cup after the two teams cancelled each other to a 1-1 draw in a group game at France 1998. Benni McCarthy scored a second-half equaliser for South Africa.
BROOS SPEAKING FROM HIS HEART: ‘I HOPE IT’S NOT DENMARK’
“It’s very difficult if it’s logic, but it will be Denmark. I think Denmark is normally the best team. But don’t underestimate Czech, they are not a bad team either,” Broos said.
“The other teams are a little bit orthodox, the Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia, they are not the top [teams], not at all. So, it’s very difficult to say because this is also a knockout system. Then you play another game in the second round, and it’s again in or out. In those kinds of games, so much can happen that it is very difficult to say it will be this or that. If I’m to speak my heart, I hope it’s not Denmark.
“We will have to wait until next week to know it. I think Denmark were very close to qualifying directly, but they did some stupid things, and they have to play the play-offs now.
“I don’t think they will throw that second chance away, I don’t think so. But again, it’s a knockout system and very difficult.”
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