When Bafana Bafana take on the daunting task of Spain at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night, it will be the fourth occasion South Africa have faced a reigning world champion combination.
While failing to win any of the three previous encounters against the pinnacle teams of world soccer, Bafana have risen to the occasion and produced three of their most praiseworthy performances.
Although the Brazilian world champion side that gained a 3-2 win over Bafana at FNB Stadium in 1996 was smattered with Under-23 players, the South Africans took a 2-0 half-time lead before finally succumbing to an 89th minute winning goal from the mercurial Bebeto.
It was Bebeto again and the lethal Romario who scored the goals that gave Brazil a 2-1 win over Bafana at Ellis Park in 1997, with the South Africans extending the world champions all the way with a gritty performance.
However, it was against France in 2 000 that Bafana under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz and captained by Shaun Bartlett shared the spoils with their world champion opponents in a goalless draw at Ellis Park.
Tuesday night's game will also be the fourth time Bafana have faced Spain at international level, losing the three previous times, but not being disgraced on any of these occasions.
In one of Bafana's most compelling performances, they only went down to Spain 3-2 during the third-place game in the Confederations Cup tournament in 2009, with Katlego Mphela scoring one of South Africa's most memorable goals to take the game into extra-time.
An encouraging incentive for Gordon Igesund's team is the fact that Spain were only able to shade Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in the first of two 2014 World Cup warm-up games in Africa over the weekend, with Xabi Alonso injured in that match. – Sapa