MONDAY, 12.30PM:
SOUTH AFRICA were held to yet another draw in an international soccer match when they levelled 1-1 with Iceland at the Baiersbronn Stadium in Obertal, Germany on Saturday.
Bafana Bafana put on a poor display in their final warm-up match before meeting France in their opening Group C match in Marseilles on Friday, and on Saturday’s performance South African confidence cannot be high.
The Icelanders, who are 72nd in the Fifa World Rankings, exposed the South African’s weaknesses in all departments, despite being happy to play a defensive role for most part of the match.
Bafana central defender was penalised at least three times in the first half for unfair tackles by referee Hermann Albrecht. Other culprits in the squad were Doctor Khumalo, who could not make much headway in midfield, striker Delron Buckley kept a low profile and Alfred Phiri could not keep possession, making many unforced errors.
Thye South Africans scored in the 37th minute after Phiri crossed to Benni McCarthy who volleyed the shot, deflected it off a defender and netted it second-time round.
After scoring the goal the South Africans should have sunk the Scandinavians, but once again they could not transform possession and territorial advantage into goals.
Stefan Thoroanson scored for Iceland after a long pass beat a sloppy Bafana offside trap, the ball careened off goalkeeper Hans Vonk leaving Thoroanson the easiest of goals.
The South Africans tried their best to regain the lead, but were denied by sterling Icelandic defence.