Czechia 1-1 South Africa: World Cup – live reaction

Aha! Sid Lowe’s report is here, which means it’s time for me to do one.

Thanks all for your company and comments, and do join Daniel Gallan for Switzerland v Bosnia. Otherwise, that’s it from me; peace out.

Thinking back about what Broos says, I wonder if he’s underestimating South Korea. I rate them the best team in the group,. he’ll have to hope they beat Mexico so are already through – but even then, they’ll want to finish top.

“As much as South Africa didn’t deserve a goal,” says Kári Tulinius, “Czechia didn’t deserve their lead either. They’ve been as proactive as a block of cheese in the second half. If they don’t find a winner. they’ll need to get a result against Mexico at home in their third match, which is not an easy task.”

Absolutely. I’m glad it was a draw because neither side did enough to attack the win.

The way Tuchel used his subs yesterday reminded me a little of when Arsenal beat Bayern in the Champions League league stages. the difference in that game the power of the athletes Mikel Arteta had on his bench. That wasn’t the reason England won, but it was very helpful in how they saw the game out.

I must say, I think Benni’s analysis makes more sense – this was the game they had to go for it, he responds,. he doesn’t think they’ve much chance against South Korea. Ashley Williams, alongside him in the BBC studio, thinks the difference is that McCarthy has played at a high level so has higher standards. expectation.

McCarthy agrees – he doesn’t think they should be pleased getting a point against European opposition.

Huge Broos, the SA manager, is “very proud” of his team; “this is Bafana Bafana”.

“We play good football, we are aggressive, we have chances, but you need also a little bit luck. we made one mistake, one mistake.”

Asked about the crowd supporting his boys, he says they picked the right team. Czechia are very powerful. tall, so they “just kick the ball in front and hope that someone of 1.95 head the ball and kind of push it back … so again, fantastic performance,” but he’s upset it’s only finished 1-1.

He knows it’ll be difficult against South Korea, but if they play as they did today, it’s possible.

Thomas Tuchel is now so ensconced as an English politician. he thinks everyone is in the pub, all of the time.

Our Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina blog is under way…

Back to the important business, “No one’s mentioned Shippam’s pastes,” chides David C Hunter. “Crab, salmon, sardines, and the ever popular bloater! My wife prefers butter (melted).”

I guess I’m kind of saying. yes, again, that a penalty is too severe a punishment for the majority of offences which result in one. I’d give them for an infringement which denies a goalscoring opportunity, anywhere on the pitch, and otherwise, a direct free-kick.

Watching the penalty again, Sulc is so close to Maseko, whose front arm is tight to his body,. it hits the back one, which isn’t in an unnatural position. In the Premier League, I don’t think it gets given,. I can’t for the life of me fathom why anyone would feel an 80% chance of a goal was suitable punishment for something in no way done carelessly or deliberately.

In the BBC studio, Benni McCarthy is really disappointed and rightly so. Had Mokoena’s teammates played with the same intensity as he did, SA might’ve won,. again, they paid for a slow start.

Again, Czechia fail to hold a lead, but they got what they deserved, missing chances and sitting back. SA, meantime, were very poor once more, slow of pass. of thought, while playing almost as tentatively as against Mexico. Both teams need a win in their final game to progress.

90+6 min Makgopa, who’s made a difference, brings the ball down, holds it up, turns,. bundles past his man, but his shot is poor and Kovar saves. But SA maintain pressure, working a shooting opportunity for Modiba, on the edge …. he almost misses his kick entirely, shinning into his standing leg.

90+5 min Suddenly this is frantic, the teams suddenly playing like this is the World Cup.

90+4 min Nice from Sulc down the left, beating his man. crossing low, but Schick’s movement offers him little to go on, and Mokoena does enough to get in the road … then Provod fires wide.

90_+3 min Holes into Coufal, who touches inside for Soucek, whose pass into the box seeks. finds Sulc … but out of nowhere, Mokoena nashes back at him, making a vital tackle. He’s been the best player on the pitch by far.

90+1 min Given the extent to which Czechia seem to be relying on set-pieces. it’s surprising they’re not properly drilled in them. The ball comes in, Zeleny heads into Soucek, and SA clear.

90 min We’ll have seven additional minutes, and Czechia have a free-kick out on the left, Coufal to swing in.

89 min Mafokeng shoots low and Kovar again spills it, but no one gambles. Meantime. Czechia have decided to start playing again, which tells us their previous poverty was probably cowardice, protecting what they had when more was there to be taken.

87 min Now Czechia attack, Zeleny teasing a ball into the box … for no one. This is, by some distance, the worst I’ve seen two sides play in this tournament.

85 min Immediately, SA look for a winner, and Czechia will be fearing a repeat of their agonising first-game reverse. They’ve only themselves to blame: not just for the missed chances,. for sitting on a lead against a side playing like it’s not even sure what football is.

Mokoena closes eyes, exchanges some words with the big lad upstairs,. lashes into the bottom left as Kovar flings himself right. I can’t think if many less merited goals, but here we are. Can someone find a winner?

82 min Mokoena will take, about the only South African I’d trust even to make contact with the ball,. Czechia will be feeling very poorly, given the chances they’ve missed to make this safe. This is some serious pressure.

81 min That was not coming, apart from the fact that it arrived. Maseko comes in off the right and hammers a cross which hits Sulc’s arm. I don’t know, it was very close, his arm was neither out nor up,. the ref was very quick to give it. I don’t see how you get out of the way of that,. if those are the laws, it’s time to aim for hands. A very poor call, in mine.

79 min Again, the free-kick goes short,. this time, a decent pass follows, punched low along the carpet to Appollis … whose first touch is poor burt wins him a corner off Holes. It comes to nothing.

78 min Mokoena, who’s been the best of an awful lot, zips through midfield, so Soucek hauls him down. Somehow. he’s not booked – Mokoena does well not see a second yellow himself, gesticulating to the ref for one to be awarded.

78 min Another change for Czehcia, Zima replacing Cerv, who’s limping a bit.

75 min Mofokeng into Maseko, who tries to turn, but before he can complete, he’s flattened by Krejci; booking,. a free-kick 25 yards out, right of centre. SA, down 1-0 and 15 minutes away form a second defeat, have four defenders back. And then the ball goes square, not into the box, and the chance expires. WHYWHYWHYWHY.

https://youtu.be/rd0baAetwJE?si=kSOotHp-KWKKZLt4&t=14

73 min In comms, Stephen Warnock notes that the hydration breaks give it the feel of a pre-season friendly,. SA are playing in that spirit. I can’t think of many more tepid performances than this. their first, Maseko curling into the as I speak and Mokoena nodding into the ground and straight to Kovar. I’m sure they’re not doing it on purpose, but were has their intensity gone? I fear they’ll be hearing some opinions upon their return.

72 min We go again, Fifa’s wallet imperceptibly fatter – which makes us all feel warm and cosy.

71 min I hate to say it, but SA look devoid of ideas as to how they might score. They’re not even loading the box and putting in crosses.

68 min Loud boos again as the ref signals for an ad break. I hope it’s this one.

66 min Another Czechia change, try saying that with a mouth full of Marmite … but SA go first, Makgopa on for Rayners, then Soucek. Provod replace Sadilek and Hlozek.

63 min I’ll level with you. I can’t see either of these teams winning against whoever they were to play in the last 32. So let’s go to James Humphries, with more toast thoughts:

“A lot of Pep-style overthinking going on here regardig spreads, when the obvious winning move is toast and marmite. It’s the position of maximum opportunity of things to put on your toast, according to my arbitrary methodology! Which I guess.. makes me the Charles Reep of breakfast? Hmm. Much to consider here.”

Can I perpetrate a flex? I’m ambivalent to Marmite – which. tangentially, was the word kids in my mum’s school would say when blowing saliva bubbles.

62 min Appollis, who’s been the liveliest of the South African players, comes deep. slips in Mudau, again the outlet. But he goes early, so the offside flag follows suit.

59 min Zeleny hangs on to the ball longer than seems wise,. actually, he’s waiting for Sadilek to fill a space, after which he finds him with a terrific reverse-pass. It ought to prompt an instashot, the angle there to send a low one towards the far corner, but instead he checks, hoping for a better lane,. the opportunity expires.

58 min Cerv is down, I’m not sure why,. we see a replay in which Mofokeng seems to gently brush him. There is no sanction.

57 min Okon brings the ball out of defence. plays a searching pass in behind, seeking Maseko, but he shoves Krejci and Czechia bring the ball away.

55 min Two changes for Czechia, Darida and Sojka coming off with Zeleny and Sulc coming on.

52 min Schick sets back for Sojka. who swings over a delectable cross, Hlozek waiting in the middle but, facing how own net, Mokoena stretches, hooking away. That’s a brilliant interception.

51 min “Get on the Sandwich Spread, Dan,” advises Simon McMahon, “the tangy, crunchy spread of champions. With sourdough toast. The perfect snack at any time of day.”

For the uninitiated, imagine filling a vat of mayo with the contents of an industrial hoover bag.

49 min Mokoena finds the space, sliding a gorgeous pass between wing-back. outside centre-back for Mudau, whose cross is blocked at source; the resultant corner comes to nothing.