Bafana Bafana starting XI vs Czechia: Appollis and Maseko start

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made three changes. Sphephelo Sithole is suspended. Two tactical changes see Nkosinathi Sibisi and Lyle Foster dropping to the bench.

In their places are Oswin Appollis, Thalente Mbatha and Thapelo Maseko.

The match against Czechia will kick off at 18:00 local time. The venue is Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with both sides facing a must-win encounter.

FIFA WORLD CUP: CZECHIA VS SOUTH AFRICA

Czechia starting XI: Kovár; Holes, Hranác. Krejci; Coufal, Darida, Cerv, Sojka, Sadílek; Hlozek, Schick.

South Africa starting XI: Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Adams, Mbatha; Maseko, Appollis, Rayners.

The numbers favour Czechia heading into the contest, with Opta’s supercomputer assigning the Europeans a 54.9% probability of victory. Ranked 40th in the latest FIFA world rankings, they also hold a 20-place advantage over South Africa, who currently occupy 60th position.

The Europeans will be led by the prolific striker Patrik Schick. Czechia are expected to lean on their physicality and aerial threat to trouble South Africa.

For Hugo Broos’ side, however, the approach is likely to be very different from the one seen against Mexico. The Belgian faced a storm of criticism of their ultra-defensive display in the 2-0 defeat. South Africa are thus expected to adopt a more adventurous style in Atlanta.

With elimination looming for the losing team, tonight’s showdown could prove to be one of the defining moments of South Africa’s World Cup campaign.