Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a plan. And despite the 2-0 defeat to Mexico, he left the press conference room with no intention of apologising for it.
The South Africa coach raised eyebrows before kick-off when he named his side in an unconventional 3-5-2 formation; a bold tactical statement for a team making their return to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence. But when the questions came, Broos was characteristically unbothered.
“I think when you saw the game, you would know why I did that,” he said, with the quiet confidence in the post-match press conference at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
“Except for the first 15 minutes, which was high pressure from Mexico, there was balance in the game. They then became desperate, not knowing what to do with the ball. The two defenders just had the ball at their feet with not much solution.
“That answers your question – why I played like this today.”
Bafana will now also be without Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane in the second game next week against Czechia in Atlanta, United Stated of America after they received straight red cards.
