Canada Coach Warns Of ‘Athletic’ Bafana Ahead Of Round of 32

Canada coach Jesse Marsch has praised Bafana Bafana’s impressive performances at the FIFA World Cup, warning that South Africa will provide a stern test when the two nations meet in the Round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday.

Both countries have already made history by reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

Bafana Bafana finished second in Group A with four points after recording one win, one draw and one defeat. Canada also ended runners-up in Group B on four points, with one victory, one draw and one loss to secure their place in the last 32.

Speaking ahead of the historic encounter, Marsch admitted he was impressed by South Africa’s display against South Korea, saying Hugo Broos’ side fully deserved their victory after outperforming one of Asia’s strongest teams.

“South Africa, if you watched the game last night [on Thursday], I think when many people were expecting South Korea to dominate that game, it was actually the other way around,” said Marsch.

“What you see in South Africa is a very physical team that is very athletic in open spaces and has a lot of belief right now in what they’re doing.

“So I was impressed with South Africa in this match. As the game went on, even though many people would say South Korea are the better team, by the end of the match it was clear that South Africa had earned the result. They were the better team, and they are going to give us a big challenge.”

The 52-year-old, who coached Leeds United, also reflected on his team’s upcoming trip to the United States, explaining that although Canada would have loved to continue playing in front of their home supporters, the change of environment could ultimately benefit his players.

“Obviously, we wanted to stay in Canada and play in front of our fans and use all that energy,” he said.

“But it’s also a big mental load on our team. Being around town and having people around the hotel, it’s a little bit of a circus.

“It’s one we’ve really enjoyed, but I do think going away will give us a little more space and calm around the experience. It will help us focus completely on the match, which I think will be good for us, both mentally and physically.”

With both nations chasing another historic milestone, Sunday’s Round of 32 clash promises to be one of the tournament’s most intriguing encounters.

Canada will be looking to extend their fairytale run, while Bafana Bafana will aim to build on an outstanding group-stage campaign and prove once again that they belong among the world’s elite.