‘It’s possible’ – Broos tells Bafana to believe after massive lift against Czechia

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, expressed his pride after his team secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Czechia at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on Thursday evening.

Bafana Bafana fell behind to an early sixth-minute goal but showed resilience to fight their way back into the match. Their efforts were rewarded when Teboho Mokoena converted a late penalty, earning a crucial point that keeps their knockout stage qualification hopes alive.

Speaking after the game, Broos praised his team’s character, especially following their previous performance against Mexico.

“I think I’m very proud of my team,” he told SABC Sport. “When you see the reaction after the game against Mexico, this is Bafana Bafana – we play good football, we are aggressive, we have chances.”

‘Czechia just kick the ball forward’

The coach acknowledged the early defensive lapse that led to Czechia’s goal. “We made one mistake,” he admitted. “Everyone knows that number is throwing very far, but in the beginning of the game we were surprised by that. It’s a pity. But again, I’m very proud of the performance of my team.”

Broos was critical of the opposition’s direct style of play, suggesting they relied heavily on their physical attributes rather than technical skill.

“I think the public chose the best football team [on the pitch],” he stated. “The Czechia team is very powerful and they are very tall also – they just kick the ball to the front and hope that someone of 1.95m has the ball and pushes it back.”

Broos oozing confidence ahead of Korea

Despite feeling his side deserved more, Broos was pleased with how they handled the challenge. “We did it very well… so again, fantastic performance. But it’s a little pity that it’s only 1-1.”

Looking ahead, the Belgian coach remains optimistic about his team’s chances in their final group match against the Korea Republic, where a win is necessary to advance.

“It’s very good, we don’t have to count on someone else. We just have to win the game against South Korea, which will be very difficult,” Broos concluded. “But when we play again like today with the same mentality, I think it’s possible.”