World Cup nightmare for Bafana as feared European sides reach playoff final

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will not get his wish after all after the two European sides he fears the most secured a place in the 2026 World Cup playoff.

South Africa were drawn in Group A that has Mexico, South Korea and a European side from either Denmark, North Macedonia, Republic of Ireland and Czech Republic but after Thursday’s playoffs, it is now clear who they will face.

This is after Denmark beat North Macedonia 4-0 while Czech Republic booked a place in the playoff final following a penalty shootout win over Republic of Ireland after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

In a crucial knockout match, Denmark demonstrated both offensive firepower and defensive strength to overwhelm their opponents. After a scoreless first half, the team broke the deadlock shortly after the restart when Mikkel Damsgaard found the net in the 49th minute.

No World Cup wish for Hugo Broos

The floodgates opened soon after, with Gustav Isaksen scoring twice in quick succession in the 58th and 59th minutes. Christian Norgaard capped off the impressive performance with a fourth goal in the 75th minute, sealing a comprehensive win.

With this victory, Denmark moves on to the playoff final against Czechia, scheduled for March 31, 2026. This match will determine which nation earns a coveted place at the World Cup and complete Group A.

It is the worst nightmare for Broos who said last week that he would have wished to avoid either the Danes or the Czechs.

“It’s very difficult to say it will be this or that. If I speak from my heart, I hope it’s not Denmark or Czechia,” Broos admitted to the media as quoted by Soccer Laduma. “That does not mean we will easily win against North Macedonia or Northern Ireland. We will have to wait till next week to know.”

Denmark will be tough for Bafana and Co

“I think Denmark was close to qualifying directly, but they did something stupid, and they now have to play the playoffs. I don’t think they throw that second chance away. But again, the knockout system is very difficult,” he added.

Having participated in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Denmark is eager to return to the global stage. The team’s recent form and balanced squad suggest they are well-prepared for the high-stakes encounter. If they can replicate the intensity and clinical finishing displayed against North Macedonia, their chances of qualification appear strong.

Denmark have a solid track record in international football, having qualified for six previous World Cup tournaments. Their most successful campaign was in 1998, when they reached the quarter-finals, a milestone they will be hoping to build upon should they qualify for the 2026 event.