Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has outlined an ambitious group stage objective in the FIFA World Cup.
The tournament will be held from June to July across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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South Africa will be making their return to the global showpiece for the first time since featuring when they hosted it in 2010.
Broos emphasised that the team is not just aiming to advance as one of the best third-placed sides, but they are also targeting a top-two finish in their group. He stated that their goal is clear, to reach the knockout rounds.
“Before it was one and two, and that was finished. Now, there’s also the third place,” said Broos.
“So, that means if you play a draw and you win one game, you have a big chance to go through. When you don’t make one and two, you don’t pass those group stages. So, you have more chance now [with best third place].
“And it’s not because I always said third place that we only can play for the third place. If we have a chance to be second or first, we will do it also. But this is something very important for all those ‘not big countries’.
“For the big countries, okay, they like to play for first or second place. When Denmark is coming in our group, they will not play for third place. And they will not think of third place.
“Not even Mexico think of one and two. And we are thinking also of one or two, that’s for sure.
“But we know if we don’t achieve that in that group, which will be very difficult, there is still third place. So, you can’t say at a certain moment, oh yeah no.
“You have to go till the last game. And the last game can give you, pass through the group stages, survive of the group stages. So, yeah, the motivation and the feeling is the same.
“You want to pass the group stages. That is our goal. If it’s first, second or third, whatever. But we want to pass the group stages. Let that be clear.”
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