Match Preview: South Africa vs. Canada - the first knockout has no old script
Canada's first World Cup knockout match comes away from home in Los Angeles, against a South Africa side that already turned one survival game into a statement.
Canada did not lose Vancouver so much as lose the easy version of this story. The co-hosts open the Round of 32 against South Africa at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday, June 28, with kickoff at 12:00 p.m. local/PT and 3:00 p.m. ET. Both teams are playing their first World Cup knockout match, which makes this feel less like a heavyweight bracket game and more like a nerve test with flags attached. 1
The shape of it
Canada finished second in Group B after drawing Bosnia and Herzegovina, thrashing Qatar 6-0, then losing to Switzerland. South Africa's route was messier: a 2-0 opening defeat to Mexico, a draw with Czechia, then the 1-0 win over Korea Republic that flipped the whole bracket. 1
The headline for Canada is Alphonso Davies. Jesse Marsch says he is available, after admitting the group-stage availability talk had partly been a decoy; Davies himself said missing the first three games was painful because "the only thing you want to do is play football." 2 If he starts, South Africa must defend the whole left side. If he comes off the bench, Canada still get a late-game panic button.
South Africa are not just the feel-good underdogs. Hugo Broos has dragged this team from the joke-line years to an AFCON bronze and now a World Cup knockout night. He also gets Teboho Mokoena back after suspension, which matters against a Canada midfield that wants to turn every second ball into a sprint. 34
Verdict
Canada 2-1, but only if they score first. Let Bafana Bafana drag this into a tight second half, and the occasion starts chewing on the favourite.
Quote of the Day
"Once you are there, you want more." - Hugo Broos, South Africa coach. 3
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