Tournament News
Parreira raises bar for Bafana
2010-05-26 07:47
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Johannesburg - South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira raises the bar a few notches for the Soccer World Cup hosts when they appear at the new Soccer City for the first time on Thursday against Colombia.
Since the 67-year-old Brazilian returned last November for a second spell in charge of a country ranked 90 in the world, Japan and Bulgaria have been the only top-50 opponents in an unbeaten eight-match run.
Bulgaria are 51 places above South Africa and came from behind on Monday at Orlando Stadium in the black township of Soweto to force a 1-1 draw which left Bafana Bafana (The Boys) in no doubt about the enormity of the task ahead.
Colombia are five places ahead of Bulgaria in the FIFA rankings and Parreira says his team will face a different challenge at the revamped 90 000-seat venue that stages the opening and closing matches of the June 11-July 11 tournament.
"Expect to see more skill, more technique, and the ball on the ground more when we tackle the Colombians," predicted Parreira as he counts down to a tough Group A schedule against Mexico and former champions France and Uruguay.
South African supporters can also expect to see a changed team after the Brazilian chose the same all-local starting line-up against Thailand, who were thumped 4-0 in the northern city of Nelspruit 10 days ago, and Bulgaria.
He introduced foreign-based professionals from half-time against the Balkan nation that reached the 1994 World Cup semi-finals, and more are likely to get a chance when they face the 'Coffee Growers' as the Colombian team is known.
Match-practice time is running short with only one more warm-up confirmed - against fellow qualifiers Denmark on June 5 near Pretoria - although Parreira is hopeful that a May 31 friendly can be arranged.
"We are on track and the team is taking shape. Bulgaria were the type of team we will meet at the World Cup - physically and mentally - and it was a good experience as we matched them every step of the way."
Parreira wants three-time World Cup qualifiers South Africa to learn from Brazil, whose five titles is a record, and become obsessive about retaining possession and keeping the ball on the ground.
His instructions were perfectly executed for 20 minutes againt Bulgaria, culminating in central defender Siyabonga Sangweni scoring his first Bafana goal with a glancing far-post header off a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner.
South Africa then surrendered the initiative and conceded only the second goal since Parreira returned as Parma striker Valeri Bojinov levelled from the first and only scoring chance of the half for the visitors.
A spate of substitutions destroyed the rhythm of the game in a second half virtually devoid of openings and 1994 World Cup-winning coach Parreira admitted penetration was a problem with more support needed from the fullbacks.
This will be the third consecutive World Cup without Colombia, who finished seventh in the 10-team South American qualifying competition and have recalled Hernan Gomez to coach a team captained by Italy-based defender Mario Yepes.