Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is bracing for a stern physical examination against Canada in the Round of 32 in LA on Sunday night.
Image: AFP
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes his side have shed their early World Cup nerves at exactly the right time, but has warned that matching Canada's physical intensity will be crucial if South Africa are to extend their historic run into the last 16.
South Africa bounced back from defeat to Mexico in their opening match to qualify for the knockout stages with a draw against Norway and a memorable victory over South Korea, securing a place in the knockout rounds for the first time.
According to Broos, the opening defeat ultimately proved to be an important learning experience.
"The first game against Mexico we were overwhelmed by the event," the Belgian said ahead of Sunday's clash. "I think that will not happen again. That was a game where we learned a lot, not only on the pitch but also what happens outside the pitch.
"For this team it is very important to be at tournaments like this because it is totally different from what we are used to. We were only in Africa, where everybody knows every team and every player. Suddenly you come into a strange world and that asks for adaptation. But we are adapted now."
That growing confidence has been fuelled by victory over South Korea, with Broos believing his players are no longer content simply to have reached the knockout rounds.
"Everybody wants to win again and everyone wants to go to the third round. It is already historic now, but can you imagine what it would be for Bafana Bafana if we should go to the third round?"
Standing in their way, however, is what Broos considers South Africa's toughest tactical challenge of the tournament.
Rather than focusing solely on Canada's star names, including the returning Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies, the veteran coach highlighted the North Americans' relentless pressing game and collective work-rate as their greatest strengths.
"I think Canada are a physical team. They go for it from the first minute until the 90th minute," Broos said. "They are very close to the ball, they are pressing the opponent and they are trying to make you make mistakes. And they do it as a team."
He said Canada's intensity extends across the entire side.
"Sometimes you have teams where two or three players, when they lose the ball, are not really defending. But this is totally different with Canada. The moment they have the ball, everyone is in movement. The moment they lose the ball, everyone wants to recover it back. That is very difficult to play against."
Broos believes Bafana's hopes of pulling off another upset will ultimately depend on whether they can stand up to that challenge.
"If we can make something against that, then we have a big chance to win," he said. "But if we should be dominated by the physical strength, physical power, then it will be very difficult to win against them."
Yet, after proving they belong on the world's biggest stage over the past two matches, Broos is convinced his players will not be overawed by the occasion again. Instead, they head into the biggest match in South African football history believing they have earned the right to compete for a place in the last 16.
The crunch match at the Los Angeles Stadium kicks off at 9pm SA time on Sunday.