FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
South Africa will go into the World Cup finals next week without a victory over European opposition after a 1-1 draw against Iceland here on Saturday. It was the seventh time Bafana Bafana (The Boys) have played a team from the continent and the best they have managed is draws against the Czech Republic, Germany and Iceland.
Benni McCarthy gave South Africa a 36th-minute lead in this southern German village and impressive Stefan Thordarsen levelled after 73 minutes of a lacklustre friendly.
It was the final warm-up match for the World Cup debutants, who were held 1-1 by Zambia in Johannesburg and lost 2-0 to Argentina in Buenos Aires last month.
Coach Philippe Troussier brushed aside criticism of the performance, saying the primary objectives were to give fringe players a chance to impress and to avoid injuries.
Bafana Bafana rested several key players, including playmaker John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu, midfielder Quinton Fortune and leading scorer Philemon Masinga.
The former African champions stroked the ball about the lush, green pitch with calm authority for much of the game only to display a lack of imagination near the Icelandic goal.
While McCarthy from Dutch club Ajax came close several times, fellow striker Jerry Sikhosana made little impression and seems unlikely to make the starting line-up.
South Africa once again faded as the second half progressed and Thordarsen fully deserved to score off a rebound after going close with a first-half header.
Bafana Bafana face hosts and Group C favourites France in Marseille on June 12, Denmark in Toulouse on June 18 and Saudi Arabia in Bordeaux on June 24.
South Africa: Vonk, Issa, Fish, Nyathi, Radebe (Morula 87), Mnguni (Mkhalele 65), Khumalo (Jackson 65), Buckley (Fortune 65), Phiri, McCarthy, Sikhosana (Bartlett 65)