FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

South African midfielder John Moeti has been ruled out of the World Cup in France next month after fracturing his ankle in a domestic match.Moeti, a 30-year-old defensive midfielder from leading Johannesburg club Orlando Pirates, sustained the injury against Sundowns in the South Africa Cup final.

He was one of six players who dropped out of the reckoning Tuesday for the World Cup finals from June 10 to July 12 when a 24-man squad was named for a friendly in Argentina on May 25. Goalkeeper Paul Evans of SuperSport United, defender Gerald Raphahlela of Orlando Pirates, midfielders Marc Arnold of Hertha Berlin and Eric Tinkler of Barnsley and striker Kenny Niemach were also omitted.

Sundowns midfielders Sello ‘Page’ Mahlangu and Daniel Mudau were added to the squad as coach Phil Troussier continued to spring surprises ahead of naming his final 22 for France. A hamstring injury ruled out English-based Tinkler while the axing of Arnold was the biggest surprise as the coach favours European-based professionals, believing them to be more competitive than local players.

South Africa face Zambia in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, the play Argentina and face Iceland in the German city of Stuttgart on June 6 before moving to their French base in Vichy. The World Cup debutants face France, Denmark and Saudi Arabia in Group C with the first match against the host nation in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille on June 12.

Troussier, labelled the White Magician following a successful spell with Ivory Coast club ASEC, has repeatedly boasted that Bafana Bafana (The Boys) can reach the knockout second round.

” France are frightened of my team and will be under a lot of pressure playing at home while we have nothing to fear from Denmark, “ the 43-year-old Frenchman said.