South Africa seek to silence critics against Czech Republic to keep World Cup campaign on track

[p]While the result against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] in the tournament ‌opener was not unexpected, the performance was well below par in ‌front of the watching world as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] finished the game with ‌nine men following two red cards and barely laid a glove ‌on their opponents.[/p][p]Set alongside strong results in the opening round of games for other African nations [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory Coast[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a], it all felt ‌like a damp squib for a team that ⁠is desperate to show what ‌they are capable of on the global stage.[/p][p]It drew stinging criticism back home, ​with everything from the individual displays to the tactics of their Belgian coach Hugo Broos under the spotlight.[/p][p]But ahead of ​their second Group A fixture against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/6LHwBDGU/"]Czech Republic[/a] in Atlanta on Thursday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maseko-thapelo/fPICDHL5/"]Maseko[/a] believes the side should draw inspiration from the ⁠2023 edition of continental finals, ​where they were dire in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/mali-jVn5lThB/south-africa-W2ijYvlr/?mid=lG9QHDa5"]2-0[/a] opening loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mali/jVn5lThB/"]Mali[/a] but ended up with the bronze medal after a narrow penalty shoot-out defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nigeria/EBE2Xb3l/"]Nigeria[/a] in the semi-finals.[/p][embed guid="d47f7431-5df0-4929-92c6-691215212f29" url="https://x.com/BafanaBafana/status/2066789234011152810?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Something that I've picked up is that ‌South Africans are happy when you win, but when you lose, you are the worst. That is a fact," [/b]Maseko told reporters.[/p][p][b]"We have big players with heart and if there is anyone out there doubting this team, they better think again.[/b][/p][p][b]"We went to Afcon in 2023 and lost the first game. But we were able to pick ourselves up and came back home with the bronze medal."[/b][/p][embed guid="5a2e1b50-3d10-4ca9-b70b-de1c35ad0ca3" url="https://x.com/BafanaBafana/status/2066681146230841610?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Czechs will provide a different type of challenge with their physicality and ‌aerial ability, and Maseko believes South Africa must outwork their opponents.[/p][p][b]"One thing ​we must improve on is the intensity, we need to ‌run extra hard. It is something we spoke about as a team. We were not happy with the result against Mexico and we want to improve going forward.[/b][/p][p][b]"It is a big tournament with big teams, but we must go out there and ⁠showcase our talents."[/b][/p][p]South Africa also face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]⁠South Korea[/a] in a ‌final pool fixture in Monterrey on June 24.[/p]