Eswatini look easy prey for Bafana
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A friendly meeting with Eswatini is about as low key as it gets for Bafana Bafana, but there is some significant importance attached to their clash on Friday that kicks off a R100,000 carryover Soccer 10 pool.
Coach Hugo Broos has selected a strong squad for the game and the away clash with Ivory Coast on Tuesday, which will be hugely important in terms of crossing swords with a quality opponent ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.
Eswatini should be a stroll in the park for the South Africans, but in terms of building towards the continental finals and the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month, it is an important 90 minutes in which Broos can test combinations and work with the players in training.
And there has been no opponent Bafana has enjoyed playing more down the years than the neighbouring kingdom. With eight wins from eight previous meetings, they are the only team Bafana have faced more than twice and won every time.
South America’s World Cup qualifiers got underway last month - the first of the six continental confederations to begin the process of deciding who goes to the 2026 finals in North America and continue tomorrow night with both Argentina and Brazil hot favourites to continue their winning ways.
Lionel Messi was named in the squad for Argentina’s next two World Cup qualifiers, despite a muscle problem sustained last month that has kept him on the sidelines for Inter Miami’s last four games. Messi earned Argentina victory in their opening qualifier against Ecuador with a goal from a free kick, but did not play in the next qualifier against Bolivia.
World Cup runners-up France look likely to be the first country to book their place in the 2024 European Champions when they play away to the Netherlands on Friday. They trashed the Dutch 4-0 in Paris in March and are fancied to overcome them again, although not as emphatically this time.
Austria welcome Belgium with the two sides level on 13 points and seven points clear at the top of Group F. The winners on the night are sure to make it through to the next June’s EURO-24 finals in Germany.
Scotland can also progress if they win in Seville, but that looks a tough assignment.
HIRED/FIRED: Vincenzo Montella has a massive task in his first game as Turkey coach with his side taking on main Group D rivals Croatia. The teams are level on 10 points, but Croatia have a game in hand.
BACK IN ACTION: Jesus Navas is back in the Spanish squad for their matches against Scotland and Norway. Wins in both will secure Spain’s place at next year’s European Championship in Germany.
WHO’S HOT: Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is the current top scorer in the EURO-2024 qualifiers with eight goals. Denmark forward Rasmus Højlund and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay are close behind with six apiece.