01/04/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 1, 2026

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Bafana Bafana can spring surprise: Broos

SOUTH AFRICA can create a few sur prises at this year’s World Cup as they will go into the tournament as an unknown factor, coach Hugo Broos said yesterday. South Africa return to the World Cup for the first time since the country hosted the finals in 2010 and play in the opening game on June 11 against co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. They also take on South Korea in Group A and the winner of this morn ing’s playoff between the Czech

interest from abroad, but you only get that interest when you participate in big tournaments,” Broos said. After we finished third at the (2023) Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, suddenly there was interest in players of the national team, and that is most important so that they can move abroad.”

the World Cup.” South Africa previously qualified for the 1998 and 2002 finals and were hosts in 2010 but have returned disap pointing results since. But they finished ahead of Nigeria in their qualifying group to win one of the nine African places at the finals in Canada, Mexico, and U.S. “I think what South Africa needs is

“For me, it’s not enough to be there, and I should be very, very disap pointed if the performances are not what I think they can be,” said the for mer Belgiuminternational. “I don’t really have to push the players because they also want to show themselves at the World Cup. I know their mentality and I know the hunger they have, to do something at

Republic and Denmark. “When we are at our best level, with the quality in this team, then we can make some surprises in the World Cup,” the veteran Belgian coach. Broos said even though the team had qualified for the tournament after a long absence, their ambitions were to make an impact and go as far as they could.

Iraq coach Arnold shielding players from war news IRAQ COACH Graham Arnold said yesterday he is trying to shield his squad from news of the war in the Middle East as they prepare for a crunch 2026 World Cup playoff against Bolivia today (11am Malaysian time). Arnold’s Iraq-based players were forced to train and travel under the shadow of conflict embroiling the region, and arrived in Mexico after a gruelling journey that involved over land travel to Jordan. However Arnold is determined not to let the troubled build-up distract his team as they bid to secure Iraq’s first appearance at the World Cup since the 1986 finals in Mexico. “Representing 46 million people is a unique experience,” Arnold told reporters in Monterrey yesterday. “A major part of my job has focused on the mental aspect. “The players need to concentrate on them selves – thinking of their families and a few close friends – rather than the entire country; otherwise, the pressure becomes too great,” the 62-year-old Australian added. Iraq’s preparations for today’s interconti nental playoff have been heavily disrupted over the past month by the war in the Middle East. Most of the Iraqi squad only reached Mexico around 10 days ago after a three-day journey from Baghdad that began with an overland crossing into Jordan. “It has been a very difficult month,” admit ted Arnold, who had initially pushed for today’s playoffs to be delayed. I prefer not to talk about it right now (the war in the Middle East). I have tried to shield my players from it. “A tremendous amount is happening in the Middle East; if they dwell on it too much, it will mess with their heads. “They know what they have to do for their country. These past 20 days have been very difficult for them, but now they are relaxed.” Arnold said he believes qualification could “change a country and the perception of it.” “In Iraq, there is an obsession with football; it is the national sport,” he said. “It is an honor to work with these players. “I tried to be a father figure this week because I have experienced these situations (playoffs) before with Australia,” he added. – AFP South Africa’s squad is made up mainly of locally based players, in con trast to other African sides competing at the World Cup, most of whom have squads of players based at foreign clubs, mainly in Europe. – Reuters the World Cup, he said yester. “I love it. We accept that challenge,” De la Fuente said of the pressure of being favourites. It’s the same as what happens with other teams like France, England and Brazil,” he said. Asked about star forward Lamine Yamal , De la Fuente said he is in “one of the best moments of his young career”. “He’s in a very sweet moment – fast, resilient, producing flashes of brilliance,” said the coach. “I understand that Barca fans worry about him. My responsibility is to put out the best possible lineup, the best possible team. He’s a better footballer than he was two years ago, but not as good as he’ll be in two years. His contribution grows every day. He draws attention, he has magic,” De la Fuente said. Spain will play just one more friendly in Puebla, Mexico, against Peru on June 8 before their World Cup debut on the 15th against Cape Verde in Atlanta, United States in Group H match.s

Deniz the menace

Substitute Undav snatches late winner for Germany in 2-1 victory over Ghana

G ERMANY FORWARD Deniz Undav came off the bench to score an 88th-minute goal that secured a 2 1 victory over Ghana in a friendly yesterday, boosting his chances of mak ing the World Cup squad. The VfB Stuttgart striker, who is sec ond on the Bundesliga scorers’ list with 18 goals, made the most of a second-half appearance in front of a home crowd, bag ging the winner with a flick over the Ghana keeper. The winning goal came after Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann had raised eyebrows on Friday when Undav was left on the bench as they beat Switzerland 4-3. “A perfect evening. It was amazing to hear this support from the fans,” Undav said. “I came in and scored the goal but what is more important is that we won the game because otherwise it does not mean much.” Asked whether he

lacked the intensity they had shown over 90 minu tes against the Swiss when they twice came from a goal down to win and Ghana gradually started finding more space to launch quick breaks. The visitors scored with their first chance after the interval, substitute Abdul Fatawu tapping in after a fine run down the left and an assist from Derrick Koehn in the 70th. Teenager Lennart Karl came close to scoring in the 86th minute but his low shot rolled nar rowly wide. Instead it was local hero Undav, whose name fans had chanted since the first half, who grabbed the late winner. “We now have to start analysing our oppo nents in the World Cup,” Nagelsmann said. “Now we have time for that and also to keep monitoring our players and take final decision before the squad announcement in May.” The Germans, who have not reached a final in any major international tournament since winning their fourth World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, have been drawn in Group E

verted a first-half stoppage-time pen alty to give the hosts a deserved lead. They had a chance to grab

a second goal w h e n Woltemade hit the cross bar with a powe r f u l header early in the sec ond half. But the Germans

with Ecuador, Curacao and Ivory Coast for the June 11-July 19 tour nament. They play their opening World Cup match in

would settle for a substitute’s role at the World Cup as Nagelsmann had hinted, Undav said he had dis cussed his posi tion with the coach. “I accept my role and maybe if I score more goals like this my role may change, who knows,” Undav said. Germany had

Houston, Texas on June 14 against Curacao. Germany then travel to Toronto on June 20 to take on Ivory Coast before the last group game against

Ecuador in New York on June 25. – Reuters

Germany’s Deniz Undav celebrates 2 1 victory over Ghana in Stuttgart yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

an early chance through forward Nick Woltemade, who has struggled for form at Newcastle United this season but trusted to start instead of Undav.

They had Ghana firmly on the back foot when Kai Havertz con

SIDENETTING

much set.” Ancelotti said a strong defensive foundation would be essential for Brazil to win a sixth World Cup. “For Brazil to win the World Cup, we need talent - and we have it - and we need to defend well,” the Italian said. “There’s no other way. I’m not convinced by an attacking game alone.” Black Stars sack coach GHANA have parted ways with coach Otto Addo, with 72 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, the country’s football asso ciation (GFA) announced yesterday following a 2-1 defeat by Germany in Stuttgart. Ghana also lost 5-1 in Austria on Friday. “The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have parted ways with the Head Coach of the senior men’s national team (Black Stars), Otto Addo effective immediately,” it said in a statement. Former Borussia Dortmund

player Addo, appointed for a second stint in March 2024, failed to qualify Ghana for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite having Premier League players Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus in his squad. The German born coach won eight matches and lost nine in 22 games in charge of the West African nation. He led Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, after previ ously working as an assistant to Milovan Rajevac. They recorded a 3–2 win over South Korea in Qatar but exited at the group stage after defeats by Portugal and Uruguay. Ghana, who reached the World Cup for the fifth time, are in Group L along with Croatia, England and Panama. Spain happy with favourite tag, says De la Fuente SPAIN COACH Luis de la Fuente is enjoying the pressure of being one of the favourites to win

Danilo gets thumbs up from Ancelotti

BRAZIL HEAD COACH Carlo Ancelotti has backed veteran defender Danilo to be part of his final 26-man squad for this year’s World Cup in North America, adding that his squad is largely settled. Brazil have been drawn in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland for the tournament, with Ancelotti set to announce his final squad by May 18. “Danilo is a very impor tant player, not only on the pitch but also off it,” Ancelotti told reporters yesterday. “Danilo is cer tain to be in the final 26-man squad because I like him… his character, his personality, his style of play. He can play in all defensive positions. I have a fairly clear idea of the starting line-up for the first match, and the final squad is also pretty