Key events<\/p>\n
How good was this? It\u2019s so great to get that kind of insight and honesty \u2013 then know it\u2019s been effectively communicated because the response was so intense.<\/p>\n
My best guess is England\u2019s defence costs them eventually \u2013 and much as I think Thomas Tuchel is excellent, the back four he picked isn\u2019t, for mine, the best one he could\u2019ve picked \u2013 but in midfield, they can compete with anyone, and their attacking options are also up with everyone bar France\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Where is the game? Czechia will, I think, look to dominate midfield, looking to get the ball forward quickly then hit Hlozek and Schick with crosses or ball to feet for an up, back and through, one of them holding the ball before laying it off for it to go forward again.<\/p>\n South Africa, meanwhile, will look for quick counters, especially in behind the wingers and down the outside of the outside centre backs, with Adams and Mokoena making third-man runs beyonds Rayners and into the box.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Email! \u201cThis is a bittersweet game for me,\u201d confesses John Brennan. \u201cWhen the draw was made in December, this was the most likely game that I could get to see Ireland play. I probably couldn\u2019t have pulled off going to Mexico but getting from NY to Atlanta would have been reasonable. The stadium would have been packed with Irish fans between Irish living here on the East Coast and people travelling. Just thinking about it makes me wistful. What if Ryan Manning didn\u2019t give away that stupid penalty, what if Parrott had scored that chance in the second half, what if Sammy Smzodics hadn\u2019t been taken out of it and had been able to take a penalty instead of Alan Browne. And yeah if all those things had happened and Ireland beat Czechia<\/a>, it would probably be Denmark playing today.<\/p>\n Anyway, I have a strange feeling South Africa might show up today and make it difficult for the Czechs or maybe that is just a coping mechanism for me.\u201d<\/p>\n I feel you \u2013 but the buzz of those Parrott goals to get to there will never leave you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Who wants a bit of Mike Costello? Do I hear a hells to the yeah?!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a>Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Africa, meanwhile, are without Sithole and Zwane, sent off against Mexico; left our are Sibisi and Foster, with Mbatha, Maseko and Rayners coming in. They move from the 5-3-2 which put them under pressure last week to a far more natural 4-3-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A strange change from Czechia<\/a>, who add Holes to their defence \u2013 he replaces Chaloupek \u2013 while Soucek, Zeleny, Provod and Sulc also drop out. Others to come in are Sadilek, Darida, Cerv and Hlozsek; Miroslav Koubek must\u2019ve seriously disliked what he saw. I also think there\u2019ll be a formation change from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.16 EDT<\/p>\n Before we look at those teams, also going on:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.07 EDT<\/p>\n Teams!<\/p>\n Czechia (3-5-2): Kovar; Hranac, Holes, Krejci; Coufal, Sadilek, Darida, Cerv, Sojka; Hlozek, Schick. Subs: Chaloupek, Chory, Chytil, Doudera, Hornicek, Kuchta, Provod, Sochurek, Soucek, Stanek, Visinksy, Zeleny, Zima, Sulc.<\/p>\n South Africa (4-3-3): Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokzai, Modiba; Mokoena, Mbatha, Adams; Maseko, Rayners, Appollis. Subs: Chaine, Cross, Foster, Goss, Kabini, Makgopa, Makhanya, Mataludi, Mofokeng, Moremi, Ndamane, Sebelebele, Sibisi.<\/p>\n Referee: Tori Penso (USA)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Mike Costello, the legendary boxing commentator, tells a story of when he was fresh in the game, an old pro heard him getting dead excited calling a fight that wasn\u2019t Hagler-Hearns<\/a>, so issued some advice: always leave yourself somewhere to go.<\/p>\n For those of us involved in a similar kind of thing, this is an important lesson, but one easier grasped than lived \u2013 especially during the World Cup<\/a> and even more so during this World Cup. How not to unload the suitcase \u2013 and why not unload the suitcase \u2013 when Cura\u00e7ao equalise against Germany, Cape Verde force a draw with Spain and DRC equalise against then draw with Portugal? For them \u2013 and so for us, sport being the experience of living your life through others \u2013 this is their Hagler-Hearns, so it makes more sense to trust you\u2019ll find somewhere to go than not turn up somewhere you desperately need to be.<\/p>\n Which is to say we\u2019ve enjoyed a sensational first week of football \u2013 but Czechia<\/a> and South Africa have not, enduing the respective agonies of a soul-crushing late winner conceded and a total no-show dropped. But the structure of the competition is in their favour, a defeat today terminal for neither \u2013 though with final-round matches against Mexico and South Korea upcoming, a win feels essential for both.<\/p>\n Kick-off: 12pm local and EDT, 5pm BST, 2am AEST<\/p>\n