Relief as Bafana reach FIFA Confed Cup semis
Jun 21, 2009
BLOEMFONTEIN<br><br>Hosts South Africa expressed a sense of relief at reaching the Confederations Cup semi-finals despite being outplayed by Spain and losing 2-0 in their final group match on Saturday.
BLOEMFONTEIN
Hosts South Africa expressed a sense of relief at reaching the Confederations Cup semi-finals despite being outplayed by Spain and losing 2-0 in their final group match on Saturday.
“For us it’s great relief and it’s history too for us to make the semi-finals of a competition like this,†captain Aaron Mokoena said after the match, which saw Spain finish top of Group A with nine points and South Africa second with four.
“It’s a good feeling to get to the semi-final but there are mixed feelings too after the loss. But we were beaten by a big country with good players.
“Getting to the semi-finals is a big positive and is encouraging and shows we have some direction,†he told Reuters.
South Africa came runners-up after Iraq failed to beat New Zealand in Johannesburg which finished goalless.
“There is a sense of relief but we have qualified and that was our goal,†said midfielder Steven Pienaar.
“Spain are not ranked number one for nothing and it showed we still have a lot to learn. It was a great experience for us.
“This is a good challenge for us as we prepare for the World Cup,†he added.
South Africa midfielder MacBeth Sibaya, whose caution on Saturday means he is suspended for Thursday’s semi-final, said the team was unaware of their fate until after the match.
They huddled in a group on the pitch and celebrated once the stadium announcer told the crowd Iraq had drawn.
The semi-finals will be played in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Spain will try to keep pressing firmly on the accelerator after setting a world record of 15 successive international wins by beating hosts South Africa 2-0 in the Confederations Cup on Saturday.
“It’s really, really nice. For us it was important to be part of history,†striker Fernando Torres said after the European champions beat South Africa. “Now we want more.â€
Midfielder Xabi Alonso said: “It has been a massive challenge to beat this record. We are really proud but we are not going to stop now.
“Everything is looking positive, the dynamic of the squad is really good and because of that we can think of achieving more in the future,†added Alonso, who was rested on Saturday ahead of next week’s semi-finals.
Spain beat the previous record of 14 wins in a row held by Australia (1996-97), Brazil (1997) and France (2003-04).
Coach Vicente del Bosque’s team also equalled Brazil’s run of 35 games without defeat.
Spain’s last defeat was against Romania in a friendly in November 2006.
“We won’t open the champagne tonight, maybe next week,†said Torres as his team awaited the identity of their semi-final opponents on Thursday.
Group B was yet to be decided by press time last night.
---------------------------------------
FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP
S. Africa 0 Spain 2
Iraq 0 N. Zealand 0
Group A standings
P W D L Pts
1. Spain 3 3 0 0 9
2. S. Africa 3 1 1 1 4
3. Iraq 3 0 2 1 2
4. N. Zealand 3 0 1 2 1
Thursday: Semifinals
Hosts South Africa expressed a sense of relief at reaching the Confederations Cup semi-finals despite being outplayed by Spain and losing 2-0 in their final group match on Saturday.
“For us it’s great relief and it’s history too for us to make the semi-finals of a competition like this,†captain Aaron Mokoena said after the match, which saw Spain finish top of Group A with nine points and South Africa second with four.
“It’s a good feeling to get to the semi-final but there are mixed feelings too after the loss. But we were beaten by a big country with good players.
“Getting to the semi-finals is a big positive and is encouraging and shows we have some direction,†he told Reuters.
South Africa came runners-up after Iraq failed to beat New Zealand in Johannesburg which finished goalless.
“There is a sense of relief but we have qualified and that was our goal,†said midfielder Steven Pienaar.
“Spain are not ranked number one for nothing and it showed we still have a lot to learn. It was a great experience for us.
“This is a good challenge for us as we prepare for the World Cup,†he added.
South Africa midfielder MacBeth Sibaya, whose caution on Saturday means he is suspended for Thursday’s semi-final, said the team was unaware of their fate until after the match.
They huddled in a group on the pitch and celebrated once the stadium announcer told the crowd Iraq had drawn.
The semi-finals will be played in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Spain will try to keep pressing firmly on the accelerator after setting a world record of 15 successive international wins by beating hosts South Africa 2-0 in the Confederations Cup on Saturday.
“It’s really, really nice. For us it was important to be part of history,†striker Fernando Torres said after the European champions beat South Africa. “Now we want more.â€
Midfielder Xabi Alonso said: “It has been a massive challenge to beat this record. We are really proud but we are not going to stop now.
“Everything is looking positive, the dynamic of the squad is really good and because of that we can think of achieving more in the future,†added Alonso, who was rested on Saturday ahead of next week’s semi-finals.
Spain beat the previous record of 14 wins in a row held by Australia (1996-97), Brazil (1997) and France (2003-04).
Coach Vicente del Bosque’s team also equalled Brazil’s run of 35 games without defeat.
Spain’s last defeat was against Romania in a friendly in November 2006.
“We won’t open the champagne tonight, maybe next week,†said Torres as his team awaited the identity of their semi-final opponents on Thursday.
Group B was yet to be decided by press time last night.
---------------------------------------
FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP
S. Africa 0 Spain 2
Iraq 0 N. Zealand 0
Group A standings
P W D L Pts
1. Spain 3 3 0 0 9
2. S. Africa 3 1 1 1 4
3. Iraq 3 0 2 1 2
4. N. Zealand 3 0 1 2 1
Thursday: Semifinals