Czechia will face more power and less speed when they pursue their first points of the World Cup 2026 against South Africa in Atlanta on Thursday, believes defender Jaroslav Zeleny.
Ladislav Krejci gave Miroslav Koubek’s side a second-half lead they could not preserve in their 2-1 defeat to South Korea in Zapopan on matchday one.
“The game will be a little more physical,” predicted Sparta Praha’s Zeleny. “Even when the sun isn’t shining here, it’s still terribly stuffy, so training is very demanding.
“If it were like it was in Mexico everywhere, it would be pleasant. But unfortunately it’s not like that here, so we have to get used to it because there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Bafana Bafana had a forgettable evening in the first game of the tournament, losing 2-0 to Mexico with nine players.
“It was a good wake-up call for us,” head coach Hugo Broos told FIFA. “We know what we did wrong and what we have to do.
“People are talking about tactics but it is nothing to do with tactics. It was experience we missed in that game.
“This was the first time for all the players that they were playing in such an environment, in such a stadium and for such a crowd.
“I have a group of guys who learn very quickly and we will see a totally different team against Czechia.”
World Cup 2026: Czechia v South Africa team news
South Africa are without midfielders Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, who were shown straight red cards against Mexico.
