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International Friendly Preview: South Africa V Scotland
South Africa - Scotland | News Archive
Vogts still looking for first win (Allsport)
05/19/2002. AT STAKE
The South African's continue their preparation for the greatest show on earth (aka The World Cup) with a clash in the Far East against Berti Vogts Scotland's side.
Jomo Sono's side face Paraguay, Spain and Slovenia in the World Cup, and will view the game against the Scots as valuable experience in gelling the team together and generally ironing out any creases and faults which may have appeared, although in truth the quality of their three opponents in June is above that of the Scots. After this game, they face fellow qualifiers Turkey on Thursday, a match which is likely to be a much sterner test for the Africans.
It would be tempting to say that the Scots are in turmoil after losing each of Vogts first three games in charge, however transition would be a better description as the German continues his admirable policy of blooding some of the youngsters. However, whilst this may pay off in the long term, at the moment, Scotland look like a nation going down the FIFA rankings at an alarming rate. The face a Hong Kong XI later this week and then Denmark in August, before starting their Euro 2004 campaign against the Faroes Islands - a game which many Scots must be having nightmares about even now!
CURRENT FORM:
Since the African Nations Cup last January, South Africa have had mixed fortunes spread over three friendly encounters. Last March they were hammered 4-1 by Georgia, whilst a month later they were held at home by Ecuador, who themselves are surprise WC qualifiers. Last time out, they sneaked a home win against Madagascar, although 1-0 was hardly a scoreline that they could have been proud of. However, with the WC under a fortnight away, it's individual performances and overall team unity that counts more than results, and if Sono can get that right over the next two games, then the results may well follow when it matters.
Played three, lost three, that's the unenviable record of Berti Vogts Scotland career so far. The 5-0 hammering at the hands of France raised few eyebrows in truth, whilst the 2-1 home defeat against Nigeria was put into perspective when the Africans did the same to Ireland last Thursday. The game against South Korea, also last Thursday, was another chance to field a very inexperienced side, however the fact that three of the four Korean goals were absolute beauties, will have done little to raise the hopes of the Tartan Army, who will see the 4-1 defeat as a result which will rank alongside flops against Peru, Iran and Costa Rica in their memory.
TEAM NEWS
To Follow
PLAYERS TO WATCH
South Africa: Lucas Radebe. The Leeds United defender has missed the entire Premiership campaign due to a serious knee injury, which not only threatened his career, but for a while, his ability to even walk. However, he has recovered and whether his place in the final WC squad is warranted or not, `The Chief` will surely be a valuable rock at the heart of the defence. My only reservation would be his fitness, but games such as this Scotland clash are arranged for this sort of rebuilding.
Scotland: Scott Dobie. The West Brom striker made his debut against South Korea and marked it with a fine headed goal - a rare bright spot among the Tartan gloom in Basran. Dobie has had an excellent season, helping his club to promotion to the Premiership, and is one of many youngsters and borderline players being tried by new boss Berti Vogts.
AVAILABLE SQUADS:
South Africa:
Goalkeepers - Andre Arendse (Santos), Calvin Marlin (Ajax Cape Town), Hans Vonk (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands)
Defenders - Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Carnell (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Pierre Issa (Watford, England), Aaron Mokoena (Germinal Beerschot, Belgium), Thabang Molefe (Jomo Cosmos), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs), Lucas Radebe (Leeds United, England)
Midfielders - Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Quinton Fortune (Manchester United), Thabo Mngomeni (Orlando Pirates), Bennett Mnguni (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Teboho Mokoena (St Gallen, Switzerland), McDonald Mukansi (Lokomotiv Sofia, Bulgaria), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jabu Pule (Kaizer Chiefs); MacBeth Sibaya (Jomo Cosmos), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Strikers - Benedict McCarthy (FC Porto, Portugal), George Koumantarakis (FC Basle, Switzerland), Siyabonga Nomvete (Udinese, Italy).
Scotland:
Goalkeepers: Neil Alexander (Cardiff City), Robert Douglas (Celtic), Paul Gallacher (Dundee United), Neil Sullivan (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Gary Caldwell (Newcastle United), Warren Cummings (Chelsea), Christian Dailly (West Ham United), Callum Davidson (Leicester City), Maurice Ross (Rangers), Robbie Stockdale (Middlesbrough), David Weir (Everton), Lee Wilkie (Dundee)
Midfielders: Graham Alexander (Preston North End), Scot Gemmill (Everton), James McFadden (Motherwell), Kevin McNaughton (Aberdeen), Scott Severin (Heart of Midlothian), Michael Stewart (Manchester United) Gareth Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Forwards: Scott Dobie (West Bromwich Albion), Allan Johnston (Middlesbrough), Kevin Kyle (Sunderland), Garry O'Connor (Hibernian), Steven Thompson (Dundee United).
soccerage
South Africa - Scotland | News Archive
Vogts still looking for first win (Allsport)
05/19/2002. AT STAKE
The South African's continue their preparation for the greatest show on earth (aka The World Cup) with a clash in the Far East against Berti Vogts Scotland's side.
Jomo Sono's side face Paraguay, Spain and Slovenia in the World Cup, and will view the game against the Scots as valuable experience in gelling the team together and generally ironing out any creases and faults which may have appeared, although in truth the quality of their three opponents in June is above that of the Scots. After this game, they face fellow qualifiers Turkey on Thursday, a match which is likely to be a much sterner test for the Africans.
It would be tempting to say that the Scots are in turmoil after losing each of Vogts first three games in charge, however transition would be a better description as the German continues his admirable policy of blooding some of the youngsters. However, whilst this may pay off in the long term, at the moment, Scotland look like a nation going down the FIFA rankings at an alarming rate. The face a Hong Kong XI later this week and then Denmark in August, before starting their Euro 2004 campaign against the Faroes Islands - a game which many Scots must be having nightmares about even now!
CURRENT FORM:
Since the African Nations Cup last January, South Africa have had mixed fortunes spread over three friendly encounters. Last March they were hammered 4-1 by Georgia, whilst a month later they were held at home by Ecuador, who themselves are surprise WC qualifiers. Last time out, they sneaked a home win against Madagascar, although 1-0 was hardly a scoreline that they could have been proud of. However, with the WC under a fortnight away, it's individual performances and overall team unity that counts more than results, and if Sono can get that right over the next two games, then the results may well follow when it matters.
Played three, lost three, that's the unenviable record of Berti Vogts Scotland career so far. The 5-0 hammering at the hands of France raised few eyebrows in truth, whilst the 2-1 home defeat against Nigeria was put into perspective when the Africans did the same to Ireland last Thursday. The game against South Korea, also last Thursday, was another chance to field a very inexperienced side, however the fact that three of the four Korean goals were absolute beauties, will have done little to raise the hopes of the Tartan Army, who will see the 4-1 defeat as a result which will rank alongside flops against Peru, Iran and Costa Rica in their memory.
TEAM NEWS
To Follow
PLAYERS TO WATCH
South Africa: Lucas Radebe. The Leeds United defender has missed the entire Premiership campaign due to a serious knee injury, which not only threatened his career, but for a while, his ability to even walk. However, he has recovered and whether his place in the final WC squad is warranted or not, `The Chief` will surely be a valuable rock at the heart of the defence. My only reservation would be his fitness, but games such as this Scotland clash are arranged for this sort of rebuilding.
Scotland: Scott Dobie. The West Brom striker made his debut against South Korea and marked it with a fine headed goal - a rare bright spot among the Tartan gloom in Basran. Dobie has had an excellent season, helping his club to promotion to the Premiership, and is one of many youngsters and borderline players being tried by new boss Berti Vogts.
AVAILABLE SQUADS:
South Africa:
Goalkeepers - Andre Arendse (Santos), Calvin Marlin (Ajax Cape Town), Hans Vonk (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands)
Defenders - Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Carnell (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Pierre Issa (Watford, England), Aaron Mokoena (Germinal Beerschot, Belgium), Thabang Molefe (Jomo Cosmos), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs), Lucas Radebe (Leeds United, England)
Midfielders - Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Quinton Fortune (Manchester United), Thabo Mngomeni (Orlando Pirates), Bennett Mnguni (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Teboho Mokoena (St Gallen, Switzerland), McDonald Mukansi (Lokomotiv Sofia, Bulgaria), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jabu Pule (Kaizer Chiefs); MacBeth Sibaya (Jomo Cosmos), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Strikers - Benedict McCarthy (FC Porto, Portugal), George Koumantarakis (FC Basle, Switzerland), Siyabonga Nomvete (Udinese, Italy).
Scotland:
Goalkeepers: Neil Alexander (Cardiff City), Robert Douglas (Celtic), Paul Gallacher (Dundee United), Neil Sullivan (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Gary Caldwell (Newcastle United), Warren Cummings (Chelsea), Christian Dailly (West Ham United), Callum Davidson (Leicester City), Maurice Ross (Rangers), Robbie Stockdale (Middlesbrough), David Weir (Everton), Lee Wilkie (Dundee)
Midfielders: Graham Alexander (Preston North End), Scot Gemmill (Everton), James McFadden (Motherwell), Kevin McNaughton (Aberdeen), Scott Severin (Heart of Midlothian), Michael Stewart (Manchester United) Gareth Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Forwards: Scott Dobie (West Bromwich Albion), Allan Johnston (Middlesbrough), Kevin Kyle (Sunderland), Garry O'Connor (Hibernian), Steven Thompson (Dundee United).
soccerage
