Canada and South Africa enter uncharted territory in first World Cup last-32 game

[p]For [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a], it is the first time they ‌have advanced past the group stage in three World Cup appearances, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] have broken ‌through at their fourth attempt, securing the berth with a dramatic ‌transition in form after starting the tournament in hapless fashion.[/p][p]Victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South Korea[/a] in ‌their last Group A game was achieved with an attacking performance, ‌contrasting starkly with a defensive set-up against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] in the tournament’s opening fixture a fortnight ago in which little went right for the South Africans.[/p][p]Criticism rained down on 74-year-old coach ‌Hugo Broos, and while he switched to an attacking ⁠formation for their second game against ‌the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/6LHwBDGU/"]Czech Republic[/a], it took a fortuitous penalty to earn them a draw.[/p][p]But against ​the Koreans, South Africa looked transformed, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maseko-thapelo/fPICDHL5/"]Thapelo Maseko[/a]’s 63rd-minute goal ensured second place behind co-hosts Mexico.[/p][p][b]“I’m very proud of the performance ​of my team, and I think we gave an answer to all those big mouths of the last few weeks that thought that we had ⁠to change something,” [/b]Broos said.[/p][embed guid="fc6846e3-4e5a-446f-a4e7-2a27ec2443e1" url="https://x.com/CANMNT_Official/status/2070151977775096298?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Canada ​won a World Cup match for the first time when they hammered [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/qatar/zqzHL77i/"]Qatar[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/canada-x4toKORL/qatar-zqzHL77i/?mid=67vLrBMM"]6-0[/a] in Vancouver, sandwiched between a draw with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia[/a] and Herzogovina and a loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] in their final Group B match. They finished as runners-up and ‌will be disappointed that they did not take top spot, which would have kept them playing in Vancouver.[/p][p]Canada are hoping, however, their red-clad army of supporters will cross the border and travel to Los Angeles.[/p][p][b]"We're sorry we have to leave you. But you don't have to leave us,"[/b] the team posted on social media.[/p][p]The availability of captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davies-alphonso/4r3PXV20/"]Alphonso Davies[/a], who did not play in any of the group games due to injury issues, is Canada’s primary concern, although coach Jesse Marsch suggested ‌he would be fit for Sunday.[/p][p][b]“That he can have a big impact, both ​on us physically and football-wise, but also mentally, psychologically, to have ‌our captain back, our best player back in the team," [/b]Marsch said.[/p][embed guid="2e814198-da96-4fa3-827b-434ed9e79751" url="https://x.com/BafanaBafana/status/2070604557865083375?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Central midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kone-ismael/MkgjOoBG/"]Ismael Kone[/a] suffered a broken leg against Qatar, while there are also question marks around the fitness of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eustaquio-stephen/Uk00cWLU/"]Stephen Eustaquio[/a] and central defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bombito-moise/4dBTEEF3/"]Moise Bombito[/a].[/p][p]South Africa will have key midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mokoena-teboho/MFTeufFd/"]Teboho Mokoena[/a] back from suspension, ⁠but veteran playmaker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zwane-themba/hnSM11RK/"]Themba Zwane[/a] ⁠serves the last of a three-match ‌ban for a red card against Mexico.[/p]