South Africa coach minimizes defeat: "Mexico was desperate"
Hugo Broos, coach of South Africa, minimized the 2-0 defeat to Mexico this Thursday (11), valid for the opening of the 2026 World Cup. Despite the setback, the coach stated that the team performed well against one of the hosts of the tournament.
"My team played a good match. At some points in the game, Mexico were desperate, they didn't know how to find the spaces, everything was fine. The only thing we need to improve for the next game is to be better with the ball", said the 74-year-old coach.
Broos also highlighted that his team withstood the pressure exerted by the opponent at the beginning of the duel. However, he regretted the mistakes made with possession of the ball, which resulted in the home team's goals.
"We were only under pressure in the first 20 minutes. After that we had the ball, but anyway... two of our mistakes, at times when we couldn't lose the ball and they took advantage of the spaces and ended up scoring two goals", he added.
Mexico wins in the opening of the World Cup
Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium, in the country's capital, and achieved the first victory of the 2026 World Cup.
The hosts built on the result with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. The South African team ended the match with two players sent off. Sithole and Zwane received red cards, while Montes was also sent off for the Mexican side.
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Raul Jimenez scores the second for Mexico - Carl Recine/Getty Images
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At the opening of the World Cup, Julian Quinones opens the scoring for Mexico - Carl Recine/Getty Images
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Wilton Sampaio sends off South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole after fouling a Mexican player - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Julian Quinones celebrates - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Foul that led to Sphephelo Sithole being sent off - Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Julian Quinones opens the scoring for Mexico - Luke Hales/Getty Images
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Mexico x South Africa, at the opening of the 2026 World Cup - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Brian Gutierrez at Mexico's World Cup debut - Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images
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A fan displays a giant replica of the World Cup trophy outside the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico June 11, 2026 REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach - REUTERS
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Mexico fans at the Azteca Stadium - Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images
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Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico's number 13, arrives before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City - Luke Hales/Getty Images
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Shirt of Raul Jimenez, Mexico player - Photo: Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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With the result, Mexico momentarily took the lead in Group A, with three points. South Korea and the Czech Republic will still face each other this Thursday, at 11pm (Brasília time), in the first round of the bracket.
On June 18, the Mexicans face the South Koreans, while South Africa faces the Czechs.
See the ranking of the most valuable squads of the World Cup
Source: CNN