South Africa facing clutch match with All Whites

By now, even a game against New Zealand is looking daunting for Confederations Cup host South Africa.

After a 0-0 draw against Iraq in the tournament opener, Bafana Bafana now faces New Zealand on Wednesday, with a loss bringing virtual elimination from the tournament which is supposed to give it momentum for next year's World Cup.

"All is not lost yet," South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune said Tuesday.

For New Zealand, any result yielding at least a point will do. After a 5-0 opening loss to top-ranked Spain, it is looking to return home with at least some restored pride.

Despite the nerves, South Africa again enters the game a favorite, especially because midfielder Steven Pienaar is expected to return to the starting lineup.

"We have to give everything in the last two games," said Pienaar, who was used as a late substitute only during the opener because of a tender ankle and a stomach bug in the preceding days.

South Africa was widely criticised for conservative tactics against Iraq and its strikers were woefully ineffective.

With Pienaar, Orlando Pirates creative midfielder Tiko Modise should have more support to push the ball up front and pressure the New Zealanders.

South Africa coach Joel Santana said he would drop his defensive bent.

"We will try to go out and attack," Santana said, answering calls from just about every critic in the nation. "We may have good luck."

Santana also stressed that New Zealand's bad loss against Spain was a fluke.

"This match was not normal. This is a good team," he said, referring to New Zealand's narrow 4-3 loss to world champion Italy. "The have two good strikers and are very dangerous."

If Santana's strikeforce is found wanting again, the Brazilian could well have his job on the line Wednesday since criticism has been relentless. With little to expect against the superlative Spaniards in the last Group A game, he has to make his move now.

Spain leads the group with three points, ahead of Iraq and South Africa with one and New Zealand with zero. With the top two advancing to the semifinals, New Zealand needs at least a point against the hosts.

"There's certainly a burning desire to get that," All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said.

Seven matches in three Confederations Cups have yielded as many losses. And after 17 minutes, New Zealand trailed Spain 3-0.

"At the end of the day, we have to put things in perspective," Herbert said. "We're playing against the best players in the world."

So holding Spain to two goals over the final 73 minutes was not that bad, he said.

"We've got a disappointed group of players but it's a new day tomorrow," Herbert said. "We'll bounce back."

Iraq plays Spain in the other Group A match in Bloemfontein.

AP