Bafana Bafana started their final First Round game in good form.  The attacking mindset was highly evident as players regularly found themselves in promising positions.  After Shaun Bartlett fired the ball between `keeper and post for his team's first goal, we all felt we suddenly had a real chance.

However, it wasn't to be.  Saudi Arabia put in their best display of the tournament, and managed to ride some luck, to fight back with two converted penalties.  South African pride was salvaged in the final minutes with a penalty, goaled by Bartlett.

There were many distractions following the team during the campaign, and it is likely that many valuable lessons have been learned.  To be fair, the boys did remarkably well to get to France in the first place, and it would be unfair to criticise them for not going further.  Ultimately, we just aren't good enough... yet!  World Cup 2002, HERE WE COME!!!

If Bafana win and Denmark lose in Wednesday's games, it could have many people reaching for their calculators and rule books.  We've studied the logs and rules and have come up with the following understanding of what is required from the matches, to ensure that South Africa go through to the knockout stages.

France must beat Denmark, and our team must overcome Saudi Arabia.  If this happens, the second placed team in Group C will be decided by taking goal difference into account.  Currently, Denmark leads the goal difference between the countries by 4 goals.  Therefore, the following scenarios exist:

If France beats Denmark by one goal, we must beat Saudi Arabia by three.  If France beats Denmark by 2, we must also beat Saudi by 2, and so it goes on.  Furthermore, Bafana Bafana must score at least one goal more than the Danes in Wednesday's matches.  It's all very complicated - we know!

So, if France follow their current trend and thrash Denmark 5 - 0 (Their last two games were won 3 - 0 and 4 - 0), then we don't need to worry - provided we can beat Saudi Arabia!!!  Things get even more complicated when we consider what would happed if France beat Denmark 3 - 0 and we beat Saudi Arabia 1 - 0.  In this instance, both SA and Denmark would finish on four points, and both have 2 goals For and 4 goals Against.  When one considers that these two teams drew in their encounter, the officials may have to come up with some ingeneous (and most likely contraversial) method of splitting the teams.

What will make the situation even more interesting, is that both these Group C games will be played at the same time (16h00 on 24 June).  We can't wait!!!

BAFANA BAFANA'S NAUGHTY BOYS SENT PACKING!

In a shock press release from Vichy, Naughty Mokoena and star midfielder, Brendan Augustine, have been sent home in disgrace.  They apparently arrived back at their hotel at 5am after a night of partying, despite being given a strict 10pm curfew.  SAFA, quite rightly, has said that they will not tolerate such behaviour, especially at the grandest tournament of them all.  No replacements have been summoned at this stage.

Coach, Philippe Troussier commented that he thought the ban handed out to his midfielder was, ``a bit harsh".  Alfred Phiri was sentanced to a three-match ban by the FIFA disciplinary committee, after elbowing a Danish defender in Thursday's first round match.  Phiri was one of three players sent off during the match in which Colombian referee, Toro Rendon fought for attention over the brilliant skill shown by the South Africans.

WE'RE STILL IN IT!  A courageous display by Bafana Bafana on Thursday evening in Toulouse, saw them keep the hopes of the nation alive.

After a shaky first 20 minutes, South Africa began to string moves together with great promise.  Piere Issa made up for his unfortunate debut with an strong showing in defence, and Benni McCarthy - who scored the equaliser - was back to his best form.  The strength in the performance lay in the midfield, however, with Mosheu, Fortune and Mkhalele showing that they are world-class players.

We now must hope to beat Saudi Arabia convincingly to go through into the next stage of the competition.

SOUTH AFRICA LOSE ANOTHER GOALKEEPER - Latest news coming from the Bafana Bafana base at Vichy, is that Paul Evans will miss the rest of the World Cup.

Evans, who was recently called out to replace Andre Arendse, suffered a knee injury during training last week and will be out of all soccer for the next eight weeks.  Simon Gopane was called to France as his replacement on Tuesday night.  On the upside, Benni McCarthy has made a remarkable recovery from the injury he sustained in Friday's game, and is fit to play in the crucial Danish encounter on Thursday.  Perhaps he'll be joined at the front by South Africa's leading goal scorer in the World Cup? (see below)...

ISSA DISASTER - South Africa's opening game of the 1998 World Cup brought with it disappointment for the thousands of fans at home. Bafana's 3-0 loss to France might prove to be a real problem for South Africa's second round hopes. Pierre Issa was the first South African to score at the tournament - unfortunately through an own-goal!