Czech Coach Expects a Different South Africa Tonight

South Africa played an uncharacteristically conservative style against Mexico, and Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek anticipates more surprises in tonight's Group A World Cup clash between the two teams. The South Africans fell 2-0 to Mexico in their opening match, while the Europeans lost 2-1 to South Korea. The Czech Republic will face South Africa tonight at 7:00 PM Bulgarian time (EET) at the stadium in Atlanta. Koubek does not expect the African side to employ a defensive five-at-the-back formation again.

"South Africa played in an unusual style against Mexico. They opted for players who typically play differently from those they usually field. Their formation was also unconventional, and I expect changes again against us," Koubek stated at a pre-match press conference. "There's some pressure on us, but it's more of a healthy kind. We won't buckle. We're in the same situation as our opponents, as neither team secured points in their first match. This is a problem, and we will strive to win. We are also putting a lot of thought into our strategy for this opponent," he added.