Bloemfontein: South Africa departed the World Cup at the first hurdle but believe Tuesday's win over France in Bloemfontein provided for a honourable exit.
The match in Bloemfontein offered brief hopes of miraculous progress past the first round for the hosts but the 2-1 victory proved ultimately insufficient to overcome a goal difference deficit.
But a first ever win over a major soccer power ensured a satisfying ending to a fevered campaign, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his players said.
This is even though South Africa's elimination marks the first time in the history of 19 World Cup tournaments that the host team has failed to reach the second round.
"We can't see this as a failure," insisted Parreira, whose contract with the team is at an end. "It's just a disappointment.
"My main feeling is pride. We never talked about progressing to the next round, everyone knew it was one of the toughest groups in the World Cup. In the end, we just missed out on goal difference and if we had a little bit of luck it could have been different," said the Brazilian, who won the World Cup in 1994.
"The most important is that we ended the tournament on a high note. We are happy to say goodbye to the supporters in a good way," added midfielder Steven Pienaar, who played in all three games.
Strike Katlego Mphela, who had two shots against the woodwork at key moments in the tournament that had they gone in would have told a different tale, bemoaned a lack of luck.
"We gave our best. We were a bit unfortunate that we missed a couple of chance. But a win against France in the World Cup makes history."
South Africa must now name a successor to Parreira, an announcement the football association promised before the end of the World Cup.
Parreira's assistant Pitso Mosimane is the favourite to take over but told Reuters he had not yet been formally offered the job.
South Africa start qualifiers for the 2012 African Nations Cup in September. They are paired in a group with defending champions Egypt as well as minnows Niger and Sierra Leone.
Comments
0 comment