Hugo Broos fires back at 'trash' social media talk

18.06.26 FT World Cup

Czechia

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South Africa

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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has hit back at critics ahead of their clash against Czech Republic at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in matchday two of Group A in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This comes after the Belgian tactician set-up South Africa in a 3-5-2 formation in the opening game against Mexico, resulting in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the co-hosts, much to the frustration of supporters and pundits alike at home.

Bafana, as a result, are rooted at the bottom of the group, and are in desperate need of maximum points to get off the mark, putting the team under pressure ahead of the tie against Czhezia, who are equally in need of three points after losing their first game.

However, despite the backlash, Broos remains unfazed, sending a clear message to the critics and keyboard warriors on various social media platforms that he's the one calling the shots regarding the team selection and formation.

“I'm nearly 40 years coach and I know there's a side on your job where you're criticized, so for the moment I'm criticized but people have to know, and for those who still don't know, I do it my way,” said the veteran mentor.

"And I never listen to the trash of the social media. I never listen to people who sometimes think they are important and have to criticize the team, so when I go see what they did before, I think it should be better that they shut up.

"I know what went wrong, we had a debriefing two days after the game of Mexico, the players know it and that's the most important thing, for the rest I will do it my way. If tomorrow they want this one or another one or a third one in the team and I don't agree, they will not be in the team.

The 74-year-old coach says he's accustomed to being under scrutiny owing to the experience he accumulated in his managerial career that was set in motion all the way back to 1988 with RWD Molenbeek in his native Belgium.

“This is part of my job, I know that when you lose you're criticized, when you win you're the king. Eight months ago when when we qualified for the World Cup against Rwanda at home, there was somebody who came to me and he said, 'Coach, they have to make a statue for you in South Africa. I told him, 'Make it in wood so it will burn more easily when I lose,” Broos added.

"And that's happening now, so I'm too experienced to look and to listen to that, I try to do my job as good as possible, and I try to have a team tomorrow on the pitch who will fight for 90 minutes for it. And if we lose we can leave the pitch proudly because we did everything for it.

Bafana will be eager to bounce back at the expense of Czechia on Thursday (18h00) as they look to secure a spot in the knockout stages for the first time after failing to achieve the feat in the 1998, 2002, and the 2010 editions.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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