Not the time to be sentimental, says Broos as Bafana eye history: ‘I want success’

In Monterrey, Mexico 

Hugo Broos dropped his Mr Tough Guy persona and fully embraced the eye-catching and colossal Monterrey Stadium.

The Bafana Bafana coach, who is synonymous with grumpiness and never misses an opportunity to complain, whipped out his phone to capture the stadium in all its glory.

The Broos that complained about the soulless Atlanta Stadium was replaced by a human-like figure who was in awe of the venue that will host South Africa’s most important football match in 16 years (on Thursday morning at 03:00 in South Africa).

As was the case on 22 June 2010, Bafana will head into their last FIFA World Cup group stage match knowing that a win would take them to the knockouts of the global showpiece for the first time in the country’s history.

A win alone wasn’t enough 16 years ago. Bafana had to beat France by at least a five-goal margin at Free State Stadium - a figure that would be increased by every goal that Uruguay would score in their match with Mexico, which kicked off at the same time on that day.

READ | Broos grumbles about US stadiums, hydration breaks at World Cup

Goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela gave Bafana a 2-1 win, but Florent Malouda’s 70th-minute strike and Uruguay's 1-0 victory against El Tri denied the hosts a chance to make history.

Bafana ended the group stage in third place on four points, tied with second-placed Mexico. The North American side pipped Bafana in the fight for a spot in the last 16 by a better goal difference.

That result saw Bafana become the first host nation to crash out of the group stage, an ignominy only matched when Qatar repeated that disappointment at the last showpiece.

Broos’ men are in a slightly better position. A win against South Korea,