Johannesburg – While Spain are returning to the scene where they lifted the 2010 Fifa World Cup more than three years ago, Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is looking to make their highly anticipated visit an unpleasant one.
“Spain is a fantastic team, no doubt about it, they have world class players,” Igesund said at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.
“In the back of their minds, they know they have to try and win the game. I'm sure they're going to enjoy themselves, but just like they want to win it, we also want to win it.”
Igesund said Bafana would take the game to their visitors, instead of being overawed by their more fancied opponents, who boast a wealth of international experience.
“We're not going to sit back, we're going to take the game to them and let's see,” Igesund said.
“I believe sometimes, unfortunately, we get so awed by teams coming here (to South Africa).
“Yes, Spain are coming here, but they're playing against Bafana.
“We can match teams. If we keep our shape properly and we play properly, we can go out there and we can have a good display.”
The national coach was nevertheless realistic about his team's chances against the current European and World Champions.
“I do know it and I'm not underestimating them in any way, they are a world class team,” he said.
“They have world-class experience. So not for one minute am I saying that we'll be as good as them.
“We've got a long way to go to reach that level, but we can compete. We've proved that over and over again.”
Meanwhile, Bafana midfielder Dean Furman expressed his excitement at the prospect of taking on a Spanish outfit packed with stars.
“We don't want to look at it as being daunting, we want to look at it as playing against one of the biggest teams in the world,” said the England based Furman.
“We're confident in the camp. We're really looking forward to it. It's a big test for us and we also want to keep progressing.
“There's no better way to do that, than to play against the World Champions.”
Bafana head into the clash on the back of a comfortable 3-0
victory over Swaziland on Friday, and Furman said he was hopeful Bafana could put up a similar showing to the one against Brazil in September last year, in which he made his international debut.
“We're not afraid of anyone, we know they are the World Champions, we know they have some of the best players in the world and we'll give them the respect they're due, but this is our home pitch, in front of our fans and we want to give them a team to be proud of,” he said.
“As an individual, this is what you want. There's nothing better than playing against the best players in the world.
“These are the players we watch week in and week out on television, playing for the top teams in the world.” – Sapa