Banyana face uphill struggle

Banyana face uphill struggle

TAB is boosting various soccer pools this weekend by more than R1-million, so yet again there should be some life-changing payouts for bettors who get it right with the action focused on the Leagues Cup contested by clubs from the MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.

By Mark Gleeson

In the early hours of Thursday, the Women’s World Cup gets underway amid high hopes it will prove a major conduit for increased interest in female football.

Certainly, the profile of the women’s game has grown exponentially in recent decades and this tournament will be the first to feature the expanded format of 32 teams from the previous 24, replicating the same format used for the men's World Cup from 1998 to 2022.

Included in the final 32 are South Africa, who compete in a tough Group G with Argentina, Italy and pool favourites Sweden.

It is the second time Banyana Banyana compete in the tournament but there is not much hope they will do better than in France four years ago when eliminated at the first hurdle.

The strike by the South African players ahead of the tournament over wages, including a refusal to play in their send-off game against Botswana, has cast a dark shadow over their chances.

Desiree Ellis’ charges do not play until Sunday, when they will be heavy underdogs in their group opener against Sweden, and by that time we will have seen the first match of many of the key contenders.

The Americans are the favourites but European champions England, France, Germany and the 2011 winners Japan are all expected to launch strong bids.

Africa has, for the first time, four representatives but none of the teams are expected to get past the first round. Many, however, will be hoping for a performance that emulates the surprise run of Morocco to the semi-finals of the men’s World Cup in Qatar last December.

The early qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League continue tonight and tomorrow with the chance of a shock result here and there. There are four preliminary knockout rounds that precede the group phase with phased entry in every round for clubs depending on their position in the UEFA rankings.

Swedish champions BK Hacken look to be in a little bother in the first preliminary round and there could also be an upset from Kosovo’s Ballkani too.

Last Saturday’s 14 Major League Soccer matches were the last MLS action for the next month, as they break for the Leagues Cup, in which the 29 MLS teams will battle with the 18 Mexican Liga MX teams. The competition will include group play (15 groups of three teams, two games apiece) and a knockout stage (five rounds, beginning with 32 teams in the first round).