Czechia vs South Africa Predictions

• Both teams have scored in Czechia’s last five matches
• South Africa have lost three of their last six games with BTTS in four
• Tomas Soucek has scored in three of his last 10 international games and had a goal ruled out for a close offside on Friday

Chips are down for Czechs

The chips are down for both Czechia and South Africa, who cannot afford to lose again in Dallas after starting their World Cup campaigns off on the wrong foot. Bafana Bafana succumbed to a bit of naivety in their opener against a pumped-up Mexico at Estadio Azteca and coch Hugo Broos has been left to pick up the pieces.

His side finished with nine men after both midfielder Sphephelo Sithole and substitute Themba Zwane saw red and to compound his selection problems, starting midfielder Aubrey Modiba limped off with what looked like a hamstring issue.

South Africa don’t have the deepest squad and they now face another physical test against a robust Czech side who also could do with a win. Mirolsav Koubek’s side were given a bit of a footballing lesson by South Korea, who came from behind to beat them 2-1 in Guadalajara.

Soucek can score in Atlanta 

The Czechs never gave up fighting for second balls and were always a threat on set-pieces, but probably lack invention in midfield to break down better sides. South Africa are far worse, however, and this matchup presents a great chance for them to get back on track against a wounded and slightly demoralised side.

Bafana Bafana have to be more progressive and, although they created little against the co-hosts, there should be opportunities for them on the counter-attack against Czechia. Koubek’s side have not kept a clean sheet in five matches, conceding to the likes of non-qualifiers Kosovo and Guatemala.

Their aerial threat should see them to all three points here and it is worth backing West Ham star Tomas Soucek, who was denied a goal against South Korea by a marginal offside call, to score in a win with both teams on the scoresheet.