South Africa vs Ethiopia live stream video sopcast world cup qualifying soccer on HD TV

South Africa vs Ethiopia live stream video sopcast world cup qualifying soccer on HD TV

Time and Date:03/06/12 15:00 Local Time

Status:LIVE

Venue:Rustenburg

South Africa vs Ethiopia live

South Africa

Qualification history
South Africa was the first host nation to compete in qualifying despite receiving an automatic spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ because the competition also served as the preliminary stage for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Memories of that campaign will give Bafana Bafana fans no warm feelings as the team failed to beat Nigeria or Sierra Leone in four tries and were eliminated before the final group stage. Missing out on the continental finals meant a missed chance for experience that some said might have benefited them mightily in the summer of 2010. Before missing out on Germany 2006 by finishing behind Ghana in qualifying, South Africa had reached two finals on the trot.

FIFA World Cup finals history
No matter that they became the first host country to fail to advance from the group stage of a FIFA World Cup, a dramatic opening draw against Mexico along with a closing win over France did enough to leave the nation upbeat after South Africa 2010. In between those results, Bafana were exposed by eventual semi-finalists Uruguay in their only true setback, but they missed escaping a tough group only on goal difference. At their World Cup debut in 1998, they opened with a lopsided defeat to France and went home after two draws left them third in the group. Four years later, it was only the goals-scored tiebreaker that sent Paraguay out of the group at Bafana's expense.

The current crop
Full of pace and energy and with a knack for the dramatic, Bafana are no soft touch on the continent or beyond. Former coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was instrumental in expanding the base of high-level players that could be called on for national team duty, and that has made the side more consistent as well. Still key to the side’s fortunes is Steven Pienaar, who has been a fixture in the national team since the early 2000s.

The key players
That the team managed well at South Africa 2010 despite a sluggish performance by Pienaar should give confidence to a new generation of Bafana youngsters. The likes of Katlego Mphela, Bernard Parker and Davide Somma promise fireworks for years to come in attack.

Coach: Pitso Mosimane
Best performance in a FIFA competition: FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 (Fourth place)
Former stars: Mark Fish, Benni McCarthy, Lucas Radebe.


Ethiopia
Qualification history
One of the first African countries to participate in the FIFA World Cup™ qualifying competition, Ethiopia first attempted to reach the finals in 1962, and they have been fairly regular competitors in qualifying since without ever making a major mark. Going back to Korea Republic/Japan 2002, the Walya Antelopes showed potential in beating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the first leg of a qualifying tie before slumping to a 3-0 defeat in the return. Four years later, the tide was reversed as they lost 3-1 at home to Malawi before registering a scoreless draw away to the Flames. In the preliminaries for South Africa 2010, they came back from two defeats with victories home and away over Mauritania, including a 6-1 thrashing in Addis Ababa. However, those results were cancelled following the Ethiopia Federation’s exclusion from the competition.

The current crop
Ethiopia’s present form cannot match their heyday, when they won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1962, but there are signs of progress for the east Africans. They will surely be hardened for the FIFA World Cup campaign by some rugged qualifying matches for the 2012 Cup of Nations.

The key players
Striker Fikru Tefera is the most recognisable player, having spent time in the Czech Republic and South African leagues. Ethiopia can claim few overseas-based players, but their domestic competition is on the rise, and forward Umed Ukuri should give Tefera able support.

Coach: Sewnet Bishaw
Best performance in a FIFA competition: None
Former stars: Ydnekatchew Tessema, Luciano Vassalo, Mengistu Worku