South Africa earned their first point of the FIFA World Cup in a 1-1 draw with Czechia in Atlanta on Thursday, but former Watford striker Troy Deeney was sharply critical of the match.
Deeney, who scored 47 goals and assisted 20 in 165 Premier League appearances and last featured in the top flight in 2021-22, voiced his concerns while working as a pundit for CBS Sports.
He singled out the frequency of long-range attempts, noting that South Africa took 11 of their 17 shots from outside the box and Czechia took three of their 14 from range, according to Flashscore. “Terrible result for both – I think even worse for Czechia for where they were at,” Deeney said. “I don’t think I’ve watched a professional game of football with more long shots in one game. Honestly, it was like watching kids football.” He also acknowledged South Africa’s equaliser, saying: “Well done, South Africa, getting that penalty” from which Teboho Mokoena scored in the 83rd minute.
Deeney added that the draw did not reflect the footballing cultures of either nation. “It’s a shame as well because historically, they’re both great teams – great nations – but we’re seeing a poor product that I don’t think reflects the people and the countries personally,” he said.
The result leaves Mexico top of Group A on six points after a 1-0 win over South Korea, who sit second on three. Czechia and South Africa have one point apiece. South Africa will meet South Korea in Guadalupe on Wednesday, with kick-off at 3 a.m. on Thursday for viewers in South Africa, while Czechia face Mexico in Mexico City simultaneously. The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.
