Bafana Bafana will have to defeat South Korea in their final Group A fixture on June 24 to stand a chance of getting out of the pool. Even that may not be enough, depending on other results.
But there was certainly relief within the Bafana camp that they had earned a first point, and deservedly so, dominating large parts of the game against the Czechs, though at times lacking a cutting edge.
The set-up
Coach Hugo Broos reverted to his more usual 4-3-3 shape after criticism of his decision to go with five at the back against Mexico in their Group A opener, which clearly did not work.
It was a slight tweak on the formation he used through the qualifiers, with three more defensive-minded midfielders in Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha and Jayden Adams.
Usually it would have been two of those and a playmaker, either Themba Zwane, who was suspended for this fixture, or Relebohile Mofokeng
The Bafana players immediately looked more comfortable with this shape, even if they did go a goal down early in the game.
They were better in possession and found space on the flanks as the Czechs played very narrowly.
Bafana had 63% of the possession in the first half and five shots at goal, but none on target.
Change at the break
Broos brought on Mofokeng at halftime for Adams, and immediately this made a difference
Having a more attack-minded midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and able to see the space gave Bafana the upper hand, and they dominated the game from then on.
The Czechs did sit back and invite the pressure, but Bafana created 12 shots at goal, four on target and one big chance. That was a huge change from the first half.
You would think Mofokeng has to start the next game against South Korea, not least because talisman Mokoena is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, and for now Zwane is out too as SAFA appeal his three-game ban for a red card against Mexico.
Broos only made three changes in all. The other two were to bring on tall striker Evidence Makgopa for Iqraam Rayners, who provided a different focal point for the side and won balls in the air, and the pacy Kamogelo Sebelebele for the lively Thapelo Maseko.
Other than that, he kept faith with his starting XI.
Front-foot ball
Bafana’s change in shape and personnel meant they were much more on the front foot in the game than in their opener against Mexico, where their passive football was punished.
Mokoena had 119 touches of the ball against the Czechs, the second most of any African player in a World Cup game since records began in 1966 after Cameroon’s Geremi against Saudi Arabia in 2002.
He will be a huge miss against the South Koreans as the heartbeat of the midfield, and quite how Broos compensates for that remains to be seen.
But what was clear from this game is that Bafana cannot afford to be passive and hope to catch teams on the break.
They need to take the game to opponents in a structured and sensible way, because that is how these players play for their club sides.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates don’t sit back for anyone, and to ask these players, the majority of whom come from those clubs, to do so is against their nature and their coaching.