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Mashaba takes positives from tour

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Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba said the Central American tour was a worthwhile exercise as the team prepares for the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba said the Central American tour which saw his charges beat Costa Rica and draw with Honduras was a worthwhile exercise as the team prepares for the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Angola.

South Africa beat Costa Rica 1-0 at the San Jose National Stadium, last Thursday through a cheeky goal by Andile Jali before being held by Honduras 1-1 at San Pedro Sula's Olympico Metropolitan Stadium on Tuesday.

Defender Erick Mathoho had given Bafana Bafana an early lead with a towering header but Erick Andino equalised moments later as the match ended in a stalemate.

Bafana Bafana were more dominant in the first half but the hosts piled pressure in the second half creating some gilt-edged chances. It was the visitors however, who fashioned two late chances that could have swayed the match in the visitors' favour but both Sibusiso Vilakazi and Mandla Masango saw their efforts hit the woodwork and narrowly missing the goal line respectively.

But despite not chalking another away win in the Americas, Mashaba said the two matches were good exercises for his plans against Angola in November.

“I could not have asked for a better work out. It showed us areas which we need to improve ahead of the World Cup matches against Angola next month. “We have managed to shore-up defensively and I am happy with how water-tight our back four have developed,” said Mashaba.

The Bafana Bafana mentor also praised his midfield for keeping possession for longer periods, a recipe for methodical build-ups. He however, said there was still some work to be done when it comes to finishing.

“We could have stolen the match at the death against Honduras, but Vilakazi and Masango were denied in the dying minutes. But we would continue working out on that particular area. We also need consistency for the entire 90 minutes.

“We finished the stronger of the two teams against Honduras and with a bit of that luck, could have scored two good wins in Central America. Still a win and a draw are good returns,” he said.

Mashaba and his technical team return home today to help in preparations for the Chan tournament against Angola on Saturday at Rand Stadium. Bafana team: Itumeleng Khune (capt), Anele Ngcongca, Rivaldo Coetzee, Erick Mathoho, Mosa Lebusa (Clayton Daniels), Andile Jali, Kamohelo Mokotjo (Dean Furman), Mandla Masango, Thulani Serero (Sibusiso Vilakazi), Jabulani Shongwe (George Lebese), Ayanda Patosi (Bongani Zungu) Subs: Jackson Mabokgwane, Ronwen Williams, Siyabonga Nhlapo, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Clayton Daniels, Muzi Mashaba, Dean Furman, George Lebese, Bongani Zungu, Sibusiso Vilakazi - ANA

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Tuks out to crash Pirates’ party

Tuks travel to Orlando Stadium to take on the Buccanners in the last 16 of the Telkom Knockout this Friday.

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Orlando Pirates have been in a seventh heaven but some want to bring them crashing back down to earth.

The Buccaneers have been riding the crest of the wave following their scintillating displays in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they reached the final after putting the mighty Al Ahly to the sword.

The ecstasy levels in the Pirates camp heightened after four of their players – Oupa Manyisa, Kermit Erasmus, Filipe Ovono and Thamsamqa Gabuza were nominated for the CAF Player of the Year award.

And yet, University of Pretoria are hoping to emerge as party poopers and put a spanner in the works. Tuks travel to Orlando Stadium to take on the Buccanners in the last 16 of the Telkom Knockout this Friday. And although Tuks will be out to inflict pain on Pirates, their coach Sammy Troughton, pictured, insisted they will tread with caution on the night.

“They are the talk of Africa at the moment. We know the quality of Pirates. They like cups. We have got to look forward to it – it’s not every day that you get that opportunity to play against them. I will be telling my players to go out and enjoy it and, obviously, it comes with responsibility. We are huge underdogs but we have to go there with an attitude of belief. We can’t go and defend. It’s a once off tie, so we have to be brave,” said Troughton.

“There’s going to be periods of pressure and periods where we have to defend with discipline but when we do have possession, we have got to create chances and be positive and attack in appropriate areas and time.”

Friday night’s clash will witness two teams with contrasting cup pedigrees. While Pirates have excelled in cup competitions, Tuks have made just one final.

In fact, since their elevation to the elite league, Tuks have not gone beyond the first round. Troughton understands that it is now or never for his side and is keen to put one over Pirates coach Eric Tinkler.

“It’s a knockout. If you lose you are out. Winning is the only option. We would like to get the opportunity to go to Maritzburg in the quarter-finals. We can’t think about that now. We have to first get over a huge hurdle. Pirates are on high, the whole of Africa and country are talking about them. They are a top team and their coach has done a good job. Tinkler has done wonders. They have a cup pedigree,” said the former Mamelodi Sundowns player.

So far this season, Pirates and Tuks have not done well. They both got off to false starts with a series of unimpressive results. Both have won just one game in the league thus far.

Said Troughton: “I don’t know what team will come because they have got such depth in their squad. I have a feeling they might start with two strikers – Kermit and Majoro. Gabuza is there. They are just too strong all over.” Troughton, whose last match was Kaizer Chiefs in which his players managed a 1-1 draw, is hopeful his charges can build on from that performance.

“It’s a similar calibre of a team. Chiefs and Pirates are big guys. We did get a good result away from Chiefs. It was a while ago but it does give us believe that we are capable of doing things on the night. Pirates got to the final and maybe their focus locally will be a bit more settled,” said the coach. - The Star

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Spurs must be more lethal

Tottenham Hotspur need to be more prolific in front of goal, captain Hugo Lloris said of the side currently with one of the worst conversion rates.

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Tottenham Hotspur need to be more prolific in front of goal, captain Hugo Lloris said of the side currently with one of the worst conversion rates in the Premier League.

With forward Harry Kane, who scored 30 goals for Spurs last season, struggling to recapture the form he showed in the previous campaign, the North London club have scored 11 goals in eight league matches.

Their lack of killer instinct in front of goal is further highlighted by the fact that defender Eric Dier, along with midfielder Christian Eriksen, are Tottenham's top scorers in the league with two goals each.

Lloris pointed to the 2-2 draw against Swansea City on Oct. 4, where Spurs had a total of 16 shots, 12 of which were on target.

“If we have to improve on one aspect of our game it's in front of goal - we have to score more,” Lloris told the club website (http://ift.tt/19tWWDu).

“Again at Swansea we had so much space and so many chances but we need to be more clinical in front of goal.

“It's not only about one player but all the attacking players - they need to get into the box and be more aggressive with a desire to score.

“The rest will come, though, if we keep the same attitude and behaviour,” the 28-year-old Frenchman added.

If Tottenham can start taking their chances, the France captain is confident Spurs can climb up from their eighth place in the league table.

“If we keep playing the same way with the same attitude then we're going to win a lot of games,” Lloris said. – Reuters

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McClaren laments Krul injury

The season-ending injury sustained by goalkeeper Tim Krul is a “bitter blow” for Premier League strugglers Newcastle United, manager Steve McClaren has said.

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The season-ending injury sustained by Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul is a “bitter blow” for Premier League strugglers Newcastle United, manager Steve McClaren has said.

Krul will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Netherlands' 2-1 win over Kazakhstan in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday.

Krul looked in agony after falling awkwardly on the artificial turf near the end of a match he was only playing in because the Netherlands' first-choice keeper, Jasper Cillessen, pulled out during the warm-up.

Newcastle, bottom of the league after eight matches without a win and having conceded 17 goals even with Krul in the team, are likely to hand the gloves to Rob Elliot for the visit of Norwich City on Sunday.

“It's a bitter blow for Tim and for us,” McClaren told the club's website (nufc.co.uk). “I spoke to him on the morning of the game he wasn't playing and, selfishly, I thought that was good, because then he would be fit for us.

“Then I got the news, the severity of the injury and how he did it, and it's a massive blow.

“Tim is a big part of us - he's a big player, a leader in the dressing room, and his goal was to establish himself in the Dutch side going forward.

“We will miss him for the rest of the season, and he loses seven or eight months of his career.”

Newcastle have recalled 18-year-old Freddie Woodman from a loan spell with fourth-tier Crawley Town as back-up for Elliot.

McClaren said he was confident Republic of Ireland international Elliot would handle the pressure.

“I've been impressed by Rob from day one when I came into the club,” McClaren said.

“He's very vocal in the dressing room, is a senior player with good experience and is not afraid to say things.

“That is vital, and this situation gives Rob an opportunity to show what he can do.” – Reuters

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Willian shines in Brazil win

Willian scored twice as Brazil beat Venezuela to pocket their first points in South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

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Willian scored after 40 seconds and added a second just before the break as Brazil beat Venezuela 3-1 to pocket their first points in South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

After their 2-0 defeat to Chile last week, Brazil, again without the suspended Neymar, raced out of the blocks at the Castelao in Fortaleza and Willian slotted home between Velezuela goalkeeper Alain Baroja and his near post.

Three minutes before halftime the midfielder doubled Brazil's lead. Defender Filipe Luis crossed the ball, Oscar let it run and Willian tucked it away.

Venezuela pulled one back in the 64th minute when Christian Santos turned the ball into the net at a corner but striker Ricardo Oliveira restored Brazil's two-goal cushion nine minutes later, ghosting in behind defender Fernando Amorebieta and stooping to head past Baroja.

It was a timely win for Dunga's Brazil ahead of their visit to Buenos Aires next month to play arch-rivals Argentina, who have yet to score in two games.

The 2014 World Cup finalists were stunned 2-0 by Ecuador in their opener and held 0-0 in Paraguay on Tuesday.

Dunga will be able to call on Neymar for that match after he completed his suspension from the Copa America, while Argentina will hope Lionel Messi recovers from an injury that has kept him out of their two qualifiers so far. – Reuters

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Dutch fail to qualify for Euro 2016

The Netherlands failed to reach the European Championship for the first time since 1984 as they lost 3-2 at home to the 10-man Czech Republic.

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Amsterdam - The Netherlands failed to reach the European Championship for the first time since 1984 as they lost 3-2 at home to the 10-man Czech Republic in their final qualifier on Tuesday to miss out on Euro 2016.

The Dutch, third at last year's World Cup in Brazil, saw their hopes of a dramatic rescue act in the campaign evaporate as they conceded two first-half goals.

The former European champions had to win and hope Turkey lost at home to Iceland to sneak into third place in Group A and book a slot in next month's playoffs.

However, the Netherlands were consigned to fourth spot behind the Turks, who won 1-0 to secure a place at the finals in France as the best third-placed team.

The loss left the Dutch with 13 points from their 10 matches behind Turkey on 18, while the Czechs claimed top spot in the group with 22 points, two ahead of Iceland.

Pavel Kaderabek and Josef Sural stunned the hosts with goals in the first period and the game was over when substitute Robin van Persie headed into his own net in the 66th minute. The Dutch consolation goals came from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Van Persie.

“The truth is we gave it away,” said midfielder Wesley Sneijder told Dutch NOS radio. “We needed to be disciplined and sharp because we weren't going to get too many chances.

“We knew it would be tough but to so easily concede goals meant it was all over for us early in the game.”

A second half change in tactics by the Dutch to full-out attack failed to turn around a dire situation despite the Czechs being down to 10 men after the sending off of Marek Suchy just before halftime for a last-man tackle.

By then they were 2-0 down with the Czechs having taken the lead midway through the first half with some simplicity, exposing some shoddy defending as the Netherlands went behind for the fourth time in five home matches in the group.

Fullback Pavel Kaderabek was allowed to run in from the left after some clever passes from Tomas Necid and Jiri Skalak and slam the ball home with ease after 24 minutes.

Eleven minutes later they scored again courtesy of more woeful Dutch defensive work. Virgil van Dijk turned his back on a tackle and allowed Josef Sural to force his way down on goal and beat goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet at his near post.

It prompted an immediate change from Netherlands coach Danny Blind with striker Robin Van Persie brought on and defender Jairo Riedewald sacrificed.

The home side were given a glimmer of hope just three minutes before halftime when Memphis Depay was caught by a mistimed tackle from Suchy, who was sent off.

But despite even more attacking changes after the break, the hoped for comeback did not materialise as the Netherlands hoofed long balls towards the Czech defence.

The Dutch woes were complete midway through the second half when Van Persie, in his 101st appearance, headed an innocuous looking free kick from Jiri Skalak into his own net.

A largely silent crowd finally found something to cheer with 20 minutes to go when Huntelaar rose above the defence to head past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Van Persie then scored at the right end as he poked home a flick on from Bas Dost with seven minutes left.

The Netherlands were European champions in 1988 and third in 1992, 2000 and 2004. They went out at the group stage of the last edition at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. – Reuters

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Bafana and Honduras share the spoils

SA’s Bafana Bafana ended their South American tour with a hard-fought draw against Honduras.

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Cape Town - South Africa held hosts Honduras to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly on Tuesday night (Wednesday, South African time) at the Metropolitano Stadium in San Pedro Sula.

The match was the final encounter on South Africa’s Central American tour, which started last Thursday when Bafana Bafana managed a fine 1-0 win over Costa Rica’s “Los Ticos” in San Jose.

The touring South Africans took an early lead against Honduras, known as “Los Catachros”, who are currently ranked 89th in the world, 16 places below Bafana Bafana. Erick Mathoho headed home after he connected with a Jabulani Shongwe corner kick just eight minutes into the match for his first international goal.

Los Catachros’ response followed six minutes later when they too scored from a header. Bafana Bafana goalmouth custodian Itumeleng Khune parried a shot from Carlos Discua and Erick Andino was handily placed to nod the stray ball home for the equaliser.

In the dying minutes of the match, Bafana Bafana came within a whisker of snatching a second win on the road, but Sibusiso Vilakazi’s strike was held out by the woodwork.

The match marked the first international clash between Honduras and South Africa.

Bafana Bafana’s next assignment will be on Saturday when they play a CHAN qualifier against Angola at the Rand Stadium, in Johannesburg.

ANA

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'Wenger is arrogant and a bad loser'

Sam Allardyce says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tries to influence referees through the media.

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London - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is arrogant and a bad loser who tries to influence referees through the media, the Frenchman's newly appointed Sunderland counterpart Sam Allardyce has said.

Allardyce, who makes the comments in his new autobiography, serialised in The Sun, reveals the depth of loathing between himself and Wenger, who have been at odds ever since the Englishman was in charge of Bolton Wanderers.

“I enjoyed beating Arsenal more than anyone when I was in charge at Bolton,” Allardyce said.

“We'd really got to them and Arsene Wenger hated us.

“There was one time he wouldn't shake hands with me at Highbury because we got a draw there. I saw him ripping his tie off and throwing it on the floor in anger.

“He takes it all very personally and has an air of arrogance. He's not one for inviting you into his office for a drink after the game.

“The more I wound him up, the more I liked it. He tried to influence refs through the media and create a perception that we were bullies committing all the fouls, while his team just wanted to play.

“It seemed he wanted a rule where they should be allowed to do what they wanted with the ball, without us being allowed to tackle them.

“It was a skill finding their weaknesses and how to exploit them. But when we succeeded the press were usually on about Arsenal having an off-day and the ref being soft.”

Allardyce also takes a dig at Rafa Benitez, formerly of Liverpool and now at Real Madrid, saying the Spaniard deserves no credit for winning the Champions League with the Merseyside club in 2005.

“Of course he (Benitez) can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it was nowt to do with him.

“Steven Gerrard took that final by the scruff of the neck and dragged Liverpool back from 3-0 down against AC Milan to eventually win on penalties,” Allardyce said.

“I don't blame Benitez for claiming credit - but as managers we know the truth.

“It's like when you make a substitution in desperation and it comes off. You get all the credit for your tactical brilliance when it's often just luck.”

Reuters

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Depay, RVP in training bust-up

Danny Blind has confirmed that Memphis Depay and Robin van Persie had a training-ground spat before Holland’s win over Kazakhstan.

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Danny Blind has confirmed that Memphis Depay and Robin van Persie had a training-ground spat before Holland’s win over Kazakhstan last Saturday, but denied that it was why Fenerbahce striker Van Persie was left out of the starting line-up for the Euro 2016 qualifier.

Holland coach Blind said: ‘That had nothing to do with my decision. It was a discussion during training about a ball that should have been given over. Things like that happen often.

‘There are sometimes situations in training where players think differently. That’s what happened and then it was over.

‘I felt Robin was not fit enough to start. I think that’s down to the fact that he has not played without pain for quite a while.’

Since joining Fenerbahce from Manchester United in the summer, Van Persie, 32, has struggled to be an automatic choice for his club.

Holland will fail to reach the play-offs for the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer if Turkey win or draw at home to Iceland tonight, even if they beat the Czech Republic in Amsterdam.

With Blind clinging on to his job by his fingertips, Southampton are bracing themselves for an approach for Ronald Koeman.

The club’s manager will feature highly on the Dutch FA’s list if they decide to part with the 54-year-old Blind.

Southampton are keen to tie Koeman to a long-term contract, but fear that the possibility of the Holland job coming up is likely to put a spanner in the works. – Daily Mail

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Spurs ready for pumped up Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane expects Liverpool players to be pumped up and give “five percent extra” when they visit White Hart Lane.

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane expects Liverpool players to be pumped up and give “five percent extra” when they visit White Hart Lane on Saturday for the first game under their new manager Juergen Klopp.

Having spent the international break with the England squad, which includes Liverpool duo Nathaniel Clyne and Danny Ings, Kane says it was obvious that Liverpool players were eager to impress Klopp.

“Liverpool are going to have a new manager and they will be up for it. In the first couple of game everybody tries to impress so they will probably have that little five percent extra than usual,” Kane told the British media.

“We expect that. The Liverpool players at England could not wait to get back to start working under him (Klopp).”

The 22-year-old striker is struggling to recapture the form he showed last season but was confident Spurs' superior fitness can get them the three points despite having lost their last five Premier League games to the Merseyside club.

“...we have out-run every team we have played and will be looking to do so again. That's a sign we're playing the manager's tactics right and we are fit enough to do it. So it's a case of doing it again on Saturday,” he said.

Tottenham have not lost since the opening day of the season and sit eighth in the table, just two points behind fourth place Crystal Palace after eight games.

“We are happy to stay under the radar and keep putting in good performances,” said Kane.

“We haven't lost in the league since the first game of the season. We've had a few draws where we should have won as well. But we are playing well and doing the right things. We have a fit young squad.

“It's very open. I think that's the standard of the Premier League. Anyone can beat anyone and that's been shown a lot this season,” he added. – Reuters

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Four Pirates players up for Caf award

Orlando Pirates have four of their players short-listed for the Caf African Player of the Year for players based on the continent.

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Orlando Pirates received a psychological boost ahead of next month’s CAF Confederation Cup final clash with Etoile du Sahel when they Orlando Pirates received more nominations for the continental awards than their Tunisian adversaries.

The Buccaneers have four of their players short-listed for the CAF African Player of the Year for players based on the continent as compared to just a single one for the north Africans.

Following their impressive showing in the second tier tournament, in which they scored in every one of their matches and lost just twice en-route to a spot in the final, Pirates had their efforts rewarded by the continent’s football governing body with an unprecedented number of nominations for a local side.

Goalkeeper Filipe Ovono, midfielder Oupa Manyisa along with strikers Kermit Erasmus and Thamsanqa Gabuza were named among the 24 nominees for the secondary player accolade reserved for players who ply their trade in Africa.

Etoile, the team that Pirates have to get the better of over two legs next month, to add the Confederation Cup title to the Champions Cup one they captured 20 years ago, only have Ahmed Akaichi in the contenders.

In the bigger scheme of things, this might not have much of an influence on match day. But psychologically, the Buccaneers will definitely feel somewhat superior to Etoile just because of their higher nominations.

The nominations of Manyisa, Erasmus and Gabuza would have been expected by many given the trio’s fantastic performances that have seen the three of them score 14 goals to lead Pirates to the final.

But Ovono was a surprise, the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper only beginning to play in the competition during the group stages following the injury to incumbent Brighton Mhlongo.

Yet such was Ovono’s display in the Africa Cup of Nations finals that his country hosted earlier this year that there can be no denying he is worthy of a nomination.

While the four’s nominations add yet another feather to the Bucs cap, the fact that the country has no contender for the bigger Player of the Year award tells the story of what has generally been yet another pathetic year for South African football in general.

Bafana Bafana’s poor showing at the Africa Cup of Nations set the benchmark for a forgettable campaign by South Africa’s clubs in the Champions League with both Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns failing to reach the group stages and BidVest Wits falling at the initial hurdle in the Confederation Cup.

The Buccaneers, on the other hand, continue to fly the flag high and they are sure to do so when the nominees are whittled down later on.

They play the University of Pretoria on Friday in a Telkom Knockout first round clash and Tuks better brace themselves for some inspired showing by Ovono, Erasmus and Gabuza, although Manyisa is still out injured. - The Star

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Happy Shakes excited by Bafana

The defeats of Senegal in the Nelson Mandela Challenge and a well-deserved victory over Costa Rica, has got Shakes Mashaba back to his jolly self.

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It is incredible how a good run of form can change a man’s attitude.

Just last month, Shakes Mashaba resembled a raging bull as he attempted to fend off what he felt were personal attacks. Following Bafana Bafana’s poor start to the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a draw at home to lowly Gambia and defeat to Mauritania, South Africa’s senior national team coach was on the warpath against a media he believed was negative. Now, two friendly wins later, and the man popularly referred to as ‘Bra Shakes’ is walking with a spring in his step and talking about “developing a winning culture”.

The defeats of Senegal in the Nelson Mandela Challenge and a surprise, yet well-deserved victory over Costa Rica on Friday, has got Mashaba back to his jolly self.

And there’s no doubt he will once again be “the gentleman of South African coaches” should he lead Bafana to success over Honduras at the Olympico Metropolitan Stadium tonight (12am, SA time).

Bafana complete their two-match Tour of Central America with a clash against a Honduras outfit that is nowhere near Costa Rica in class and the coach is confident his team can win the match to set themselves up nicely in terms of confidence for the World Cup qualifier against Angola next month.

“I have always maintained that winning is a good culture to develop. Yes, no one can continue winning because even the best in the business get beaten or even walloped as well, but I am excited by this group of players.

“They work together, have an incredible camaraderie and want to achieve things. This Central American tour has really cemented the unity among players and most of them will form a solid foundation for the team that will play Angola in the World Cup qualifiers.”

Mashaba’s excitement is not without reason – this is essentially the same team that never really pitched up in the defeat to Mauritania.

But in San Jose they were so switched on that they even had Costa Rica captain Keylor Navas – the Real Madrid goalkeeper – questioning why South Africa was not among the best in the world. Another such showing against Honduras and Mashaba’s excitement will be justified.

But more pleasing for the coach will be to have most of his squad fit for the two-legged World Cup preliminary tie against the Palanca Negras.

“Everything seems to be coming together. The combination at the back and midfield is any coach’s dream and we just need to beef up the strike force going forward”. - The Star

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Three changes for Bafana

Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has made three changes to the squad to face Honduras at the Olympico Metropolitan Stadium.

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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has made three changes to the squad to face Honduras at the Olympico Metropolitan Stadium, San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Tuesday (18h00 local time, 2h00 SA time Wednesday).

The three new faces that come in from the first XI that faced Costa Rica are Jabulani Shongwe, Ayanda Patosi and Kamohelo Mokotjo. They come in for Bongani Zungu, George Lebese and Sibusiso Vilakazi.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 18h00 in Honduras' Olympico Metropolitan Stadium in San Pedro Sula, the Central American country's second biggest city.

Bafana Bafana team: Itumeleng Khune (capt), Anele Ngcongca, Rivaldo Coetzee, Erick Mathoho, Mosa Lebusa, Andile Jali, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Mandla Masango, Thulani Serero, Jabulani Shongwe, Ayanda Patosi Subs: Jackson Mabokgwane, Ronwen Williams, Siyabonga Nhlapo, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Clayton Daniels, Muzi Mashaba, Dean Furman, George Lebese, Bongani Zungu, Sibusiso Vilakazi - ANA

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It’s perfect ten for Roy’s England

England became only the sixth team to end a European qualifying campaign with a 100 percent record when they beat Lithuania 3-0 in their final Group E match.

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London - England became only the sixth team to end a European qualifying campaign with a 100 percent record when they beat Lithuania 3-0 in their final Group E match on Monday.

England, showing eight changes from the team that started Friday's 2-0 win over Estonia at Wembley, put themselves into a commanding position after scoring two goals which went in off the same right-hand post inside the opening 35 minutes.

First, after 29 minutes, a powerful long-range strike from Ross Barkley took a deflection off a defender and went in off the post.

Six minutes later another well-struck shot from Harry Kane hit the post and struck the back of keeper Giedrius Arlauskis who conceded an own goal as the ball rebounded into the net.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain blasted England's third at Arlauskis's near-post after 62 minutes as they emphatically made it 10 wins out of 10, the only team in this qualifying competition to win all of their matches.

England sealed their place in the Euro 2016 finals last month and never remotely looked like squandering the chance of joining France (1992 and 2004 qualifying), Czech Republic (2000), Germany and Spain (both 2012) as the only countries to have achieved a perfect qualifying record.

The victory, on a chilly night in the Lithuanian capital, meant England finished the campaign with 30 points, followed by Switzerland 21, Slovenia 16, Estonia 10, Lithuania 10 and San Marino one. – Reuters

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Germans target Euro 2016 glory

“As World Cup winners we can only set the highest goals and we want to be in the final in Paris.”

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Berlin - The Euro 2016 trophy is firmly in Germany's sights, captain Bastian Schweinsteiger said, a day after a lacklustre win over Georgia secured their spot at the tournament in France in their final qualifier.

In an open letter to the fans, Schweinsteiger thanked them for their support and said the world champions could have no other ambition than winning the title, the only major international trophy missing from the Manchester United holding midfielder's collection.

“In 245 days the Euro will get under way, the final is in 275 days,” Schweinsteiger, who joined United this season after more than a decade at Bayern Munich said.

“As World Cup winners we can only set the highest goals and we want to be in the final in Paris. And I can also say that we want the title. Since Rio (de Janeiro) we have our fourth star (for the fourth World Cup win). Until now all the good things in Germany used to be three but now we want more,” he said.

Germany have won the European crown three times with their last triumph back in 1996 at the tournament in England.

The Germans may be eyeing another title but they were far from convincing in the qualifying campaign, having to wait until their last Group D match on Sunday to make sure of their 12th consecutive European Championship qualification.

Coach Joachim Loew called it the most difficult campaign of the past 12 years after they lost to Ireland and Poland while struggling to beat Scotland.

Germany still managed to clinch top spot on 22 points, one ahead of second-placed Poland.

“In the first games after the World Cup we did not get the results we wanted,” Schweinsteiger said. “But we always trusted in us and never doubted we would live up to that trust. We united as a team and can say today that we had a successful qualification campaign.”