Sithole and Zwane red cards leave Bafana on the brink

South Africa's World Cup opener against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca was already a 2–0 defeat, but the real damage came from the discipline sheet. Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both sent off, along with Mexico's César Montes, in a match that spiralled into chaos (1). That is three red cards in a single group-stage fixture, a rarity even by World Cup standards. Bafana Bafana now head into a must-win clash against the Czech Republic without two key players through suspension. Hugo Broos' squad entered as underdogs and exit Matchday 7 bottom of Group A with zero points, and the knockout rounds already look a long way off.