Santana: Significant improvement for South Africa
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa have improved significantly since the start of the Confederations Cup and could prove competitive when the country hosts the World Cup next year, coach Joel Santana said on Friday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sNQYrertm9Lz5m8fqMSJMR.jpg)
"We've improved a lot. It's been great for a lot of my young players," the Brazilian told Reuters after his side reached the semi-finals, losing 1-0 to holders Brazil on Thursday.
"It's their first competition at this level. That makes me very happy. It has been excellent preparation for the World Cup."
Santana said he was delighted with the steep learning curve climbed by his team at the two-week tournament, which was a test event for the World Cup, even though they scored only twice.
South Africa saved their best showing for the semi-final but still lost to Brazil in Johannesburg, heart-breakingly succumbing to a free-kick winner two minutes from the end after dominating play for long periods.
"We played very well and it was great for our confidence," Santana said. "We showed good discipline and great defence against a team who are five-time world champions and it was always going to be a difficult match."
Santana took over from compatriot Carlos Alberto Parreira a year ago but results have continued to be poor for Bafana Bafana, who failed to qualify for the 2010 African Nations Cup finals and whose only significant win during his tenure has been a last-minute success in a friendly over Norway.
They outran an admittedly tired-looking Brazil on Thursday, however, and the coach believes the side have turned a corner.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"My task is to prepare the team for the World Cup. We did well against Brazil, we had a good 60 minutes against Spain (in the group stage) and we did well against New Zealand," said Santana.
"Now I have my squad, I know all the players and their abilities. There are two or three positions that need improving but what is important is that we have many more testing matches ahead of us."
South Africa will play friendlies against Serbia, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Iceland between August and October.
"These matches will help us grow even more," Santana said.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack