The World Cup champions romped to a 5-0 win in a friendly match, with a Mbappe brace plus goals from Giroud, Ben Yedder and Guendouzi sealing it for …
It's questionable as to whether Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos sent out the best available XI against France on Tuesday night.
Safa.A footballing lesson
Bafana Bafana were out-classed, out-muscled and out-thought as they came up short in every department.
The scoreline could have been worse had France not hit the woodwork a couple of times and had Ronwen Williams not made some great saves.
It's doubtful a different SA starting XI would have influenced the result, but perhaps Bafana could have done better than they did had head coach Hugo Broos not made some seemingly surprising omissions from his starting XI, which GOAL highlights:
AdvertisementBackpagepixKeagan Dolly
Bafana were all over the place in the first half and could barely keep a hold of the ball. Several of the youngsters lost their composure and Dolly's cool head, assured first touch and strength on the ball, could have helped the visitors to get some kind of foothold into the game. It's difficult to see why Lyle Foster, ineffective against Guinea, started in front of the Kaizer Chiefs attacker.
BackpagepixBandile Shandu
The Orlando Pirates player has been one of the best performers in the PSL this season and was also excellent against Guinea in the previous Bafana game. Instead, Broos started the more attack-minded Fagrie Lakay on the right wing, which left right-back Nyiko Mobbie exposed.
BackpagepixKhuliso Mudau
Mudau was probably Bafana Bafana's man of the match against Guinea, so why drop him to the bench in place of Mobbie? Mudau should have been allowed to continue his promising partnership with Shandu. By the time Mudau was brought on, France were all over South Africa and his frustration ended in a red card.