Coach Desiree Ellis of Banyana Banyana says that the match against Italy will feel like a championship game for her team because a victory will advance them to the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The African Champions lost their first match to Sweden, and their second match ended in a draw (2-2) with Argentina.
When they take on the Italians on Wednesday, August 2, at the Wellington Regional Stadium (kickoff: 9h00 SA time), the Sasol-sponsored team can advance only with a win.
The 16th-ranked Italy will enter this crucial match coming off a 5-0 loss to Sweden, and Ellis predicted that their opponents will be injured.
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“We know it’s going to be a difficult game, they are going to have to protect what they have and we have to come for the three points.
“It is do or die, nothing less than victory.
“We have really worked hard on a lot in the last couple of days, how we can hurt them.
” We can’t share that plan but we have worked on something that we feel can get us the results,” said Ellis.
“We also review, we have a post-match session after every match on what we could have done better, and we work on that a lot in training.
“Like I said, you can work on it at training and sometimes it is organizational that does not work on the day, in moments where we are not organized.
“But we have to constantly work on that all the time to give them the opportunity to do better.”
Speaking about the discussions they are having as a team, Hildah Magaia acknowledged that they share the same outlook as the coach and that defeating Italy is their top aim.
“This is our last group stage match and obviously it is so important, so our talks as players are the same as the coaches.
“It’s about sharing information and doing what we can do to become victorious in the game,” said Magaia.
“We wish Banyana Banyana the best of luck for their final group stages match against Italy.
“We have seen how the team played in the last two games – scoring goals and keeping the energy until the last minute of the match.
“Sasol has full faith that the African Champions will stay on course and continue to make South Africa proud as they pursue a spot in the last 16 of the World Cup,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol Senior Manager for Group Brand and Sponsorships.