South Africa head coach Hugo Broos says his players are fully motivated ahead of their crucial Group A clash against Korea Republic.

Bafana Bafana are aiming to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.

Broos’ side will face Korea at the Monterrey Stadium on Thursday, knowing victory could boost their chances of finishing second in the group.

Broos In Buoyant Mood

South Africa have failed to progress beyond the group stage in their three previous World Cup appearances, but a win over Korea Republic could put them in a strong position to break that long-standing barrier.

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“This will be a difficult game. We have to win and they need a draw to be in the next round. Our choice is more simple, we have to win and that’s what we’re going for,” Broos said ahead of the game.

Mexico Defeat A Big Lesson

Broos admitted that South Africa’s disappointing start to the tournament against hosts Mexico — a 2-0 defeat in front of a packed Estadio Azteca — was largely due to a lack of experience.

However, the veteran tactician believes his side have since overcome those early nerves and are now better equipped to handle the pressure of competing on football’s biggest stage.

“We were a bit overwhelmed by the occasion in our first game because we are a team with a lack of experience in such games and that’s why we didn’t play how we wanted to play against Mexico. However, the game against Czechia was already much better, and now the motivation is even bigger,” Broos added.