World Cup: South Africa coach Broos explains loss to Canada, may delay retirement

South Africa's World Cup journey ended with a 1-0 loss to co-hosts Canada, a defeat head coach Hugo Broos attributed to the opponent's greater power and speed. "Modern football is more than just technique. There is power and speed, and we do not have it in our team yet. Canada had those qualities," Broos stated after the match, where Stephen Eustaquio's 92nd-minute goal sealed South Africa's fate.

The Belgian coach, who had previously announced his intention to retire after the tournament to spend more time with his family, suggested he might not make a final decision while still disappointed. "It is not clever to make decisions when you are disappointed, so I will not do it here," Broos said during his post-match press conference.

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I have said many times that modern football is more than just technique. There is power and speed, and we do not have it in our team yet. Canada had those qualities.

Broos has been widely lauded for his impact since taking charge in 2021. He guided South Africa to their first World Cup appearance in 16 years and led them to the knockout stage for the first time in their history. His leadership has also revitalized support for the national team, with a World Cup warm-up match attracting a capacity crowd of 50,000 fans.

Despite the elimination, South Africa's performance, including a victory over South Korea, marked a significant improvement. While Bafana Bafana head home, Canada advances to face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the next round. South Africa's next challenge will be the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

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It is not clever to make decisions when you are disappointed, so I will not do it here.