Look for Czechia to earn a minimum of four corners against South Africa.

The Czechs were strong flag kick performers during World Cup qualification, averaging 7.50 corners per game. In fact, only Belgium (83) recorded more corners than Czechia (75) across European qualification.

A closer look shows that Miroslav Koubek’s side earned at least four corners in each of their eight qualifiers during the regular campaign, as well as their two playoff ties. The case is strengthened by the fact that Czechia also won the corner count 5-4 against South Korea in their opening World Cup game last Friday.

On top of all that, South Africa were forced to defend at least four corners in two of their four outings at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, including nine against Angola.

After losing their opening games, both sides will need to go all out for three points, which should set up an open and entertaining encounter.

Moreover, nine of Czechia’s 10 World Cup qualifiers produced at least two goals, including each of their two playoff ties. That trend also carried over into their two pre-World Cup friendlies, and they opened their campaign last week with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea.

As for South Africa, seven of their last nine games have produced two goals or more, including three of their four outings at the Africa Cup of Nations. That trend also held in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico, and all signs point towards a repeat in Atlanta.

Patrik Schick looks well placed to hit the target at least once against South Africa on Thursday evening.

The Czech forward has long been a talismanic figure for his country, and that was no different during qualifying, when he scored five times across his eight appearances.

He averaged 3.47 shots per game, with 1.60 on target. Indeed, Schick tested the opposition goalkeeper in six of his eight qualifying outings, including a key strike against the Republic of Ireland in a playoff semi-final tie.

On top of all that, Schick averaged a sizeable 1.58 shots on target per game for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last season.

In what is a must-win game for Czechia, Schick should get ample opportunity to hit the target at least once against a South Africa side that conceded 16 shots against Mexico last time out.

Take Tomas Soucek to be fouled at least once against South Africa on Thursday evening.

The Czech ace was a consistent source of winning free-kicks during World Cup qualifying, drawing an average of 0.81 per game. A closer look shows Soucek was brought down a total of eight times across his ten qualifying appearances.

There is further encouragement in the fact that the towering midfielder drew an average of 0.90 fouls per game in the Premier League last season, earning West Ham eight set-pieces in his final seven outings of the campaign.

Soucek is likely to come into close contact with Teboho Mokoena, who has committed a combined total of seven fouls across his last three competitive appearances for South Africa and was booked against Mexico last Thursday.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is extremely effective when it comes to drawing fouls.

The South African centre-half demonstrated that trait against Mexico last week when he was fouled on three separate occasions. Mbokazi’s foul-drawing ability was also a feature of South Africa’s qualification campaign, as he drew an average of 1.34 fouls per game.

He has also been reliable when it comes to winning free kicks for club side Chicago Fire in MLS this season, earning an average of 0.94 per game during the early stages of the campaign.

He is likely to come up against Czechia’s Patrik Schick, who leads the line with plenty of aggression and physicality. The Czech forward committed an average of 1.60 fouls per 90 during qualification and was guilty of four fouls against both the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in Czechia’s two playoff ties.

Czechia can bounce back from last week’s defeat by seeing off South Africa on Thursday evening.

Miroslav Koubek’s side were on a six-match unbeaten run before that setback, winning four, with the other two ending in penalty shootout victories. Last week’s setback should not have too damaging an effect on morale, and the Czechs will be aware of the need to respond on Thursday evening. 

South Africa looked the weakest team on paper in Group A before the tournament got underway, and that still appears to be the case after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico. They have not helped their own cause either, with two players sent off on Matchday 1, which further reduces their chances in this crucial clash. 

Bafana Bafana’s pre-tournament form also does not make for great reading. After losing to Cameroon at AFCON, they failed to win any of their next four friendlies, drawing with Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Panama, as well as suffering a defeat to Panama.

It’s hard to look past Patrik Schick in the to score or assist market on Thursday night.

While Schick failed to fire against South Korea last time out, he is likely to find chances easier to come by against South Africa, who looked defensively suspect against Mexico.

Moreover, his international numbers are impressive, netting 26 goals across 54 appearances for his country. Five of those came in eight World Cup qualifying appearances, and he has since scored in a friendly against Guatemala. While Schick is more of a goalscorer than a provider, he can still chip in with assists, having done so on six occasions for Czechia and four times for Bayer Leverkusen last season.

He also tends to take penalties for the Czechs, which further supports this selection.

A strong case can be made for Tomas Soucek to hit the target at least once in this contest. The big Czech midfielder boasts a quietly impressive return of 17 goals across 91 appearances for his country.

He is well renowned as a major threat from set pieces due to his aerial ability, and that is something Czechia could capitalise on against a South Africa side that are among the shortest in terms of average height at this World Cup.

What’s more, Soucek hit the target on three occasions across his 10 World Cup qualifying appearances, with two of those efforts finding the net. Notably, he delivered two on-target efforts during West Ham’s final Premier League game of the season against Leeds.

It is also worth pointing out that Soucek has been known to take penalties for Czechia when Patrik Schick is not on the pitch.

Back Teboho Mokoena to commit two or more fouls on Thursday evening. While Mokoena was guilty of just one offence against Mexico last week, he was shown an early yellow card in the first half and was therefore walking a tightrope.

Nevertheless, he still produced a combative display, and the same is expected here, with the stakes rising for both nations. Mokoena was penalised on seven occasions across his four outings at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, including four infringements in one game against Cameroon. It is also worth noting that he committed multiple fouls in two pre-World Cup friendly matches against Panama.

The all-action South African is likely to come up against the aforementioned Tomas Soucek and Alexandr Sojka, the latter of whom was fouled against South Korea last time out.