Ok, so we might be exaggerating a tad with the title, but South Africa’s Confederations Cup clash with Iraq (yes they may not have any running water in the country, but they really do have a football team) threw up one of the most bizarre football misses in quite some time at the weekend.

Next year’s World Cup hosts had battered the Middle East minnows for 90 minutes, but were unable to stick the ball into the back of the net. Then in the dying moments Kagisho Dikgacoi’s header looked certain to break the deadlock, only for the ball to hit Red Star Belgrade ace Bernard Parker and somehow trickle to safety.

Everton player Steven Pienaar admitted that the pressure may have got to South Africa. “We are definitely disappointed because we expected a lot from this game. If you can get three points in the opening game, it normally takes a lot of pressure off a team” he said.

“Now we have our backs against the wall. But we just have to stay focused and there’s still two games. So we’ll have to give everything then” concluded Pienaar.