Bafana Bafana, whose goals were scored by Benni McCarthy and Lucas Radebe, narrowly lost to Spain in a group stage match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and one of the members of that Spanish squad has now recalled some fond memories of that entertaining clash.
Click through the gallery above to see some pictures of that memorable World Cup clash back in 2002.
Representing Spain on 39 occasions in his career, one of Gaizka Mendieta's greatest moments in a La Furia Roja shirt came 17 years ago, when he scored a wonderful free-kick goal against South Africa on the world's biggest stage.
In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, the ex-Valencia and FC Barcelona man looked back on Spain's 3-2 win over Bafana.
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"Yes, of course, I scored a goal!" he said.
"Yes, I remember, apart from the goal, they (Bafana Bafana) had a really strong team.
"We knew (Benni) McCarthy was there, I think Quinton (Fortune) was as well. And although we already qualified (for the knockout rounds), it was an important game for us to finish at the top of the group.
"It was my first start at the 2002 World Cup, so it was important for me. Xavi as well. It was the game we played the players that didn't play in the other games, so there's great memories for me.
"The goal, and it was one of the better games I had in a World Cup. And with Benni, I became friends and the same with Quinton."
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Then Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez opened the scoring after four minutes, but this was cancelled out by McCarthy in the 31st minute. Mendieta struck on the stroke of half-time, though, before Radebe equalised in the 53rd minute. Raul then won the match for Spain three minutes later.
What is your greatest memory from Bafana's clash with Spain in 2002? Let us know in the comments section below.
