Quinton Fortune squares up to Amir Karic (Allsport).

By PA Sport Staff

Shattered Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec will probably be banished to the stands for his last painful match in charge of his nation's fortunes - while South Africa will be battling elsewhere for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

It has been a nightmare tournament for Katanec.

Falling out with star player Zlatko Zahovic and finally sending the Benfica star home, and now seeing his listless outfit lose both their opening Group B matches to go out of the competition.

Katanec lost his cool in the searing heat here and was banished in the second half from the dug-out for constant verbal assaults on referee Angel Sanchez.

Now as Slovenia play their last match against Paraguay on Wednesday, Katanec is almost certain to be serving a one-match ban from the touchline.

At the same time in Daejeon, skipper Lucas Radebe will be hoping to captain South Africa into the last 16 by taking something from the unbeaten group leaders, Spain.

It is still a tall order for the Leeds man, who has forced his way back from serious knee problems to make these finals.

He said: "The chance is there for us now, so why not take it?

"We have great respect for Spain, they have fine players and for us, getting to this stage is an achievement.

"But this victory has given us a great boost, and we know now just how big the Spain game will be.

"But we have the skills to get something from the game and it would be a tremendous achievement to get to the next stage."

Slovenia, dull generally and inspired only in the last quarter, certainly cannot be expected to help Radebe's cause by stopping Paraguay winning in Seogwipo.

So the South Africans know they will have to do it themselves if they want to claim second spot and a likely game against the Germans in the last 16.

South Africa got their winner in the fourth minute with a fine close-range header from Udinese' Siyabonga Nomvete.

From then on, South Africa did not look like they needed to do much and Slovenia did not look that bothered, such is the disheartening problems within their camp where Katanec says he will quit when he gets home.

Radebe believes, too, that this tournament will help his recovery from that serious injury and see him back at Leeds next season aiming for his first team-place again.

He said: "I am getting my fitness back, I'm sure I will be okay for next season.

"But first we must progress here. We came to the finals with lots of potential and plenty of players with experience playing in Europe.

"There is the talent, now we must show it. We have every chance to go forward, Spain don't frighten us."

His coach, Jomo Sono, accepted it had been a poor contest, but said: "It wasn't a nice game, but we didn't come here to play nice games, we came here to win.

"We were nervous in the second half as we tried to hang on, and when they came at us. But we know we can play better."

It certainly was not pretty. Six bookings, an erratic, overheated referee, and the spectacle was gone. As will Katanec soon.

His parting shot was to try to explain away his antics. He said: "If the fourth official was honest, he would accept that nothing really happened.

"As a coach I have the right to say whether I feel things are going for or against us. So much was going against us. I really don't know why I was sent off."

No doubt FIFA's disciplinary panel will soon explain.