2:00pm:
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Uruguay 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 4
Mexico 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
France 2 0 1 1 0 2 - 2 1
South Africa 2 0 1 1 1 4 - 3 1
Going into the final Group A games, it looks a tall order for either France or South Africa to qualify. They have a significant goal swing to make up, and will both be hoping for a heavy win, as well as a winner in the Mexico – Uruguay game.
If the Mexicans and Uruguay draw their match then they are both through regardless of the other result, but with the runners-up likely to face Argentina, there is incentive for both sides to seek to win the group. Uruguay are in the driving seat as their superior goal difference means that a draw would guarantee them top spot.
2:30pm: The France team for today is much changed. The team are of course without axed striker Nicolas Anelka, who flew home on Sunday, but also drop captain Patrice Evra. Surely this is due to Evra’s part in the player revolt, with Evra leading the French decision to boycott training in protest at Anelka’s dismissal.
Joining Evra on the bench are previous starters Eric Abidal, Sidney Govou, Florent Malouda, while Jeremy Toulalan is suspended. Alou Diarra, who hadn’t played a minute in the previous two games, takes the captain’s armband, while also in for their first starts of the tournament are Sebastian Squillaci, Gael Clichy, Djibril Cisse and Pierre-Andre Gignac, while Yoann Gourcuff returns to the first XI.
This is Raymond Domenech’s final throw of the dice in quite probably his final game in charge, with France’s fate out of their hands knowing that a draw between Mexico and Uruguay would send them both through. All France can do is seek to win heavily and hope the other game does not end in a draw.
South Africa are in the same boat, albeit with a worse goal difference and less turmoil in their camp. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has decided to ring the changes as well, with Moeneeb Josephs replacing the suspended Khune in goal, as well as four outfield changes.
The other game sees Mexico and Uruguay provide a less shocking pair of team sheets, with Uruguay making one change and Mexico a couple, the most significant being veteran forward Cauthemoc Blanco starting in place of Carlos Vela.
3:00pm: Anthems sung, pleasantries exchanged; now it’s kick-off time!
3:03pm: Gignac has the first chance of the game for France; after being played in by Gourcuff down the left hand side, he had time to open up his body to shoot, but produced a weak side-foot straight at ‘keeper Josephs.
3:06pm: Uruguay have a decent chance through forward Luis Suarez, who capitalised on a Mexican defensive slip but flashed a shot across goal when he should have hit the target.
3:10pm: With nothing happening in either game, I dash to the freezer to grab a couple of ice lollies. The sun is blazing, there’s a park down the road and I’m inside watching two matches simultaneously; the things I do for football!
3:15pm: Nothing much to report here. Mexico – Uruguay is lively without any clear cut chances, while France are shading it and have just had a penalty claim correctly turned down.
3:18pm: A dangerous free-kick from Diego Forlan is headed narrowly over by defender
3:19pm: GOAL for SOUTH AFRICA! The crowd are in rapture as a South African corner is completely misjudged by Hugo Lloris. The French ‘keeper comes to claim but gets nowhere near the ball and giant defender Bongani Khumalo towers above Abou Diaby to head home at the far post.
3:21pm: An astonishing long range effort from Andres Guardado cannons off the underside of the Uruguayan bar and away to safety. The sweet left-footed drive showcased exactly why Guardado had been brought into the starting XI.
3:24pm: Katlego Mphela is given time and space to run at the French defence, and lashes narrowly wide from the edge of the box. France’s defending is truly awful.
3:25pm: RED CARD! Things go from bad to worse for the French, as Yoann Gourcuff receives a straight red for an elbow in the South African box. Replays show the decision to be very harsh, as Gourcuff’s elbow simply glanced the face of his opponent as he made a genuine attempt to win the header. Surely France’s qualification hopes are finished?
3:29pm: Mexico, seemingly invigorated by Guardado’s effort, have been very good in the last few minutes, as they look for the victory that would allow them to leapfrog Uruguay.
3:36pm: SOUTH AFRICA SCORE AGAIN! Full-back Masilela gets into the box and squares for Mphela to bundle the ball home and double South Africa’s advantage. Goodbye France. South Africa need more goals in both games to achieve an unlikely qualification.
3:37pm: South Africa are running riot here. Bernard Parker slots home impressively, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
3:39pm: A French free-kick causes havoc in the South African box, but is tipped over fantastically by Josephs. Great reaction save from the ‘keeper, who has been a spectator for much of the half.
3:43pm: URUGUAY GOAL! Now things get interesting for Mexico and South Africa! A pinpoint cross from Edison Cavani is headed home by Suarez at the far post. There is now only a two goal difference between the Mexicans and Bafana Bafana.
3:47pm: The half-time break comes in both games and the chance of a miraculous South African suddenly seems much more likely than it did when the games kicked off. The French are finished, while Mexico will be decidedly nervous about what might happen in the second half
The Group as it stands at half-time:
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Uruguay 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7
Mexico 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4
South Africa 3 1 1 1 3 4 - 1 4
France 3 0 1 2 0 4 - 4 1
Half-time also gives me the opportunity to grab five minutes of sunshine in the back garden with another ice lolly. At least the games have brightened up!
4:03pm: Both France and Mexico make a change at half-time of their respective games, with Florent Malouda on for the French. Here comes probably the most significant 45 minutes of football in South African football history.
4:08pm: What a chance for South Africa. Siphiwe Tshabalala slides a superb pass that splits the French defence and is met by Mphela, who curls the ball over Lloris, but the ball catches the upright and goes out of play. Could Bafana Bafana actually pull this off?
4:11pm: Another fine Forlan free-kick is met by a Uruguayan head, this time captain Diego Lugano. Mexican ‘keeper Oscar Perez makes a fine save and the follow-up attempt is blocked and eventually cleared to safety.
4:15pm: Mphela is on fire right now. His fierce strike from outside the box is beaten away by a fine save from Lloris. Twelve minutes into the half and it’s one-way traffic.
4:20pm: Mphela heads into the box down the right hand side and holds off a French defender, but sadly for South Africa, hits a disappointing shot into the side netting.
4:21pm: What a chance for Mexico. A cross from the right finds centre back Francisco Rodriguez all alone six yards from goal, but the defender glances his header horribly wide when it looked easier to score. Will Mexico come to regret that miss?
4:27pm: GOAL for FRANCE. A huge blow to South Africa, as Franck Ribery beats Joseph to a through ball and squares for Malouda to tap home into the empty net. Surely Bafana Bafana have too much to do now with only twenty minutes to go?
4:37pm: Both games have had very little to talk about in the last ten minutes. South Africa seem to have had the life sucked out of them by Malouda’s goal, while the Mexico – Uruguay game has descended into a scrappy affair. The lack of activity gives me time to dash for a third ice lolly; a mini milk to add to my two previous rocket lollies.
4:43pm: Five minutes of regulation time left in both games, and there is still nothing to report, other than a poor foul from Mexico’s Castro that earned him a booking.
4:48pm: Domenech’s face looks a picture on the touchline as his tenure as French manager draws to a close. Domenech has been rightly pilloried over the past four years, but it’s difficult not to feel a little bit sorry for a man who looks like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.
4:50pm: Tshabalala goes close in injury time, but sees his near post shot smothered by Lloris.
4:51pm: Full-time at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Uruguay 1-0 Mexico. Uruguay top the group and Mexico will follow them into the Second Round.
4:52pm: It’s all over in Bloemfontein; South Africa 2-1 France. Both teams go out of the tournament, but the manner of their exits is vastly different; South Africa can hold their heads high while France have been an embarrassment from start to finish. Then again, that will be a familiar role for Domenech and his team; they’ve been that way for much of the past four years.
South Africa suffer the unwanted tag of becoming the first host nation in the tournament’s history not to make it out of the group stage. Then again, twelve months ago South Africa were nowhere, and after their performances over these three games, even this exit feels like a triumph of sorts. The group finishes like this:
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Uruguay 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7
Mexico 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4
South Africa 3 1 1 1 3 5 - 2 4
France 3 0 1 2 1 4 - 3 1
One final note. Domenech’s final act as France manager? His refusal to shake the hand of opposite number Parreira at full-time. Just when it seemed he couldn’t sink any lower in the estimation of football fans across the world, he manages it. Well done Raymond, well done.
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