South Africa humble French, but not enough

Published>Tue, Jun 22 10 10:57 PM

South Africa heaped pain on scandal-hit France on Tuesday but the hosts' 2-1 win was not enough to save them from becoming the first hosts to go out of a World Cup at the opening stage.

While France go home and South Africa bow out of their own party, Uruguay and Mexico both marched into the second round after the former won 1-0 in the other Group A match.

That put Uruguay top of the group with seven points, while Mexico went through over South Africa on goal difference, and France came bottom with just one point.

South Africa's unwanted record as the first hosts to exit at the start was tempered by an uplifting final performance from Bafana Bafana (The Boys) that left their vuvuzela-blowing fans smiling in Bloemfontein's Free State stadium.

Buoyant from the off and playing with a fluency not seen in their other two games, South Africa scored twice in the first half before France got a consolation goal.

"I am proud of the boys. They made this country proud. They proved their good progression," South Africa's Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said.

FRENCH IMPLOSION

For France, runners-up at the last World Cup and winners in 1998, it could hardly have been a worse tournament.

They will return to a savaging from the French public and media after not only coming bottom of a group they were favourites to win, but also creating an unseemly side-show with their protests at the expulsion of striker Nicolas Anelka.

President Nicolas Sarkozy even sent his sports minister Roselyne Bachelot to try and put order into the French camp, after players boycotted one training session in support of Anelka, who had refused to apologise for insulting his coach. Yet it was in vain.

"The match was a catastrophe. We're all in despair after all this. Now we'll go home and draw the conclusions," Bachelot told TF1 television.

Revolt leader and captain Patrice Evra was left out of the side on Tuesday, and France looked shell-shocked even before Yoann Gourcuff was sent off after 25 minutes.

Their implosion has brought soul-searching at home, with some saying it reflected deep weaknesses of materialistic modern society. Team sponsors have begun running for the door.

Uruguay and Mexico, however, will be joyous at reaching the second stage and continuing a fantastic tournament so far for Latin America whose teams have shone from the off.

A clinical header by striker Luis Suarez after 43 minutes settled a tight game in favour of Uruguay, champions in 1930 and 1950, against the fluent-passing Mexicans. "The most important thing was to get the classification," said Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan. "It will be difficult going forward."

GROUP B CLIMAX

Later on Tuesday, Group B will be decided with Argentina already top after two wins and hoping to intimidate future opposition with another resounding performance, against Greece.

In the other game of that group, South Korea, level with Greece on three points, play bottom-placed Nigeria.

Diego Maradona's Argentina, with World Player of the Year Lionel Messi their heartbeat and inspiration, have been in impressive form so far, contradicting a widespread view their controversial coach might jeopardise their chances.

On the contrary, Maradona's infectious enthusiasm and winning pedigree seem to have galvanised his team.

As well as Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have won twice, while Chile and Paraguay have also been impressive.

"The South American teams are showing in the World Cup we are here and we are up to the standard," Maradona said.

He gave his own explanation for the region's success in the tournament: "The South American qualifiers are much more competitive than in Europe."

South African leaders have appealed to the population to stick with the tournament, even without Bafana Bafana, worried that empty fan parks and stadium seats will rob the continent's first World Cup of its atmosphere.

Whatever happens now, a legacy of investment and job creation in Africa's biggest economy is guaranteed, President Jacob Zuma said in an interview with Reuters Insider television.

"The event itself has created such an opportunity that our economy is not going to be of the same size after the 2010 World Cup," Zuma said.

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