South Africa & France Out Of World Cup

South Africa ended any hopes that France may have had of getting out of the group stages as they beat the 1998 World Champions 2-1.

Despite the win sadly South Africa will also not be progressing to the knockout stages of the competition, becoming the first host country to not make it our of the group stages of the tournament.

It has been a World Cup for the French to forget with their team in total disarray, the squad refused to train on Sunday after the sending home of Nicolas Anelka.

And while there was talk of the French boycotting the match they made it onto the field but with Captain Patrice Evra on the bench.

There was a good opportunity for France in the opening stages of the match as Andre-Pierre Gignac raced into the box but could only tap a shot straight at the keeper.

It was South Africa who broke the deadlock after just twenty minutes when French keeper Lloris missed a corner by Siphiwe Tshabalala and the ball was headed into the back of the net by Khumalo.

South Africa had not given up on the slim hope of qualification and six minutes after the goal their chances improved somewhat as Gourcuff was shown a red card and France was down to ten men.

The home fans were given something else to cheer about in the thirty seventh minute when Mphela bundled the ball into the back of the net to give Bafana Bafana a second goal.

The best chance of the half for France came courtesy of Franck Ribery when he sent a free kick over the players in the box and it was tipped away by keeper Josephs.
 
Knowing the Uruguay were 1-0 up against Mexico in the other group came being played simultaneously South Africa need two more goals to qualify.

And they almost got a third in the opening minutes of the second half when a chip from Tshabalala fell to Mphela but he sent the ball wide.

But at the half progressed South Africa did appear to tire and when Malouda scored in the seventieth minute it looked like France could find a way to win.

However that never materialised and the French bowed out of the competition in disgrace while South Africa, despite making an early exit, went out in a positive manner.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw