South Africa dominated a dispirited and dysfunctional French team, 2-1 in Bloemfontein, but despite the victory, the host South Africans were eliminated based on goal difference, as Uruguay and Mexico finished first and second, respectively, in Group A and advanced to the round of 16.
South Africa, because of its crushing 3-0 loss to Uruguay in its second game, was a longshot to advance. Bafana Bafana needed to win, and needed to have the Uruguay-Mexico game not end in a tie. But the hosts -- and France, for that matter -- would need to make up a significant goal differential disadvantage.
South Africa gave itself a chance, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, on goals by Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela, and a red card to France's Yoann Gourcuff left France playing with 10 men, which opened up the possibility South Africa might score more goals. At the same time, Uruguay's 1-0 lead over Mexico (in their eventual 1-0 victory) meant that South Africa had a real chance to make up the goal differential it needed to make up.
But six minutes into the second half, Mphela, off a setup by Tshabalala, breaks into the French penalty area, but fires his shot off the right goal post. A goal there might have changed everything. Later, in the 58th minute, another shot by Mphela is turned away by a diving French goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, and time began to become an enemy of Bafana Bafana.
Ultimately, the French, who had entered the World Cup under a cloud of discontent and controversy, put an end to South Africa's hopes when substitute Florent Malouda scored, of a pass from star Franck Ribery, in the 70th minute.
Malouda's goal was the slightest consolation for a France team that exited the World Cup in disgrace following the team's decision to boycott practice on Sunday after striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home by the French federation because he cursed out coach Raymond Domenech at halftime of their 2-0 loss to Mexico last week.
That decision, which spurred the resignation of the French team trainer and the federation president, was only the latest controversy surrounding the team. The story had begun with the Thierry Henry handball episode that got them into the World Cup at the expense of Ireland. That was followed by a sex scandal involving stars Ribery and Karim Benzema, who was subsequently left out of the 23-man squad selected by Domenech, for the World Cup. Domenech, who the French federation announced before the World Cup would be replaced as coach after the tournament, left out other big names, and had wanted to leave Henry, the team's captain, off the roster as well, before he was talked out of that idea.
An ugly scoreless draw against Uruguay was followed by a 2-0 loss to Mexico, which was followed by the federation's decision to banish striker Nicolas Anelka after his shouting match with Domenech at halftime of the Mexico game. The players boycotted practice on Sunday, and Domenech started five new players against South Africa, including benching his captain, Patrice Evra.
Full time: Final score South Africa 2, France 1. The South Africans become the first host nation to be eliminated in the first round of the tournament. Ultimately, it was a dreadful 3-0 loss to Uruguay in their second game that sealed their fate. They went out with their heads high, off a tremendous performance in their victory over France, however. For France, a sad but fitting end to all the turmoil that surrounded that team all tournament long.
* 2006 ouster in back of U.S. team's mind as it prepares to face Algeria
* World Cup 2010: An in-depth look at Day 12
* Live blog: South Korea 2, Nigeria 2
* Live blog: Argentina 2, Greece 0
* Live blog: South Africa 2, France 1
* Live blog: Uruguay 1, Mexico 0
92nd minute: Tshabalala, a great chance inside the box, but is denied by a save from Lloris, and then denied again when France's Gallas clears away the rebound.
91st minute: Hard shot by Modise for South Africa misses wide of the near post.
90th minute: Three minutes of added time.
88th minute: The World Cup is over for both these teams. It ends on a positive note for South Africa, at least. They played well in the end, and gave themselves a chance. France scored a goal, which is something it did not do in 2002, when it last went out in the first round. But the goal was meaningless, and helped no one except Mexico.
82nd minute: France substitution -- Sidney Govou is in for Diarra.
78th minute:
Substitution for South Africa -- Teko Modise is on for Khuboni.
0
0
0Share
75th minute: South Africa's Nomvete makes a great run into the France box, but can't get a shot off before France keeper Lloris comes off the line to scoop up the ball.
71st minute: Yellow card to France's Abu Diaby.
70th minute: GOAL! France! Substitute Florent Malouda taps in a pass from Franck Ribery, who is played in on the right wing and drives into the box. As the South African keeper Josephs comes out to challenge the shot, Ribery slides a cross over to Malouda, who is unmarked. This, surely, is great news for Mexico, as the South Africans' goal difference takes a major hit with this goal conceded.
68th minute: Siabonga Nomvethe is on for South Africa in place of Parker.
66th minute: South Africa's Tshabalala is down, and France's Ribery plays the ball out of bounds to get a play stoppage. It's a normal display of sportsmanship soccer teams do when a player is injured, except in this case, Ribery's gesture interrupts a run by France that could have led to a scoring chance.
65th minute: A handball called against Thierry Henry, wearing the captain's armband, perhaps for the final time?
62nd minute: Another chance for South Africa's Mphela, cutting in from the right. Shot wide. Just wide. He's been great.
59th minute: A chance for France's Ribery, but he shoots high from a dangerous spot.
58th minute: A diving save by France's Lloris on a hard drive by South Africa's Mphela.
55th minute: Substitutions for both teams. Siboniso Gaxa comes on for South Africa, to replace the injured Ngcongka, while French coach Raymond Domenech sends on Thierry Henry for Cisse. A terrible substitution for France. Cisse has been one of their best players in the game. Domenech is leaving after this tournament, and it appears he's checked out early.
54th minute: Cisse, for France, hammers a one-timer just high. A good chance. He's played well for France.
53rd minute: South Africa's Ngcongka is taken off on a stretcher.
51st minute: Mphela, of South Africa, fires off the right post, after another setup by Tshabalala.
South Africa kicks off to start the second half. France has made a substitution -- striker Florent Malouda is on for striker Gignac.
Halftime: South Africa leads, 2-0 and Bafana Bafana are smelling blood. Uruguay's lead over Mexico means the South African dream is possible. There is still some ground to be made up in the area of goal difference, but France is dispirited, and playing with 10 men. More goals are possible for South Africa in the second half. If Uruguay can hold on to its lead over Mexico, South Africa will be flying in the final 45 minutes as it goes for the goal.
45th minute: Three minutes of added time.
44th minute: And now word comes that Uruguay has scored against Mexico! The South Africans have a chance! At the moment, South Africa still trails Mexico in goal difference - they need to make up two more goals. But France are down to 10 men and showing nothing. It is not impossible for Bafana Bafana.
43rd minute: A shot from above the right side of the box by Mphela forces a diving save from France keeper Lloris. Whatever happens with Uruguay-Mexico (currently 0-0) South Africa is doing its job to give itself a chance to advance.
39th minute: A long free kick by Ribery penetrates the South Africa box and forces a save from South Africa keeper Josephs. Nearly 2-1 there.
37th minute: GOOOOAAALLLL!!! South Africa! 2-0, Bafana Bafana. Katlego Mphela the goalscorer, after another play started by Tshabalala, who sends in a cross from the left wing. It bounces off a France defender, but it's played back in and France's Gael Clichy has tight coverage on Mphela, but he can't find the ball and Mphela taps it in.
34th minute: A free kick, in range from South Africa's Tshabalala is pretty good, but just over the crossbar. No question who is dominating this game so far.
26th minute: Things go from bad to worse for France, as Yoann Gourcuff is red-carded by the referee for an elbow to the face of South Africa's Sibaya. It appears accidental, rather than vicious, as Gourcuff has to lift his arms and elbows as he leaps to try and head the ball. The elbow seems to catch Sibaya by chance. But the referee doesn't see it that way. France down to 10 men.
24th minute: South Africa's Mphela running to goal, hits it just wide.
23rd minute: Another corner, from the right wing again, by Tshabalala, and nearly another error by Lloris and another goal for South Africa. Lloris came off his line for the ball, then changed his mind as the ball flighted over his head. This time it's headed away by the defense.
20th minute: GOOOAALLLL!!! South Africa!!! Khumalo heads it home, off a corner kick from the right wing, a left-footed inswinger by Tshabalala. Yet another goalkeeper error creates a goal, as Lloris, the French keeper, comes out to punch the ball away and misses completely. South Africa's Khumalo is at the back post to head it in - his first goal ever for his country.
17th minute: South Africa's Sibaya a long shot, but not close to the goal.
10th minute: A header on goal, from the top of the box, by Cisse. No trouble for Josephs, but Cisse has looked good so far. Perhaps he should have started from the beginning for France?
3rd minute: Gignac, of France, is in on the left side of the box and shoots. Easily handled, though, by South Africa goalkeeper Josephs.
The host South Africans are in their preferred yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks. France is wearing their preferred blue shirts, white shorts, and red socks. France kicks off and the game is underway.
The lineups are out, and France coach Raymond Domenech has shaken things up. After the team rebellion Sunday, captain Patrice Evra is out, and so is defender Eric Abidal, whose two mistakes led to both goals against Mexico. In all, five new players in the starting 11 who are playing their first game in the World Cup.
France: Hugo Lloris (GK); William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Sebastian Squillaci, Gael Clichy; Abou Diaby, Alou Diarra (C), Franck Ribery, Andre-Pierre Gignac; Yoann Gourcuff, Djibril Cisse.
South Africa: Moneeb Josephs (GK); Bongani Khumalo, Aaron Mokoena (C), Tsepo Masilela, Anele Ngcongka; MacBeth Sibaya, Thanduyise Khuboni, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker; Katlego Mphela. Labels: overseas
0 comments:
Post a Comment