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2010 World Cup: France 0-2 Mexico – Report

Angela Asante, June 17 2010,
Mexico have done it! They are not yet into the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup but they have one foot there already. That’s because they beat France 2-0 on Thursday night.

Mexico celebrate as they beat France.

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The atmosphere of the game was filled with the patriotic spirit of France and Mexico‘s respective supporters in the stadium. When the national anthem played for each side, the chants of the players on the field, of the coaching staff in the dugout, and of the crowd only increased the importance of the game. France’s captain on the day, Patrice Evra, even let tears flow from his eyes to emphasize the emotional feeling of being a footballer and representing his country at the highest level.

France vs Mexico, First Half: Mexico Getting The Better Of The French

Right from the star, the game was tense, with both sides having equally good chances upfront to make an impact. Inside the first minute of the game already, Giovanni dos Santos cruised through France’s half and almost orchestered and early goal. But his team mate smashed a shot that beat Hugo Lloris, but not the foot of the post. Replays later revealed that the striker was offside anyways.

 

Mexico came calling back again a few minutes later with a flawless move that gave Carlos Vela the opportunity to finish it with a goal. But the Arsenal forward awfully fired the ball up towards the sky from 8 yards out. Actually, he certainly should have squared the ball instead of going for the kill.

At the crowd’s delight, the match was an entertaining one, with both France and Mexico exhibiting their attacking abilities. But if Malouda and Franck Ribery were dangerous upfront for Les Bleus, so was Mexico’s unit of attacking players. Inside the 26th minute Carlos Salcido blinded France’s defense by sprinting unmarked towards the penalty box. He lashed in a shot that missed the target, but he didn’t hold back after that.

Six minutes later, Salcido again used the right flank to create problems for Les Bleus. He provided a good cross to Pablo Perreira. However, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris came out of his goal post to confuse things; the ball eventually went out for a goal kick. At the other end of the field, Les Bleus also tried to create something great.

Actually, it was GiovanniMexico's Cuauhtemoc Blanco celebrates vs France. dos Santos who had one of the most genuine attempts on goal as he brought the ball down with his chest before lashing out a shot that went off-target. The last acton of the first half saw France’s Toulalan pick up a yellow card for a deliberate foul and illegal blockade on Mexico’s G. Franco.

France vs Mexico, Second Half: Go Mexico!

The Mexicans started to lose their nerves with Juarez and Moreno entering in the referee’s book before the 50th minute for unnecessary fouls. Salcido got the better of France’s defenders one more time as he intelligently skipped two challenges. Unstoppable as he was, he could only be brought down by Bakari Sagna who eventually got warned.

Rafael Marquez took the responsibility of executing the free-kick. The captain tricked France’s wall by feeding Giovanni dos Santos who was running wide on the left side of the penalty box. Dos Santos chipped the ball back in the center of the area but no one was really able to connect with his cross which got intercepted and cleared away.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco entered the battlefield in the 62nd minute and got Mexican fans cheering him on loudly. Perhaps his presence injected more power to Mexico’s already dynamic spirit. Either way, El Tri found the breakthrough moments later as Hernandez made no mistake in driving the ball past France’s helpless goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. It was 1-0 to Mexico after 64 minutes of play.

Now the Mexicans didn’t stop just there. There were determined to secure their points with another goal which they indeed got through Cuauhtémoc Blanco. It all started with Barrera breathtakingly cruising forward with the ball at his feet. Eric Abidal couldn’t deal with the attacker’s pace and thus brought him down inside the box.

The defender was lucky to escape without a booking after clearly fouling the Mexican player’s ankle. But the penalty was given and fan favorite Cuauhtémoc Blanco was assigned to make his mark in Africa. Overcoming his nerves, the veteran sent the ball at the back of the net to close the gates of survival for the French.

France players walk off dejected.Les Bleus moved forward in search of an equalizer. Substitute Valbuena wasted a good opportunity to minimize France’s deficit with one minute of normal time remaining. During the four minutes of added time, nothing different happened.

No comeback for the French. Mexico had therefore succeeded in joining Uruguay at the top of the table for their final battle against La Celeste Olimpica on June 22. A draw will do for both sides to reach the last 16 at the expense of France and South Africa.

Uruguay and Mexico are both on 4 points whereas France and South Africa share the remaining last two places with a point each and a negative goal difference. France are third though with a less horrible deficit than the host nation.


 

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