South Africa defeated France 2-1 in a fascinating game. The hosts and 1998 World Cup champions France are out from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however, as Uruguay defeated Mexico by a goal to nil only.

South Africa's Aaron Mokoena hand shakes France's Thierry Henri as the respective side of the two captains crash out from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.France vs South Africa, First Half: Bafana Bafana Destroy Les Bleus

Captained by Alou Diarra since the self-exclusion of Patrice Evra, the French were out to play for pride even if their chances of reaching the Round of 16 remained very slim. Andre-Pierre Gignac had a glorious opportunity to break France’s goalless curse in South Africa when he was sent through on goal from the left side of the penalty area. The player cruised into the box but only fired a weak shot which didn’t trouble South Africa’s goalkeeper.

You could feel France’s intention to really get something out of this game with Djibril Cissé coming close to scoring through a header. South Africa struggled to take hold of the game until after a quarter of an hour when Steven Pienaar came out from the shadows of his body pains to inject some attacking flair into the game.

 

It quickly paid off as Khumalo jumped above everyone in France’s penalty box to head in the ball from a corner and put his side in the lead at the 20th minute. South African fans at the Free State stadium went wild in celebration. Moments later, the yellow and green boys had another advantage – this time, not through a goal but through the sending off of Yoann Gourcuff. The referee entered into confusion over the guilty man’s identity and first punished Djibril Cissé. But after clearing out things with the rest of the match officials, it was France’s influential midfielder Yoann Gourcuff who received his marching orders after accidentally elbowing MacBeth Sibaya in the jaw. Les Bleus’ misery immediately showed as Katlego Mphela punished France’s scrappy defense by taking his chance to make it 2-0 at the 37th minute.

As Uruguay were leading Mexico by a goal to nil in Group A’s other match at half time, there was a lot of hope for host nation South Africa to create a miracle. It was down to Bafana Bafana to finish the job they had started so well.

France vs South Africa, Second Half: No African Miracle Despite All The SweatFrance's Florent Malouda vies with Macbeth Sibaya of South Africa.

Bafana Bafana were expected to make the most of their chances and capitalize on France’s numerical disadvantage. But they couldn’t quite get their mission done with Katlego Mphela missing the back of the net at a couple of occasions. Steven Pienaar was instrumental in midfield but at the crowd’s disappointment, the rest of his team mates upfront couldn’t make perfect connections with his passes and crosses.

The bad news for the World Cup hosts was that Uruguay were still leading Mexico 1-0 only, whereas the scoreboard at the Free State stadium inscribed a 2-0 result in favor of South Africa. The worst news was that France’s Florent Malouda exposed South Africa’s defense with the easiest of tap-ins in the 70th minute as the substitute broke his side’s goalless curse.

At 2-1, the pressure on South Africa increased – not to mention that the French had suddenly found inspiration from above. Raymond Domenech’s men put in a good show in the remaining minutes of the match only to frustrate more Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side. Now if Les Bleus were heading out of the competition, they were also making sure of disqualifying the host nation as well.

When the referee blew his whistle for the end of proceedings, the atmosphere at the Free State Stadium was rather calm. There had been no miracle for Bafana Bafana who instantly became the first World Cup hosts to fail in the first round of the tournament. France are out too at the delight of millions of Irish fans who cursed Les Bleus last year following their side’s controversial loss against the 1998 World Cup champions in the play-off.

So, Uruguay and Mexico have reached the second phase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Tonight, another African nation will try to defend the pride of the Black Continent as Nigeria will come up against South Korea. Two of Africa’s hopes are now dead since Cameroon and South Africa have exited from the group stages of the 2010 World Cup. Will there be a third funeral tonight?