Raymond Domenech:Worst World Cup
Going into this game, one might think that nothing worse could happen Cup bid be awarded to France’s World.
After all, the runners were in the last World Cup in France already held to a goalless draw against Uruguay, angered by Mexico, and embarrassed by evil from the world a dispute that involved the expulsion of a player, the resignation of a manager, and a player . beat
Surely they would come out of their system, the bickering and ready to crush a little experience South African team and, perhaps, squeak of Mexico come to come in the second round.
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Oh, how wrong we were.
Bafana Bafana – as South Africa’s team is known – came to play, and she taught French, how much worse could get their World Cup.
Bongani Khumalo started the bad news for France by soaring over a defender for a brilliant French head off a corner kick in the 20th Minute.
Then, minutes later, disaster for France midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has been off for a nasty elbow to MacBeth Sibaya pine sent, as they both went for a header.
The red card left France a man for the rest of the game.
“France came under a cloud, but it is now a full-fledged storm,” said an ESPN announcer.
And it just kept pouring.
Katlego “Killer” Mphela lived up to his nickname by scoring South Africa’s second goal in the 37th Minutes, sniffing out the lives of France’s World Cup bid.
One has to wonder what in the locker room at halftime. Insults? Screaming? Blame? Or just long faces?
It could not have been a pretty sight.
But France has to stop the bleeding by South Africa scoreless into the second half. They even have a bit of dignity by scoring their only goal of the tournament in the 70th Minutes saved.
The goal was nothing special. Florent Malouda it walked calmly into the empty net. But the leadup the target was a clinic in the very thing that has escaped France all tournament: Teamwork.
Defender Bacary Sagna took the ball from France is half to midfield before passing it to Alou Diarra, who by a defender’s legs right back to Sagna backheeled.
Sagna was then Franck Ribery streaks on the right wing and played a beautiful ball through to him. Instead of trying a little imagination, Ribery pulled the keeper and slotted it up to him to the waiting Malouda.
This is the kind of football that France might have seen at the top of their qualifying group, but it was too little, too late to Les Bleus of crashes out at the bottom of Group A with one point from their goalless draw earned save with Uruguay.
Unfortunately for South Africa ended their hopes of qualifying for this goal, because – although they won today’s game – they form a deficit on goal difference needed to advance on Mexico.
Still, the Rainbow Nation can be proud of their young, their Bafana Bafana.
They performed admirably on home soil, on a high note, donated one of the most gifted (if discombobulated) teams in the world.
South Africans can carry their heads high tonight.