France exited the World Cup at the first round stage with barely
a whimper after this humbling defeat by the host nation at the Free
State Stadium.
Neither team will play a part in the business end of the World
Cup as Uruguay and Mexico took the top two places in Group A - the
Mexicans finishing above South Africa on goal difference.
On a day of drama Raymond Domenech stripped Patrice Evra of the
captaincy and handed the armband to Alou Diarra instead.
Then the coach, set to be replaced by Laurent Blanc, also saw
his side reduced to 10 men after 26 minutes of this Group A game
when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off.
Heads up: Khumalo (left) rises above the French
defence to nod home the opener
Evra was dropped after the squad boycotted a training session
after striker Nicolas Anelka was expelled following a row with
Domenech.
The Manchester United full-back cut a lonely figure on the bench
on another dreadful day for France.
They all count: Mphela doubles South Africa's lead
from close range
Yet they could have opened the scoring in the third minute when
Gourcuff released Andre-Pierre Gignac. He had a clear sight of goal
but only succeeded in drilling a shot into the arms of Moneeb
Josephs.
France were rocked in the 20th minute when South Africa made the
breakthrough, which led to pandemonium in the stadium.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris failed to cut out a corner from Siphiwe
Tshabalala and Bongani Khumalo took advantage to score with a
header at the back post.
It might have been worse for the former world champions five
minutes later but Katlego Mphela dragged a shot narrowly wide of
the post.
France's troubles increased, however in the 26th minute when
they were reduced to 10 men with Gourcuff sent off by Colombian
referee Oscar Ruiz for an aerial challenge on Macbeth Sibaya.
Domenech could not believe what was happening and held his head
in frustration at seeing his side down on numbers.
Bad to worse: Gourcuff receives his marching orders
as Sibaya lies flat out
South Africa were growing in confidence and Tshabalala whipped a
free-kick over the bar in the 34th minute before they extended
their lead three minutes later.
Mphela clipped the ball home after being sent up by Bernard
Parker with France in disarray at the back.
Steven Pienaar then found the net for South Africa but his
effort was disallowed and Mphela saw his shot turned around the
post by Lloris.
Malouda was introduced at the start of the second half but
France were soon pegged back. Parker sent his shot into arms of
Lloris and Mphela's effort clipped the outside of the post.
Too little too late: Malouda can't
mis
s as he taps home France's only goal
France could not contain Mphela and the goalkeeper did well to
push away his powerful drive in the 58th minute.
However South Africa were caught napping in the 70th minute and
failed to track Malouda, who pulled a goal back following a cross
from Franck Ribery.
That was as good as it got for France, whose only point in the
group came against Uruguay.
It was a bitter sweet win for South Africa as they have become
the first host nation to be eliminated at the first round stage of
the finals.
