France 1 South Africa 2: match report

So France vacated the World Cup scene by bringing some joy to South Africa’s party by allowing the hosts to claim the victory they sought so dearly.
Not the distinction that Raymond Domenech and his players wanted to achieve this summer, but after a week of mayhem within the French camp, at least they made somebody happy.
Reduced to ten men following the first-half dismissal of Yoann Gourcuff, France were outplayed by the hosts, who claimed victory with first-half goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katiego Mphela.
Florent Malouda’s late goal was no consolation for France and the sour taste left by their World Cup participation was increased with Domenech refusing to shake the hand of South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira at the end of the game.
Go home France. Good riddance.
Despite their calamitous World Cup, the prospects of France caving in to the extent that South Africa could actually claim the emphatic victory they required to sneak into the knock-out stages appeared utterly remote

But French turmoil has reached unprecedented levels in recent days, so anything was possible.
Since the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka on Saturday for verbally abusing Domenech, the players have boycotted training, there has been talk of ‘traitors’ in the camp and French Sports minister Roselyne Bachelot declared Les Bleus could ‘no longer be heroes for our children.’
Damning stuff. Domenech, who accused his players of being ‘unspeakably stupid,’ made six changes from the starting line-up in the 2-0 defeat against Mexico. He could have made eleven.
South Africa, requiring a five-goal swing and a defeat for Mexico against Uruguay to have any hope of qualification, needed all the help they could get.
So the French discord played directly into their hands, even if the sleepy city of Bloemfontein could not muster a full house at the Free State Stadium for Bafana Bafana’s date with destiny.
Those who stayed away missed a display of passion and commitment from the hosts that the French could only dream of, however.
And when Khumalo put South Africa ahead on 20 minutes, belief begin to coarse through the veins of Parreira’s players.
Hugo Lloris, the highly-rated French goalkeeper, misjudged Siphiwe Tshabalala’s corner and Khumalo outjumped Abou Diaby to bundle the ball into the net with his shoulder.
If the French were in disarray, their world collapsed moments later when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz for elbowing Macbeth Sibaya.
The red card was greeted by Domenech placing his head in his hands, but South Africa now sensed an opportunity and they poured forward.
Mphela shot wide from 20 yards following a mazy run from the halfway line before the Mamelodi Sundowns forward doubled the hosts’ lead eight minutes before half-time.
Yet more poor French defending allowed Tsepo Masilela to cross to the far post, where Mphela stroked the ball into the empty net.
Mphela almost made it 3-0 on 43 minutes with a low strike from distance that was brilliantly saved by Lloris.
France had no answer. Thierry Henry replaced the ineffective Djibril Cisse, but South Africa continued to dominate, with Mphela striking the crossbar before having another long range effort saved.
The missed chances threatened to prove costly, especially with the margins so tight for the home team.
And the wind was taken out of South Africa’s sails on 70 minutes when Malouda scored for France after being teed up by Franck Ribery 12 yards out.
The goal killed South Africa’s dream, but for France, the nightmare will go on and on.