South Africa beat France 2-1, Go out of the World Cup on Goal Difference

BLOEMFONTEIN. Yesterday was a monumental day in the history of South African football as they defeated France in Africa’s first World Cup ensuring they finished the group stage on 4 points: one win, one loss and one draw. 

This is the same number of points that Mexico finishes on having been beaten yesterday by group winners Uruguay who finish as group winners on 7 points.

Mexico’s superior goal difference ensures they go through to the knock out rounds as second in group at Bafana’s expense setting up a mouth-watering round of 16 clash with Group B winner’s Argentina at Soccer City on Sunday. 

South Africa, despite beating France and drawing with Mexico in the opening match go out of the tournament largely due to their heavy defeat by Uruguay on June 16th.

South Africa becomes the first host nation to fail to qualify for the knock out round of the World Cup. When Bafana Bafana set their target at the start of this World Cup, having qualified automatically as hosts, their goal was to qualify for the knock out round. 

They however did not anticipate being drawn in a group with 3 teams ranked in the world top 20 including defeated 2006 finalists France. Along with Nigeria and Cameroon, South Africa becomes the third of the six African sides that fails to qualify for the knockout round. While there is a deep feeling of disappointment amongst some Bafana Bafana supporters, there is also a great deal satisfaction felt in the fact that Bafana did not disgrace themselves, and in beating France and going out on goal difference, displayed qualities and character, on the day, that with a bit of luck could have seen them go through. A brilliant half against Mexico on the opening day and a similar display yesterday however in the end was not enough. South Africa beats France, satisfies the country’s thirst of success with a battling displace but in the end fall short.

The emotions and the pulse rates rose and fell as South Africa went ahead 2-0 by half time...

As news filtered in around the ground at Bloemfontein that Uruguay had gone 1-0 against Mexico, the issue came down to permutations. South Africa needed to ensure they overturned a three goal difference to come out ahead of Mexico meaning two more goals were required. There was a brief moment of confusion amongst the fans as to whether it was one or two goals. I could not help being reminded of South African cricket’s numerous defeats at the hands of the Duckworth Lewis method which calculates runs needed in rain effected one day test matches, calculations of which South African cricket has failed to master leading to embarrassing defeats. But the math here was a bit more simple. With Mexico going down 1-0 to Uruguay leaving them on 4 points with a goal difference of +1 having beaten France 2-0, South Africa needed to win 4-0 to ensure their goal difference went to +2. With a second half equaliser from Chelsea’s Flourent Malouda and a 10 man France squad led in the end by Ribery, Henri and Malouda, hope soon faded despite South Africa hitting the post and squandering other chances.

Bloemfontein is a wonderful city to watch football. The stadium, in the centre of the CBD is accessible and sits beside a waterfront shopping mall with shops and restaurants where fans gathered before the match. The few French faithful in particular put up a good show against the walls of green and gold with placards reading ‘French Fans Not on Strike.’ While the vuvuzelas sounding in the cafes at lunchtime at Primi Piatti were regrettable, it only indicated the depth of South African support on the day. It was pleased to run into a few Irish lads and the inevitable wicked humour and lingering bitterness about the Hand of Henri. No question as to who the Irish were supporting on the day.

For the 400kms plus drive home to Joburg from Bloem after the match, we were entertained by hearing broadcasts on Radio 2000 of Argentina v Greece from Polokwane and the So Kos v Nigeria from Durban, with the radio producers cleverly switching back and forth between the matches. Full marks to the SABC radio for their wonderful coverage of the tournament.

While Argentina had already ensured their passage to the next round as group winners, the permutations in these Group B matches for the remaining spot as runners-up were mind boggling with the any of So Ko, Greece and Nigeria with the possibility of going through. Nigeria for certain had a relatively clear path and would have progressed on a win and an Argentina win. For Greece, a win and draw from the other match was good enough and for So Ko, a draw was sufficient to get them past the post, if Argentina defeated Greece. In the end, Nigeria, like Bafana, squandered their chances ensuring a draw and Argentina had too much for Greece in Polokwane.

While World Footballer of the year Lionel Messi has failed to score again, the highlights proved him to be am absolute menace to the Greeks as he peppered the keeper and the posts continually - eventually leading to Martin Palermo’s goal and Argentina’s second after a goalkeeping parry. Maradona charges, the second string on the night, looked in great form and will not fear the Mexicans on Sunday.

As for this afternoon and this evening, again its all about the permutations. Currently in Group C, any of the 4 teams can progress to the next round with the USA and England needing clear victories to ensure they go through. A USA draw against Algeria will not be enough for them, if England can beat Slovenia in Port Elizabeth. Similarly, if England draw, they will be left on only 3 points and an Algerian or American victory in Pretoria will deny them passage. Slovenia already on 4 points having beaten Algeria are best placed to ensure they progress and a draw should be good enough for them to deny England and go through on 5 points.

Later on this evening, we will return to Soccer City to watch Ze Germans against Ghana. The Ghanaians squandered a great opportunity when failing to beat 10 men Australia this past Saturday. They currently top the group on 4 points. Germany and Serbia are both on 3 points and with Australia on 1 point but with a vastly inferior goal difference, it is unlikely they will progress. A Serbian draw with Australia and a German victory means that it will come down difference between Ghana and Serbia. A Serbian victory and a German victory means they both go through. A Ghanaian victory means they deny the Germans passage to the knock out rounds for the first time.

African hearts are with Ghana as they remain the best chances of progression to the knock out rounds. The German rarely lose World Cup matches and I am not certain if they have ever lost two in a row. They are a wounded giant and one would expect a spirited German performance tonight.

What we had hoped would be an African World Cup is increasingly looking like a Latin America dominated tournament. With 4 teams already booked into the Round of 16, none of these teams are European. It is however too early to call how the next few days will unfold with Portugal, Holland and Spain still looking to book their places going forward. After tonight’s match, it’s a rest day tomorrow from the stadia and then from Friday, its 5 matches in 5 days starting with Spain v Chile at Loftus in Pretoria – a crunch decider for Group H.

Now its all about permutations. South Africa remains on a high after yesterday’s victory despite the ultimate exclusion from further participation. I think the national interest will remain at high levels and allegiance and support will shift to the next set of underdogs – whether they be Mexican, Uruguayan or South Korean. Until these teams fall by the wayside, my support will continue to go the less likely, the up and coming and the pretenders, as opposed to contenders. Tonight it is Ghana and Friday it will be Chile. Today’s long shot is Algeria. Permutations, permutations permutations… it’s all up for grabs.