Jeremy Toulalan has told his France team-mates not to give up hope of avoiding an early exit.
Midfielder insists Les Bleus aren't out yet
Jeremy Toulalan has told his France team-mates they must not give up hope of avoiding an early exit at the World Cup.
Les Bleus are facing a premature return home having failed to score a goal so far, drawing 0-0 against Uruguay before losing 2-0 to Mexico.
They must now beat hosts South Africa in their final group game on Tuesday to keep alive their chances of reaching the second round.
But that still may not be enough as a draw between Uruguay and Mexico would ensure they are the two qualifiers from Group A.
Toulalan, who is suspended for the game against South Africa having been booked in the first two games, was the only French player to speak to the press on Friday.
The Lyon midfielder admits the 1998 winners have not been playing as a team but is confident they can still go through to the last 16.
Faith
"The coach has told us we still have a small chance of reaching the knock-out stages and we have to keep faith," he said.
"I don't think Mexico and Uruguay will agree to draw, but we know we have to score anyway."
France were stunned as second-half goals from Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave Mexico a first-ever win against Les Bleus on Thursday.
Striker Nicolas Anelka was substituted at half-time after a dressing-room bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech and has since been sent home from South Africa, but Toulalan feels it is now time for the French to let their football do the talking.
"The difference between Mexico and us is Mexico had a collective and we had 11 players," he added. "We weren't playing as a collective on the pitch.
"We can say a lot of good things but if we don't make the effort for each other then it doesn't matter."
