France are staring at a humiliatingly premature exit from the World Cup after Mexico inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Raymond Domenech's team.
Hernandez and Blanco on target as Les Bleus near exit
France are staring at a humiliatingly premature exit from the 2010 World Cup after Mexico inflicted a 2-0 Group A defeat on Les Bleus in Polokwane on Thursday evening.
Manchester United-bound forward Javier Hernandez handed his side the lead in the second period before Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 15 years the former's senior, slotted in from the penalty spot.
The result leaves Mexico on four points, alongside Uruguay, while the increasingly under-fire France coach Raymond Domenech must now hope for a horoscope-inspired miracle when his team meet the hosts South Africa in what is likely to be his last game as national manager next Tuesday.
Domenech's only change to his side which played in their opening game of Group A was the introduction of Chelsea's Florent Malouda in place of Yoann Gourcuff, who struggled to make an impact in the goalless draw with Uruguay. Javier Aguirre, meanwhile, made one alteration, calling up Hector Moreno in place of Paul Aguilar.
The opening exchanges were very lively indeed, with Mexico first to threaten only for Giovani dos Santos to be flagged offside as he burst through and hit the far post. Then, after Guillermo Franco was booked, the pacey Mexicans risked to burst clear once more, but this time Hugo Lloris acted as sweeper.
Mexico continued to pose problems to the French defence, with a deep ball played over the top by Rafael Marquez finding Carlos Vela, whose wild lash of a volley resulted in the ball flashing waywardly off target. Minutes later, Franco wriggled on the edge of the box before curling a strike over.
Flair
France's danger primarily came through Malouda, with the midfielder nipping down the left only to see his cutback cut out. And then a well-worked set-piece from Les Bleus saw Franck Ribery thunder a rasping shot-come-cross beyond the reach of his lurking team-mates in the penalty area.
Carlos Salcido then found himself in the thick of the action twice in the space of nine minutes. First, the left-back drove, and dragged, a shot beyond the far stick as he marauded forward. Then, Salcido darted in from the flank and, following hesitation from William Gallas, toe-poked a shot goalwards which Lloris knocked away.
Aguirre was forced into a change on 31 minutes after Arsenal's Vela sustained a hamstring injury. And his replacement, Pable Barrera, almost made an immediate impact as he looked to steal in on Salcido's in-swinging cross, but was denied by the onrushing Lloris, who just about prevented a goal.
Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez was largely a spectator despite possession between the two nations being roughly split, with a very good Jeremy Toulalan cross only half-threatening their opponents' defence. And, as per the pattern of the game, Mexico caused issues, Santos again twisting and turning before squirting a strike off target.
Indeed, a tame effort from Nicolas Anelka which fell into the hands of Perez summarised France's first 45 minutes that lacked sting while Toulalan's cynical foul that resulted in a yellow card and halted a rapid Mexican counter-attack encapsulated the opposition's invention and willingness to get forward, and French's fear of that enthusiasm.
Stunned
Domenech shuffled his pack at the interval, bringing Andre-Pierre Gignac on for the subdued Anelka. Then followed a booking apiece for Efrain Juarez and Hector Moreno, the former carded for a shove on Malouda, who naughtily kicked the ball against the floored Mexican seconds earlier.
The entertainment kept on flowing as Malouda's thumping drive with his weaker right foot was tipped over by Perez. Ribery also witnessed a shot palmed away by the shot-stopper, before Javier Hernandez entered the fray in place of Juarez.
And just nine minutes after his introduction, 22-year-old Hernandez broke the deadlock. The attacker raced clean through onto a searching through ball from Marquez. France's defence was statuesque as they awaited the flag to go up for offside. But it stayed down, and Hernandez rounded Lloris before keeping his cool and rolling home.
Domenech's response was to throw on Mathieu Valbuena for the ever-disappointing Sidney Govou. But their fate was confirmed with 12 minutes remaining as Blanco dispatched from the penalty spot after an absurdly clumsy challenge from Eric Abidal on the speedy Berrara in the box.
The France head coach looked a bemused customer on the sidelines, with his side, seemingly lacking heart to play for their manager and finishing the match with a whimper, particularly compared to the desire and fearlessness of the Mexicans, who were worthy winners.
| France |
Team Statistics |
Mexico |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 7 |
Corners |
1 |
| 23 |
Fouls |
25 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
4 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.2 |
Passing Success |
76.7 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
24 |
| 66.7 |
Tackles Success |
75 |
| 52.3 |
Possession |
47.7 |
| 57.7 |
Territorial Advantage |
42.3 |
|
Sky Bet - World Cup - France to qualify from Group A 7/1
