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Latest update: 18/06/2010
- 2010 FIFA World Cup - France - Mexico
Mexico dash France's round two dreams with 2-0 victory
Despite French coach Raymond Domenech's efforts to revamp France's line-up on Thursday, Mexico planted two goals in the second half of the match to beat Les Bleus 2-0. France now faces the serious risk of elimination from the World Cup.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - Mexico recorded their first victory over France and left the former winners facing a possible embarrassing early World Cup exit after a 2-0 win in their second Group A game on Thursday.
Substitute forward Javier Hernandez beat an offside trap, raced into the box unchallenged and twisted his way past France keeper Hugo Lloris to put Mexico ahead on 64 minutes.
Wily forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 37, doubled the advantage from the penalty spot on 79 minutes after Pablo Barrera was brought down by Eric Abidal, sending his country's fans wild with delight in a contrast to the glum French faces.
"I'm delighted. The goal is for the whole country," Hernandez told a news conference as cries of "Ole!, Ole!" from the jubilant Mexican fans could be heard outside.
France, the 1998 champions, have just one point from two games and face hosts South Africa in their final pool game next week. Even a win might not be enough for them to qualify and escape another disaster after their Euro 2008 flop.
Uruguay and Mexico, who top the group with four points each, will both qualify if they draw their match next week, and eliminate France and South Africa, who are both on one point.
Audacious play
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was full of praise for his team after what he said had been a tight match.
"Whoever scored first was going to win. The goal made us feel calm," the former Mexico international told reporters, expressing his pleasure that the team's style of bombing forward had paid off.
"We always try to be audacious to put the ball in the net. We do run risks," he said.
Mexico's Achilles heel in the first game -- the lack of a killer instinct in front of goal -- was again threatening to hinder their progress until Hernandez's timely strike.
The 22-year-old latched onto an expert pass from captain Rafael Marquez to find himself in acres of space, and calmly took the ball around the oncoming Lloris to finish.
Not long after, first half substitute Pablo Barrera's searing run into the penalty area ended with a foul by Abidal and Blanco smashed home the resulting penalty in emphatic fashion for his 39th goal for his country.
France coach Raymond Domenech was downbeat after the loss which leaves his side with very little hope of making the knockout stages.
"I'm lost for words. It's a real disappointment for those who believed in us," France coach Raymond Domenech told French television channel TF1.
"There's one match left. We'll play for pride and hope for a miracle. We needed a draw to keep our fate in our hands and couldn't get it."
With their fate out of their hands, they will have to face their final match against South Africa without holding midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who will be suspended after picking his second yellow card of the tournament.
The only sour news for Mexico was the first-half leg injury to lively forward Carlos Vela, although it was not immediately clear how long he might be out of action.
"I'm very worried for Vela and the team about his injury," Aguirre said
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Comments (9)
Certainly France are in
Certainly France are in crisis and I don't envy the task facing the incoming coach with qualifiers for Euro2012 looming. Even to hear rumours that they will put up an even more farcical showing tomorrow against SA as some kind of protest against Domenech does the French game no good.
Although I'm Irish, I am getting tired of the anti-French attitudes, not least those stirred up by the UK press which is available here, and finding its way into some venemnous posts. While the cheating in St. Denis meant I wasn't behind France for this time, in no way would I let it affect my attitudes to France and the French people who have been true friends of Ireland for centuries.
For this football team justice has been served. As one of our papers put it "what goes around, comes around".
But the time for this animosity between our countries over "le main de Thierry" should be consigned to history and put behind us, "it's only a game!" as they say.
God forbid we (Irish) should end up like the English, who never seem to let a tournament pass without recalling over and over again Maradona's "handiwork" all of 24 years ago.
World Cup
thisworld cup has brought a lot lessons. he coaches have to think beyond. its nolonger the names of teams but the skills, determination and experience by coaches to ead every game and understand t
france's defeat.
france are not the club they used to be.in the last world cup,they lost a game to south korea,let's face it,frances glory days are over-china will become a major force in the world cup in the future.it would be nice to see mexico lift the world cup.
Party in ireland
It was not the fact that henry basket balled the pass that caused the goal but his behaviour immediately after that has many people in ireland rejoycing at this great mexican win.
More over the fact that the french are truly awfull to watch and probably as bad to watch as the irish, but at least we would have brought some spirit to africa.
Anything more that another defeat against africa is more than the french deserve
No sympathy here
Upss... we did it again
Upss... we did it again
Green Army beats France
Thank you MEXICO! lots of LOVE from IRELAND :)
Who's your daddy?
That's right frech faggs. It's Mexico
I think the blame has to rest
I think the blame has to rest squarely with Domenech. It was eveident from the qualifiers that that formation did not work. So instead of changing for the second half he replaces like for like. Anelka was not having a bad game, he was lacking service... how was Gignac expected to do any better!
fuckfrance
so many many people are happy that these scum called france it s out and we hope never come back in front line
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