FIFA 2010 World Cup Preview: France 1 - 2 South Africa

Farcical French crash out

France exited the World Cup at the first round stage with barely a whimper after this humbling defeat by the host nation at the Free State Stadium.

On a day of drama Raymond Domenech stripped Patrice Evra of the captaincy and handed the armband to Alou Diarra instead. Then the coach, set to be replaced by Laurent Blanc, saw his side reduced to 10 men after 26 minutes of this Group A game when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off.

South Africa took advantage with Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela both finding the target. Although Florent Malouda stepped off the bench to pull a goal back France are heading home early.

Evra was dropped after the squad boycotted a training session after striker Nicolas Anelka was expelled following a row with Domenech. The Manchester United full-back cut a lonely figure on the bench on another dreadful day for France.

Yet they could have opened the scoring in the third minute when Gourcuff released Andre-Pierre Gignac. He had a clear sight of goal but only succeeded in drilling a shot into the arms of Moneeb Josephs.

France were rocked in the 20th minute when South Africa made the breakthrough, which led to pandemonium in the stadium. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris failed to cut out a corner from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Khumalo took advantage to score with a header at the back post.

It might have been worse for the former world champions five minutes later but Mphela dragged a shot narrowly wide of the post.

France's troubles increased, however in the 26th minute when they were reduced to 10 men with Gourcuff sent off by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz for an aerial challenge on Macbeth Sibaya.

Domenech could not believe what was happening and held his head in frustration at seeing his side down on numbers.

South Africa were growing in confidence and Tshabalala whipped a free-kick over the bar in the 34th minute before they extended their lead three minutes later. Mphela clipped the ball home after being sent up by Bernard Parker with France in disarray at the back.

Steven Pienaar then found the net for South Africa but his effort was disallowed and Mphela saw his shot turned around the post by Lloris.

Malouda was introduced at the start of the second half but France were soon pegged back. Parker sent his shot into arms of Lloris and Mphela's effort clipped the outside of the post.

France could not contain Mphela and the goalkeeper did well to push away his powerful drive in the 58th minute. However South Africa were caught napping in the 70th minute and failed to track Malouda, who pulled a goal back following a cross from Franck Ribery.

That was as good as it got for France, whose only point in the group came against Uruguay.

It was a bitter sweet win for South Africa as they have become the first host nation to be eliminated at the first round stage of the finals.

Fifa World Cup 2010: South Africa 0 - 3 Uruguay

Classy Uruguay overpower hosts

Forlan's first goal was a deflected 25-yard effort and the second came from the penalty spot late on after an incident which saw South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off.

Alvaro Pereira than wrapped up a deserved victory for dominant Uruguay in stoppage time as the South Americans moved onto four points in Group A and within touching distance of a place in the last 16.

For South Africa, who barely troubled Fernando Muslera's goal during the match, the defeat means they have just the one point from their two matches and are now in some trouble.

Bafana Bafana's final group game is a potentially tough encounter with 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France next Tuesday, while Uruguay meet Mexico.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept faith with the majority of the side that started their opening game against the Mexicans, with the only switch seeing defender Tsepo Masiella come in for Lucas Thwala.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that started Friday's goalless draw with France in Cape Town.

As expected, Edinson Cavani was brought in to form a three-pronged forward line with Forlan and Luis Suarez, while defender Jorge Fucile was also included, with Mauricio Victoriano and Ignacio Gonzalez the men to make way.

Parreira felt that, having got their opening game out of the way, his side would be much more confident and relaxed for their second outing. However, they immediately found themselves on the back foot once again as Uruguay started brightly and they had four early shots on goal, although none of them troubled Khune.

Siphiwe Tshabalala, whose thunderous finish gave South Africa the lead against Mexico, briefly tried to mount a fightback with two long-range efforts but neither were on target and in the 25th minute Bafana Bafana found themselves a goal down.

Parreira had singled out Forlan as a player his side needed to keep a close eye on, and it was the Atletico Madrid striker who did the damage.

Never afraid to shoot when within sight of goal, Forlan let fly from 25 yards and saw his effort loop over Khune with the aid of a slight but crucial deflection off home captain Aaron Mokoena, the ball clipping the crossbar en route to going in.

That lead was no more than Uruguay deserved, and they almost doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Suarez's rising shot hit the side-netting.

The half-time break probably could not have come quick enough for South Africa, but it was Uruguay who continued to boss the game at the start of the second period.

Cavani put a reasonable chance wide early on before the unmarked Uruguay captain Diego Lugano made a mess of trying to turn a Forlan free-kick goalwards.

Then, from nowhere, South Africa almost snatched an equaliser in the 66th minute when Mphela got in front of Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera to get on the end of Siboniso Gaxa's cross. However, the big number nine could not direct his glancing header on target.

South Africa's hopes of getting anything out of the game were crushed in the 76th minute when they conceded a penalty and lost goalkeeper Khune to a red card.

Forlan's mis-hit shot found its way through to the wide-open Suarez inside the area and, as he looked to round Khune, his foot was clipped by the South African and the Ajax forward went tumbling.

Khune protested his innocence but there was no swaying referee Massimo Busacca, who pointed to the spot and gave the goalkeeper his marching orders.

After a lengthy delay while South Africa reserve custodian Moeneeb Josephs replaced Steven Pienaar, Forlan ensured the maximum punishment from the spot to spark an early exodus for many disappointed home fans.

Those who left early missed Uruguay's final goal in stoppage time, when Pereira bundled home Suarez's cross from virtually on the line.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon

Honda goal guaranteed Japan to opening victory

Keisuke Honda's 39th minute goal was enough to give Japan a 1-0 victory over Group E rivals Cameroon in Bloemfontein.

Honda's close-range strike was one of the few highlights of an otherwise forgettable game at the Free State Stadium.

The CSKA Moscow forward's goal handed a long-awaited victory to Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who had seen his side lose four and draw one of their warm-up matches, scoring only one goal in the process.

While Okada opted for a lone striker in Yoshito Okubo, his Cameroon counterpart Paul Le Guen decided on an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

Despite being one of Africa's brightest hopes Cameroon were toothless, despite having a great deal of possession, although goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a breathtaking save from substitute Mohamadou Idrissou in stoppage time.

Much was expected of skipper Samuel Eto'o but the Inter Milan striker was left frustrated as Japan defended in numbers.

Le Guen saw his side carve out the first opening of the game in the eighth minute when Eto'o released Pierre Webo. He raced to the byline and played the ball into the middle but Eyong Enoh was unable to get a decent touch.

Kawashima then made a good block from Enoh's close range effort before Japan made the breakthrough.

The Cameroon defence failed to cut out Daisuke Matsui's cross to the back post and Honda reacted quickly. He got a superb first touch before clipping the ball beyond a stranded Souleymanou Hamidou.

Cameroon came out with a purpose at the start of the second half and should have equalised in the 49th minute.

Eto'o got the better of two players in a determined run. He played the ball into the path of Eric Choupo-Moting who was clear in front of goal. However the striker failed to test Kawashima, his effort going wide of the post to Japan's relief.

Cameroon were enjoying a decent spell and Choupo-Moting cut inside only to drag his shot off target.

However, Japan almost added a second goal in the 82nd minute when they launched a swift counter-attack.

Makoto Hasebe's shot was parried by the goalkeeper but only landed at the feet of substitute Shinji Ozakaki, who saw the rebound come off the outside of the left post.

Cameroon responded and three minutes later Stephane Mbia's instinctive effort rattled the bar. With the crowd urging them, Cameroon kept pushing players forward in search of the equaliser but Japan stood firm.

However, they had to rely on Kawashima right at the end to give them the victory they had craved. The Kawasaki Frontale shot-stopper has only recently taken the jersey and it was easy to understand why as Cameroon were left frustrated.

Former Lyon, Rangers and Paris St Germain boss Le Guen was hoping Cameroon would make it through to the quarter-finals, but this opening defeat makes that looks an outside bet at the moment, with group rivals Netherlands also chalking up a victory earlier in the day.

SOUTH AFRICA 1 - 1 MEXICO (Host held in exciting World Cup Opening)

Hosts South Africa were held to a 1-1 draw by Mexico in an exciting opener to the 2010 World Cup.

Both teams had ample opportunities to score more at Soccer City in Johannesburg. South Africa will feel particularly hard done by, however, after taking the lead and then squandering chances to win it at the death.

It will be remembered for the effort from Katlego Mphela, whose 89th minute shot agonisingly hit the post, dashing hopes of a famous win for South Africa.

Siphiwe Tshabalala had given the Bafana Bafana the lead with a thunderous shot across goal into the top right hand corner on 54 minutes after a great defence-splitting pass from Teko Modise.

Mexico responded after some poor defending from the hosts with a Rafa Márquez equaliser on 78 minutes. He was one of three Mexicans being marked by one defender and he had plenty of time to slot the ball past the exposed goalkeeper.

Javier Aguirre’s men had started the game with greater intent and were very nearly rewarded after just two minutes – goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune fumbled the ball to the feet of Giovani dos Santos just eight yards out but Mokoena saved South African blushes by blocking the resulting shot out for a corner.

It took a while for the Bafana Bafana to get into the match, with nerves perhaps playing their part, but when they did the crowd responded in kind, the noise of the vuvuzelas adding to the Mexican’s problems in defence.

The hosts got their reward with the first goal of the World Cup on 54 minutes. Tshabalala’s stunning shot across the face of goal prompted wild celebrations from the fans, and a synchronised dance from the players.

Mexico nearly levelled matters on 59 minutes with a fierce strike from dos Santos, but Khune made an acrobatic stop, this time at full stretch as he flew across the face of goal to prevent the ball going in the top right corner.

The Bafana Bafana had a great chance to double their lead when Mphela’s shot took a deflection to Modise who missed from point blank range, although he was ruled offside in any case.

Wayward passing continued as both sides maintained a high-tempo game. South Africa, buoyed by their goal, pressed and harried at every opportunity, and Mexico were seeing fewer chances come their way.

Carlos Alberto Vela was taken off for Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Guillermo Franco made way for Manchester United new signing Javier Hernández, as coach Javier Aguirre threw the dice for Mexico.

The changes paid off with a Mexico goal after 78 minutes. Rafa Marquez found himself unmarked at the far post after a poorly defended Guardado cross – one defender was marking three Mexicans – and the Barcelona centre-back had all the time he needed to slot the ball home from close range.

Both sides frantically went for the win and the all-important three points. After numerous chances at either end, Mphela thought he had scored the winner for South Africa after a long ball forward for the hosts but the woodwork came to Mexico’s rescue.

Group A is already shaping up to be a tight affair.

Travel Tips for People going to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup 2010

Passports & Visas
A full passport with at least six month validity from the date of departure, is required for travel. All other passport holders should contact their nearest South African Consulate for current visa requirements. Please note that these requirements can change at any time.

Health and Medical Facilities
South Africa has excellent medical care and facilities compare favourably with international standards. The countrywide network of public and private hospitals offer very good service. However, visitors must ensure they have adequate health insurance. Malaria risk exists all year round and is particularly prevalent in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo Province. It is essential to take necessary precautions. As Bilharzia is present in the north, it is advisable to avoid swimming in fresh water here. Hepatitis A occurs and Hepatitis B is endemic.
Visitors coming from a yellow fever area must have a valid international yellow fever inoculation certificate except for children under 12 months, who are exempt. Please consult your local doctor or travel clinic for advice prior to departure for appropriate medication.

Hotel information
Check in is at 14h00 unless otherwise stated, and check-out at 10h30. Please confirm times with reception. Hotels often have luggage storage facilities if you wish to store luggage on departure day. Safety deposit boxes are in the rooms or at reception - please enquire on arrival. A weekday laundry service is offered at most hotels - please check with hotel reception on times. A number of hotels and guest houses have wheelchair ramps, and one or two wheel chair friendly rooms for disabled guests. Almost every national park has at least one accessible chalet. Most public buildings cater for wheelchair access.

Currency
Rand (R) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of R200, 100, 50, 20 &10.
Rand coins: R5, 2 & 1, and Cent coins: 50, 20, 10, 5
Exchange: Available at banks, official bureau de change and some hotels.
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted.
Euros (€) : in order to avoid additional exchange rate charges on travelers cheques, Euros (bank notes) can be exchanged at banks and official bureau de change.
Please note: petrol stations DO NOT accept Credit Cards

Tipping
Tipping is customary but optional and dependant on level of service, although it is expected. As a guideline 10 % should be added to bills. For guides and drivers or driver/guide please calculate ZAR 50 per person per day. For rangers and trackers when on safari please calculate ZAR 50 per person per day. Porterage ranges between
ZAR 5 - 10 per person per service.