Today signals the start of the final games in the World Cup finals group stage and we’re bound to start see jubilation and early heartbreak in the coming week. The first group to complete their three game schedule is one of the most talked about set of sides in this World Cup and an interesting tie occurs today as the hosts South Africa, who are on the brink of making history as the only host nation never to qualify from the group stage, take on a French side with a lot of unrest within. The final games (as you may know) take place simultaneous, after a past incident between Germany and Austria in the World Cup, where both sides needed a draw to qualify, so turned their game into what could be described as a light training session. Mexico and Uruguay are in the same situation despite FIFA’s simultaneous ruling, but I’m sure both sides will want to avoid taking on Argentina in the next round so a win would benefit both and could leave the door open for the hosts or France to sneak in. I’m also pretty sure FIFA have sent a polite message to both nations asking them to play within the spirit of the game, or something along those lines. As ever, comments are welcome and you can follow me on twitter @Clusks. I will be watching from England on ITV.
- France have caused quite a stir this World Cup and if you take the ball complaints and those monotone horns, they’re probably the biggest talking point so far. Anelka has gone home and the finalists from four years ago are in a world of trouble. Evra has been stripped of the captain’s armband and is dropped for this game, there is no Malouda and still no Henry. Actually I’m wondering why I chose this game over the other one, although the Mexico V Uruguay tie could turn boring, with France’s lack of ambition and South Africa’s terrible ability to string passes together, this game could also be awful.
- In England we’ve been bombarded by a load of Irish people gloating and saying ‘what goes around comes around’ and it appears that this puts a smile on their face. Although I think when Blanc takes charge of the side, normal service may be resumed and they’ll become another super power in football. Let’s face it, they have amazing players and with the right manager they’re one of the favourites to win the World Cup.
- ITV never cease to annoy me, Adrian Chiles is becoming so annoying on their coverage, they seem to be trying to make a joke out of anything they can with him at the helm, 2good2bad on Match Of the Day 2 was good, but ITV are trying too hard and picking at the little things to make Chiles like that. They have shown us about one million times the South African player signing on their way to where ever they’re going, and they point it out every time as if it is still novel. Yes Chiles, it’s brilliant that they like to sing and dance, but it’s not as brilliant they 50th time it’s shown.
- Key Man Watch: Pffffff? France? I’m going to choose Raymond Domenech as their key man, I want to see his reactions on the bench and how dejected he may look. Actually, if France score, it will be interesting to see how everybody reacts, particularly Domenech. As for South Africa, I’m really not sure, they’ve looked really poor this tournament and Pienaar who is set up as their big player has been anonymous, but I suppose I’d like to see Tshabalala blast one in the top corner.
- Let’s hope that ITV give goal updates from the other group A game, otherwise I’ll need to do some serious channel hopping.
Kick Off!
1 Mins: Although it’s probably not a significantly accurate representation (knowing them), Sky Sports spoke to a French fan in Paris yesterday and he said he hoped that South Africa beat his own country, because France don’t deserve to win. Wouldn’t it be funny if France won the World Cup now?
3 Mins: France break down the left hand side with Gourcuff and he slides it into Gignac who has a bit of room, but takes a poor shot that Josephs can easily gather. Co-commentator Craig Burley says he’s been “fed up with watching cautious games”. Well these last few games have all been for you Craig!
7 Mins: Both teams are going for this, and the Lord of Cheshire Djibril Cisse plays a decent ball across the box, but there is no one to pick up on it. South Africa don’t look afraid though, they probably know there is no better time to play France than now.
10 Mins: I wonder if any of these disgraced players will play for their country again, they’ve managed to overtake Domenech as the most hated people in France probably, Domenech made a fair point to say what they did was stupid. Calling them imbeciles was quite funny though.
13 Mins: Freekick from Gourcuff is headed clear, it’s hard to tell how motivated each French player is, for players like Clichy, Cisse and Gignac who are battling for their places, I’d be really determined just to make your way into the team. Just had a quick flick over to the other channel, it’s still 0-0 in that game, does anybody know if they’ve just been stroking the ball about for 13 minutes?
17 Mins: Just seen Pienaar get brushed off the ball with ease by Ribery, Craig Burley has blamed his poor tournament on the players around him. I wonder if Pienaar still reckons he can get more money out of Everton after this, or even move to a bigger club.
20 Mins: Decent break from South Africa there, as Pienaar manages to find a bit of space to run into, but Diarra is able to muscle him off the ball for a corner.
20 Mins: GOAL! KHUMALO! That’ll bring the noise up in the stadium (which in turn means more vuvuzela blowing for all you lucky people). From the corner, Khumalo manages to rise really well as France struggle to stop him and he is able to head the ball past a helpless Lloris who misses his punch that left the goal open. 1-0 to South Africa
21 Mins: France try to reply instantly as Ribery manages to play a low ball into Gignac who attempts to turn and shoot but blasts it high and wide.
23 Mins: Another corner for South Africa and they attempt the same ball to Khumalo, and it almost works, Lloris looks completely clueless from these corners and needs his defence to help him make a tricky clearance away. South Africa know they need goals, they’ll want to kick France while they’re down.
25 Mins: France are shaken, the defence just keeps backing off Mphela, who decides to shoot rather than take on his man, but his low shot goes wide.
26 Mins: SENT OFF! GOURCUFF! He looks a bit surprised but there is a South Africa player on the deck, I need another look at this….I need another look at this…and another. Well…Gourcuff has elbowed a player, but it has to tell if it was intentional. Let me mop up this confusion. At first it appeared that Cisse had been sent off and the ITV commentators claimed that Cisse was the player red carded. I initially thought it was Goucuff, but then they were saying it was Cisse and the big Panathanikos striker put his hands on his head as if he had been. Fifa are trying to encourage us all to jump for balls without using our arms for leverage. I’d like to see how you do that.
30 Mins: Domenech looked drained by that decision, he gave the old double face palm and the players on the French bench look dejected. There was no point in sending Anelka home early really, they could have saved a bit of money and let him come home with the rest of the squad a few days later.
32 Mins: Quick flick over – yes no surprise to see Uruguay and Mexico are battling to a 0-0 draw.
34 Mins: Tshabalala has a free kick with a bit of curl on it, but it’s always rising and goes over the bar. South Africa need to play this as if they’re 2-0 down.
36 Mins: Ngcongca whips a ball in from the right hand side with some venom, and Tshabalala just let himself get belted by the ball as his header goes over.
37 Mins: GOAL! MPHELA! Oh dear Abou Diaby, a cross comes in from the left and it is his poor clearence that allows Sibaya to cross the ball and after a tiny scramble, Mphela is able to just tap it in. A terrible day for French football.
38 Mins: For a second there it looked like Bernard Parker had made it three, but he was offside. Was a nice finish though!
40 Mins: Ribery has a free kick, which is almost touched in by Gallas, but the 2nd choice goal keeper Josephs keeps his eye on the ball well and makes a great save to flick the ball over the bar. A chance for France to raise their spirits a bit, but it wasn’t to be.
43 Mins: France don’t care and Mphela is having a field day out there, as Pienaar plays a simple pass into him and he drives a low shot from outside the box which is tipped wide by Lloris in the goal.
44 Mins: Uh oh! Uruguay have a goal in their game and it’s Suarez on the scorers sheet. We’ll know when the South African fans have heard the news, as the volume of vuvuzelas is bound to go up. There are two goals between South Africa and Mexico now for qualification.
45 Mins: Right. Say South Africa make it through. They’re likely to play Argentina. I can’t imagine how many goals Argentina will manage past them. I always love the hosts, but they could be destroyed off Argentina knowing how poor they played against Mexico and Uruguay.
Half Time!
- 3 minutes of stoppage time, but South Africa looked content to go in 2-0. I wonder what will be said at half time for the French. I wonder if the French will come out for the second half! They’re suggesting that they have to go for it, but even then what do they do. Can South Africa actually make it through here? I personally have enjoyed watching the Mexico side at this World Cup, I’d like to see them have a crack at Argentina, but you can’t count out the spirit of the hosts. An interesting second half here in both games!
- If they don’t go through South Africa can be proud. The French may be depleted and in a world of despair, but South Africa are still beating a team that got to the final four years ago! It’s looking likely there will be more goals in this one.
Second Half Kick Off!
46 Mins: Gignac is off for France, to be replaced byMalouda. Good, or should France just not go all out attack anyway?
50 Mins: Neither side really throwing caution to the wind yet, Bernard Parker had a shot which he hit on the turn, but it was deflected and softly fell into the hands of Lloris. I wonder if another Uruguay goal would liven things up.
51 Mins: Scratch that, Mphela has just hit the post! For the first time in this tournament, Tshabalala has passed the ball rather than attempt to smash it, and Mphela makes a lovely connection that gives Lloris no hope, but it strikes the outside of the post and goes wide! Looks like Thierry Henry may be coming on, if this is his last French performance, it will echo Zidane’s final performance. Two great players with sad endings to their international careers (and in Zidane’s case, his whole career – but I still love him!).
53 Mins: Ngcongca needs the stretcher to help him off the pitch and he may well be replaced by Gaxa.
54 Mins: Cisse has one of France’s best shots, as he hits the ball first time and although dipping, it is over the bar. Despite that decent attempt, Cisse is coming off, here is Henry who must be at his lowest ebb right now.
56 Mins: South Africa are managing to sustain pressure because France are so nervous at the back, the offside trap isn’t working and there is no communication. They’re also making some poor clearances that are allowing South Africa to build up waves of attacks. It may be 3-0 soon.
58 Mins: Mphela is enjoying himself today, another long shot from outside of the box is on target and it needs Lloris to be called into action and tip the ball out for a corner. From the corner, the ball drops to Pineaar and it is the sort of ball you dream of having on the volley, but his shot hits his own player that is on the floor.
59 Mins: Ribery tricks his way past the South Africa defence, and has a few opportunities to shoot before the ball to Henry opens up for him, but instead he attempts to blast a shot which goes over the bar. All that effort from Henry for nothing.
61 Mins: Not sure if that corner was something from the training ground that didn’t work out or if that players got confused, as Tshabalala’s corner meets no one as every South African in the box runs to the near post as the ball goes far.
62 Mins: If you didn’t know anything about football, you’d think that Mphela was the world class player in the pitch, just breezes past Clichy with ease, and is unfortunate as his shot deflects back off him after Lloris saves at his feet.
- I agree with The Gaffer, terrible by France and although Ribery is trying to make something happen, there are players in this side that simply don’t care. It’s a bit of a shame when it’s your country involved. I passively heard something on the news that there are now questions of racism involved in this argument – if that were the case then French football would be in an even bigger crisis.
68 Mins: Bernard Parker is coming off here, he’s done a decent job but it’s good to freshen things up. On comes Nomvethe, to a massive roar from the crowd. He’s clearly a fan favourite and will be even more so if he smashes in two goals. Ooo, there is a shot of the French Bench and the players are talking to each other – about how much they hate Domenech?! About what Zidane has asked them to do?! About the plane journey home?! Who knows!
70 Mins: GOAL! MALOUDA! Well that’s a cog in the works. More good work from Ribery who has been the only player with any passion in attack, he’s able to square the ball for a simple tap in for Malouda. The vuvuzelas went silent, but only for a mere three seconds or so, that could end the dream. Still 2-1 to South Africa, but that dents any hope of them getting into the last 16.
71 Mins: Freekick for South Africa and manages to find its way into Lloris despite a South African player flinging himself at the ball. Ribery attempts to break, but Henry plays a lazy pass and gives away possession.
74 Mins: Good play from Pineaar as he manages to get away from Clichy who has been terrible today, he attempts to slide the ball into Nomvethe but the French manage to get it away. I’m sure Ribery can somewhat hold his head up high after this tournament, he has tried but just not been accompanied by those around him. Domenech does make a good point as I said, it is stupid and playing for your country should come before any feelings you have.
76 Mins: Nomvethe has managed to run through three French defenders with hardly a decent attempt at a challenge on him. The French defence has been woeful today, they don’t deserve to represent a country that has so much potential about them.
78 Mins: Final sub for South Africa, attacking midfielder Modiese is coming on for Khuboni. Time to throw the kitchen sink at it, a win against France is nice but a chance in the last 16 is what this contest is all about at this stage.
80 Mins: Whats this? Tshabalala has a shot at goal from outside of the box? Take a wild guess at how it ended…
- A small off the topic point while I’m doing this, Wolves have made six signings so far this summer, despite Mick McCarthy being in South Africa for the BBC. How has he managed to do this? Must have a massive phone bill.
82 Mins: Diarra off and Govou on for France. Commentators say they “wouldn’t like to be Laurent Blanc taking on this job”. I would, I reckon with some of the players France have I could win the World Cup. Give me the job. I have done wonderful things with the likes of Southend, PSG and FC Koln on Football Manager.
86 Mins: Well it looks like France are playing for a 2-1 defeat here, how admirable. ITV viewers have voted Tshabalala as man of the match, personally I’d go with Mphela considering he’s destroyed the French defence and looked lively.
87 Mins: And on that note, Mphela fails to control the ball and it’s out for a throw in.
89 Mins: The commentators are surprised and shocked that Domenech will go down as the longest serving post-war French manager. He did get them to the World Cup. It’s almost as if that didn’t happen when people talk about Domenech’s French reign (of terror).
91 Mins: Modiese has a crack at goal, and it is decent, but it hits the side netting. So Uruguay and Mexico into the next round, Latin America is having a great time at this World Cup.
92 Mins: Take that ITV viewers! Tshabala has plenty of time to shoot after the ball is played over to him in space, but he hits it straight at Lloris and France can clear.
93 Mins: A freekick for South Africa and the commentator claims “one more chance for South Africa at this World Cup”. Unless this free kick counts for about three goals, then no. Just no.
Full Time!
- There goes the French and South Africa, the first hosts ever to not qualify from the group stage. But they can be proud that they beat the French, even if this is one of the worst French teams in the history of football. The football may be over for France, but the stories will continue. At the full time whistle, there is an argument between the two managers and (in terms of UFC) the South Africa coach has some wrist control over Domenech who may want to retire to a remote island after this as I doubt there are too many clubs who will want them as their coach. South Africa can build from this tournament, and we’ve often seen the benefits of having a World Cup in your country in how it helps national sides to grow in ability.
- The adverts have stopped and in actual fact, Domenech refused to shake Parreira’s hand which is why the argument started. What a disgrace, that man is an idiot. Whatever happened in the match, you show respect. Thanks for reading, I’m off to be sick.
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I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the French dressing room at halftime!
Dreadful performance by France thus far with the exception of Cisse, Riberry and Lloris (despite his mistake on the first goal).
Cheers,
The Gaffer
terrible scenes from domenech at the end, although I don’t agree with some of the players for their outburst and putting personal feelings before the nations side, Domenech is a repulsive character
Rob, I saw Domenech arguing with Parreira at the end, but what else happened that I missed?
Cheers,
The Gaffer
It all sparked because Parreira went to shake his hand, and Domenech started waving his finger in Parreira’s face and shouting at him, I think it had something to do with the red card, but obviously Parreira had nothing to do with the actual sending off. Parreira continued to try to make peace but Domenech was being petty and walked away, theres no need to be like that.
Love that old picture of Domenech! He looks like he’s modeling for a bit part in Astérix et la Coupe du Mond!
or an 80′s porno