13+ minutes highlights of Group A and Group B matches, switching back and forth between them.
A sparkling start by Bafana Bafana as Siphiwe Tshabalala’s cross is met by Bongani Khumalo heading past Hugo Lloris with the French defense in disarray.
Yoann Gourcuff is sent off for a questionable elbow to Macbeth Sibaya by Oscar Ruiz, the Colombian referee, who gives him a straight red as Sibaya lies on the ground writhing in pain. A ridiculous decision but with everything about France turning into farce, just another talking point.
Things become worse as Tshabalala sends in a cross which Abou Diaby lazily knocks back right into the path of Tsepo Masilela. The left back sends it across to Katlego Mphela who bundles the ball into goal after Clichy’s unsuccessful challenge. Rainbow Nation goes berserk.
In the Uruguay vs Mexico game, Andres Guardado comes close to scoring the goal of the World Cup when his 30 yard blast rattles the crossbar after beating Muslera.
In a bizarre reenactment Diego Perez and Guardado go up to get the ball and Guardado’s elbow opens up a bloody gash on Perez’s face. Viktor Kassai, the Hungarian referee waves play on. The difference between the two referees in their reaction to the same infraction was quite remarkable.
The Mexican citadel finally fell just minutes before the first half when Luis Suarez finished off Edinson Cavani’s whipped cross from the right heading it past Oscar Perez. This is looking very good for Bafana Bafana.
In the second half, Domenech finally introduced Florent Malouda and minutes later Thierry Henry in probably his last international match, and France finally looks something like a team. Bafana Bafana are now threatening with an epic upset on the cards. Mphela threatens after all the spade work is done by Tshababala , missing close calls on a couple of occasions.
But in the70th minute a nice through pass by Bakary Sagna finds Frank Ribery running to the right turning it into the path of Malouda before the arriving Moneeb Joseph. The Chelsea winger is left with the simple task of tapping into an open goal.
At Rustenberg, Mexico misses a golden chance to equalize as Chicharito Hernandez throws himself at a cross and his header flashes just wide off the post. How on earth did he miss that? Diego Lugano comes close for the Uruguayans.
The match is over and both Uruguay and Mexico are through. At the end of the France match, Domenech exchanges words with Alberto Parreira no doubt about the Yoann Gourcuff sending off. But he also refuses to shake hands. That about does it. If the French team made one fan in SA, then that is one too many.