There have been some disappointments in the opening round of games of the World Cup. One of them being France’s opening day draw with Uruguay.
On Thursday, the French side stood a very real chance of failing to beat a talented Mexico side that showed flashes of brilliance against hosts South Africa. Coming into the game, the Mexicans looked in far better shape than the disjointed French team under a seemingly out of sync boss Raymond Domenech.
Reportedly, the French squad is in disarray and Domenech’s decision to include Malouda at the expense of an impressive Gourcuff in the playing XI, instead of dropping a disappointing Govou, suggested that speculation might not have been that wide of the mark.
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Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane was the venue for this duel between two sides that had to win to strengthen their hopes of going through to the knock-outs.
Domenech decided to revert to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with Anelka the lone man up-front, after the 4-3-3 experiment resulted in the dismal goalless performance in the opening game.
Both the sides made their intentions clear as the opening minutes of the game saw chances being created at both ends of the field. However, it was the referee, Khalid Al Ghamdi from Saudi Arabia, who appeared more nervy than anybody else on the pitch. In a shocking error of judgement, Mexican striker Franco was rather softly booked in the 4th minute for attempting to prevent a French free-kick when they were trying to take it from the wrong place.
The game’s first real chance came in the 8th minute when Marquez’s long chip sent Arsenal striker Vela clean through down the inside to take the shot on the volley, but like so many players have in this tournament, struggled to keep it down and skied it over the bar.
It looked like a battle of equals as both the sides kept pressing to draw first blood. However, off the field, the travelling Mexican fans seemed to have achieved the seemingly impossible task of out-doing the vuvuzela orchestra, with terrific cheering from the stands.
The teams went into break without a goal being scored. It was hard to comprehend how France reached two of the last three World Cup finals. They looked nothing like good enough to repeat that feat in this edition of the grandest tournament in the world.
The second half started with Domenech making one change to the side, bringing on Gignac for Anelka up-front. The Chelsea forward was pretty much non-existent in the first half, but some might call it a strange decision by the French coach to take off one of the game’s prominent strikers at a time when the team needed goals.
Mexico made their move in the 55th minute, withdrawing Juarez for Hernandez, the Manchester United bound striker, and seven minutes later he proved just what the Premiership is going to get a taste of next season.
Hernandez opened the scoring for Mexico, as Marquez’s vision came into play. The Mexico captain, sent the substitute clear of the French defence with a superb ball forward and Hernandez kept his composure to work the ball around the keeper to tuck the ball into an empty net.
Domenech then looked at his bench to ring in a change. With a little over 20 minutes to go, he brought on Valbuena for an invisible Govou. French fans must be wondering whether it would once again be a little too late for Henry to be summoned.
Things went from bad to worse for the Les Blues, when Abidal brought down Barrera in the box to gift Mexico a penalty in the 78th minute and Blanco had no trouble in converting it to make it 2-0 for Mexico.
The game saw absolutely nothing from the French. For all their talent, they failed to truly test the Mexican defence and the win means that a draw for Mexico against Uruguay in their final group game would see them go through along with the South Americans.
One thing is for certain, France’s dismal run may not be the most deserving for a side that’s making their 13th World Cup appearance, but, a certain Irishman named Robbie Keane would be smiling away to glory.
