Final Score - WC2010 Group A, France vs South Africa

Tuesday 22nd June 2010 - Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - Att. 39,415
Referee: Óscar Ruiz (Colombia)

LINEUPS:
France (451): Lloris, Sagna, Evra, Gallas, Abidal, Toulalon (Malouda 64'), Diaby, Gourcuff, Anelka (Valbuena 89'), Ribery (Clichy 47'), Govou
South Africa (451): Josephs, Gaxa, Musilela, Khumalo, Mokoena, Letshalonyane, Pienaar (Khuboni 62'), Dikgacol (Davids 77'), Mphela, Tshabalala (Booth 69'), Modise

France were rough and ready in this match, desperate as they were to hammer the host nation in order to have a chance of progressing into the second round, but Patrice Evra crossed the line when he picked up two yellow cards just seconds after the start of each half. His red card came after a scoreless first half despite South Africa pushing the attack. Mokoena shot wide and Tshabalala was robbed by a flying Hugo Lloris.

France became resistant with ten men but the dull period ended in the 57th minute on an interception by Kagiego Dikgacol. His clever ball to Gaxa streaking down the wing created some panic at the back for their opponents allowing Tshbalala to score his second of the tournament. Another lean period in the match that was only interrupted by substitutes and another Lloris save, this time on Mphela eventually ended on another South African goal. Dikgacol again getting himself involved, this time his chip across goal was headed down by Mphela for Aaron Mokoena to take his second chance.

France tried to press late in the match and were rewarded too late on a corner kick. Gallas flicked on the delivery at the near post and Yoann Gourcuff powered it past Moneeb Josephs who was installed in this match instead of Khune.

France 1 - 2 South Africa
Goalscorers:
RSA Tshbalala 57'
RSA Mokoena 70'
FRA Gourcuff 88'

Discipline:
FRA Evra 1'
FRA Abidal 39'
RSA Dikgacol 43'
FRA Evra 47' (off)
RSA Tshbalala 68'

Man of the Match:
RSA Katlego Mphela

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Uruguay	3	3	0	0	6	1	+5	9
Mexico	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1	4
South Africa	3	1	0	2	3	6	-3	3
France	3	0	1	2	1	4	-3	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group A, South Africa vs Uruguay

Wednesday 16th June 2010 - Loftus Versfield Stadium, Pretoria - Att. 42,658
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)

LINEUPS
South Africa (451): Khune, Gaxa, Masilela (Davids 45'), Khumalo, Mokoena, Letsholongre, Pienaar (Moriri 79'), Dikgacol, Mphela (Parker 59'), Tshabalala, Modise
Uruguay (442): Muslera, M Pereira, Fucile (Godin 57'), Lugano, Victorino, Arevalo, A Pereira, Perez, Suarez (Lodeiro 86'), Forlan (A Fernandez 71'), Cavani

The host nation improved upon their opening match but still came up short against a Uruguayan team that has become the first to book it's place into the second round. South Africa started brightly with Pienaar getting on the end of a Teko Modise cross, heaidng it wide in the eighth minute. Uruguay were continually pushed onto the back foot through the first half-hour, but South Africa could not put in that final pass.

After a few stalled attacks of their own Uruguay opened the scoring through Edison Cavani who struck a fierce shot into the bottom corner. The buiild up deserved a goal after good strength was shown by Suarez to win the ball and Forlan to send in the killer pass. Two minutes later and the advantage was doubled when Cavani made an excellent pass of his own, sending Alvaro Pereira in on goal.

The South African heads dropped and it was all Uruguay through the second half but Luis Suarez was unable to convert either of his chances to really finish the game off. That may have proved costly if their opponents had scored earlier. As it was Siphiwe Tshabalala's goal came just three minutes from time, his shot cannoning in off the post after good play from substitute Surprise Moriri when he stole the ball from Cavani.

Uruguay will be relieved their complacency did not cost tham as both Jorge Fucile and Mauricio Victorino will miss the final group game after picking up a yellow card in each of the first two matches.

South Africa 1 - 2 Uruguay
Goalscorers:
URU Cavani 40'
URU A Pereira 42'
RSA Tshabalala 87'

Discipline:
URU Fucile 28' (sus)
URU Victorino 82' (sus)

Man of the Match:
URU Alvaro Pereira

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Uruguay	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3	6
Mexico	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	3
France	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0
South Africa	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group A, South Africa vs Mexico

Friday 11th June 2010 - Soccer City, Johannesburg, Att: 84,490
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Lineups:
South Africa (451): Khune, Gaxa, Masiela, Khumalo, Mokoena (Sibaya 45'), Letsbotnyane, Pienaar, Dikgacol, Mphela (Parker 64'), Tshabalala (Nomvethe, 87'), Modise
Mexico (442): Perez, Osorlo, Salcido, Rodriguez, Moreno, Marquez, Juarez, Torrado (Torres 86'), Franco, Dos Santos, Guardado (Hernandez 67')

The nineteenth FIFA World Cup began with the host nation suffering from a lot of nerves and unable to get a grip in a game that Mexico controlled. The early exchanges of too-long through balls and head tennis came to an abrupt end in the seventh minute when, in the first real attack of the match, Rafael Marquez started a fine goalscoring move. After the midfielder's run and pass to Andres Guardado, the striker then laid the ball off to Torrado in space who found Guillermo Franco a foot away from his marker to slot it home.

The match settled again and South Africa manufactured their first assault of the day when Teko Modise hustled after the ball forcing Francisco Rodriquez into a poor pass. Kagisho Dikgocol had made a long run from his own half and had a good scoring chance when he climbed up to get on the end of Letsholonyane's cross, but headed the ball straight at the keeper.

And just two minutes later that miss almost proved costly when Franco out muscled Bongani Khumalo and found Marquez joining the attack where his dribbling skills were put on display before he shot high over the bar. Mexico continued to look the better side and in the forty-first minute finally earned their reward with a second goal. Guardado was involved again when his deep cross was sent goalwards by Dos Santos. That effort was blocked but the rebound fell kindly to Carlos Salcido who had remained up field after a corner who had a half open net to shot at.

The South Africans changed it up at half time through a substitution; Aaron Mokoena's poor performance mercifully cut short by his manager. The feel of the match was unchanged however and six minutes after the restart the result was beyond doubt when Man of the Match winner Rafael Marquez capped off his hard days work with a goal. Dos Santos again failed to get his shot home and Marquez was there, following up his pass, to volley in a third for Mexico.

After that there would be more chances for Mexico while Letsholonyane had a late chance to give the home crowd something to cheer about, sending his shot over the bar.


South Africa 0 - 3 Mexico
Goalscorers: 
MEX Franco 7'
MEX Salcido 41'
MEX Marquez 51'

Discipline:
No Cards

Man of the Match:
MEX Rafael Marquez

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Mexico	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	3
France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Uruguay	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
South Africa	1	0	0	1	0	3	-3	0