SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Mexico fans ecstatic after 2-0 victory over France

Record ID: 454604

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Mexico fans ecstatic after 2-0 victory over France
  • Date: 18th June 2010
  • Summary: FANS CELEBRATING
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADJOOUC5Z8WBJFWGKN61BA14B4
  • Story Text: Mexico fans are ecstatic after a 2-0 victory over France in their World Cup group A clash which may mean an early exit for Les Bleus.
    Mexico fans were ecstatic on Thursday (June 17) evening, after a 2-0 victory against France in the World Cup leaving Les Bleus facing an early exit from the grou stage.
    Substitute forward Javier Hernandez beat an offside trap, raced into the box unchallenged and twisted his way past France keeper Hugo Lloris to put Mexico ahead on 64 minutes.
    Veteran forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco doubled the advantage from the penalty spot on 79 minutes after Pablo Barrera was brought down by Eric Abidal.
    The 1998 champions have just one point from two games before facing hosts South Africa in their final pool game next week. Even a win might not be enough for them to qualify and escape another disaster after their Euro 2008 flop.
    Uruguay and Mexico, who top the group with four points each, will both qualify if they draw next week, eliminating in the process France and South Africa, both on one point.
    Outside The Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane, French fans were stunned, and laid the blame on France playing badly rather than Mexico playing well.
    "It's not about the team that has won (Mexico), it's about France that has lost because they played so badly tonight. Basically they haven't shown their colours," said French fan Cedric.
    "Our team (France) didn't play very well, especially the mid-fielders. We hope that in the next match they will do better. Especially Sidney Govou didn't play so well. We were expecting to see (Thierry)Henry but Henry was never put on the field," added Domingo.
    It was a different story for the Mexican fans, who vastly outnumbered the French fans and made most of the noise in the stadium. They now believed they will win the group and progress into the knock-out stage of the World Cup tournament.
    "It was great. Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) is the best. We won 2-0, and we are also going to win against Uruguay. We will win against Uruguay, and we will reach the first place," said one Mexican fan, barely audible above the singing from his fellow suporters.
    "It feels incredible to have won. It's a wonderful experience. We Mexicans are the best. The truth is that I feel very excited that we have won, very much. And this really astounds me," said Mariana.
    France were outplayed for the first 45 minutes during which they did not create a single chance. Mexico, by contrast, came close to scoring on several occasions, first when forward Carlos Vela raced into the box unchallenged early on but missed the target.
    The France fans shivered again on 19 minutes when full back Carlos Salcido fired just wide from the edge of the box. The same player threatened again eighth minutes later, shooting straight at Lloris from close range.
    France were hardly better in the second half, although they did have a chance on 54 minutes when a shot from just outside the area by Malouda flew narrowly over the bar.
    That was far from enough, however, and coach Domenech's men, who have frustrated their fans with uninspiring performances for years, can expect another stiff challenge against South Africa next Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
    With their fate out of their hands, they will have to face that match without holding midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who will be suspended after picking his second yellow card of the tournament.
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