France is once again on the verge of disqualification, after a shocking loss against Mexico in the Peter Mokaba Stadium of Polokwane for their second game of the World Cup 2010 finals. Mexico is now on the first spot of Group A together with Uruguay, and both teams just need 1 point to advance in the round of 16. France needs a victory in their last group stage game, but maybe that is not even enough to secure a spot.
The first half of the game between France and Mexico was bad in terms of quality, with minimum chances from either sides. France continued in their familiar motif, and did not threaten Mexico at all for the entire first half of the game. Mexico was a bit more organised and had better control of the ball, creating a couple of chances before Hugo Lloris: Guillermo Franco’s shot slightly missed the target in 11′, 8 minutes later Carlos Salcido also shot wide, and the same player forced an excellent block from Lloris in the 27th minute of the game.
France came stronger in the second half and had their first good chance of the game with a shot from Florent Malouda that was blocked by Mexican goalkeeper Óscar Pérez. A minute later Pérez stopped another shot from Franck Ribéry that has been absent during the entire World Cup 2010 tournament so far. France had the control of the game, but Mexico scored the first goal with Javier Hernández that dribbled past the entire French defence as well as Hugo Lloris to open the score.
The game was basically over in 79′ when Éric Abidal brought Pablo Barrera down inside the goal area, with the referee immediately showing the penalty spot. 37 year old Cuauhtémoc Blanco took the penalty shot to send Mexico in World Cup heaven. Javier Hernández was the MVP of the game despite coming in as a substitution in 55′. The young player that now belongs to Manchester United scored the first goal 9 minutes after entering the field, and had enough time to cover over 4.5km in the game!
