Argentina ease into last 16 as France go out
David Legge
Argentina cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday but
former winners France ended their nightmarish campaign meekly and South
Africa became the first host nation to fall at the opening stage.
Uruguay beat Mexico 1-0 in their final game in Group A but both
countries qualified for the knockout round after the French lost 2-1 to
South Africa, who failed to score enough goals to overhaul second-placed
Mexico on goal difference.
Argentina dominated Group B by brushing aside a stubborn Greece 2-0
in Polokwane, and South Korea reached the last 16 for only the second
time after finishing runners-up despite being held to a 2-2 draw by
Nigeria in Durban.
As the competition moves into the knockout round, the South Koreans
will take on Uruguay on Saturday, while on Sunday Diego Maradona's
dazzling Argentina face Mexico in the last 16 for the second time in
successive World Cups.
South Africa set the unenviable record of becoming the first country
to host a tournament and yet crash out in the first round, although they
were only eliminated on goal difference and lost just one of their three
games. The South Africans went out on a high note by beating the
troubled French - who dropped captain Patrice Evra following the revolt
over Nicolas Anelka's expulsion from the squad.
Bafana Bafana took the lead in Bloemfontein with a 20th minute header
from Bongani Khumalo and France's day went from bad to worse when Yoann
Gourcuff was sent off for elbowing MacBeth Sibaya in the face.
Katlego Mphela put the host nation 2-0 ahead when the French defence
failed to clear, but France scored a consolation through substitute
Florent Malouda - their only goal of the entire tournament.
The hosts' coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said his team had made the
country proud.
"We are disappointed that we didn't qualify but I do not consider
this a failure," said the Brazilian. "My main feeling is pride."
France coach Raymond Domenech said he felt a "genuine sense of
sadness" as his reign came to a bitter conclusion.
It was controversial to the end when he declined to explain why he
had refused the traditional end-of-match handshake from Parreira.
Argentina broke down a stubborn Greek defence with late goals from
Martin Demechelis and Martin Palermo, whose strike after a flash of
Lionel Messi's brilliance prompted coach Maradona to leap into his
assistant's arms in delight.
Palermo, who at 36 has been given a new lease of life by Maradona,
said: "This is priceless. I will always be grateful to Diego Maradona
and to the staff for their confidence in me, knowing there are others
ahead of me.
"My teammates celebrated with me as if they had scored themselves."
Uruguay, the last of the 32 nations to book their place in the finals,
showed again they could be the surprise package when a Luis Suarez
header gave them victory over Mexico and top spot as the only unbeaten
team in Group A. Nigeria continued Africa's lack of success joining
Cameroon and South Africa among the non-qualifiers for the last 16, as
they were left to rue a host of missed chances to beat the South
Koreans.
The Nigerians took the lead when Kalu Uche swept in a low cross from
Chidi Odiah, but South Korea hit back when Lee Jung-Soo scrambled the
ball past Vincent Enyeama from a Ki Sung-Yeung free-kick.
Park Chu-Young curled a free-kick around the Nigerian wall to give
the Koreans the lead.
Yakubu Ayegbeni produced the miss of the World Cup when he shot wide
from directly in front of the goal, but he regained his composure to
convert a penalty after Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi was tripped. But Nigeria
saw their hopes fade as Obafemi Martins prodded his shot wide with only
the goalkeeper to beat with 10 minutes left.
Their Swedish coach Lars Lagerback said: "I'm disappointed. But
results speak for themselves and we didn't qualify for the second
round."
On Wednesday, giants England and Germany fight for their survival.
JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday, AFP
|