Some random observations after the third group fixtures:

France 1-2 South Africa: Both teams start needing a win, a lot of goals, and help in the other Group A fixture. While France controlled possession early, South Africa scored first on a corner. French goalie Hugo Lloris attempted to punch out the corner, but took a bad angle and the ball sailed over him to Bongani Khumalo for the wide open header. The goal energized Bafana Bafana and they created more pressure on Lloris. It got worse for Les Bleus when Younn Gourcuff received a red card for a high elbow to MacBeth Sibaya’s face as both went for a header in the French box. South Africa took over the game at this point. Tshabalala has a cross from the left wing blocked, but got the rebound and put it into the goalie box where Katlego Mphela muscled around a defender and knocked it in the back of the net. The French defenders looked clumsy and lazy. Raymond Domenech has lost this team. Mphela nearly had 4 more goals, hitting the post on one and forcing Lloris to make good saves on two others. Lacking any offense whatsoever, Domenech brought on Thierry Henry finally in the second half. South Africa pushed everyone up on offense looking for the goals that may get them a shot at advancement and Les Bleus finally showed some spirit and start counterattacking effectively. France finally managed a goal on a Franck Ribery cross inside the box to Florent Malouda with the goalie challenging Ribery.  France’s first goal in this Cup came with 20 minutes left in their last game. The South African defense did not collapse well on the play after France broke an offside trap. While South Africa should be proud about the win over a traditional power, they will be a bit disappointed that they couldn’t get the additional goals necessary for advancement. France was an utter disappointment and finishing last in the group was appropriate to their sorry play. Ireland is probably celebrating the French elimination after the French handball that led to the Irish elimination in qualifying. After one of the poorer coaching jobs, Domenech proved to be classless as well by refusing to shake the hand of South African manager Carlos Alberto Parreira after the game.

Mexico 0-1 Uruguay: Both teams came into the game likely to advance, however, the second seed from the group will probably face Argentina in round 2, so each had motivation to win in order to avoid that fate. Uruguay got the first real chance when Luis Suarez ran onto a pass behind the Mexican defense and chipped over the diving goalie, but it was just wide. Mexico’s first good opportunity came on a 35-yard blast from Andres Guardado that hit the crossbar and deflected almost straight down. Another inch or so lower and it would have been a goal. Both teams played cautiously in the first half, neither wanting to concede a goal, and the game was largely being played in the middle third. Just before halftime, a Uruguayan quick counterattack found Diego Forlan on the right flank and he  delivered an excellent cross to Suarez for a header on the far post for the first and ultimately only goal of the game. Uruguay nearly scored again on a header in the box off a free kick on which Mexican goalie Oscar Perez made a brilliant diving save. Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez should have scored on a header in the box, but it went just wide. Uruguay’s defense kept Mexico from developing any kind of attack into the box up to that point. Mexico controlled possession as the second half progressed while Uruguay dropped back into a defensive shell to protect its lead. Nevertheless, Mexico played with no sense of urgency, no doubt realizing that they would advance even with a loss as long as they did not lose big. Both teams do advance to the second round, but the defensive mindset in a game where neither team had much reason to take chances made this largely a dull game.

-amwoods13