 JOHANNESBURG: Uruguay and Mexico reached the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday while 1998 champions and 2006 runners-up France and hosts South Africa were eliminated as Group A concluded.
Uruguay finished top after defeating Mexico 1-0 in Rustenburg, but Mexico took second spot in the group after South Africa's 2-1 win over France in Bloemfontein proved not enough for either side to advance.
South Africa became the first World Cup host nation to fail to qualify for the last 16 - even though they only lost one of their three matches.
France exited the World Cup after a disastrous tournament scarred by the exclusion of star striker Nicolas Anelka and the players' refusal to take part in a training session in protest.
Embattled France coach Raymond Domenech said he was heartened by his team's performance.
"They showed real heart, real fight, real generosity of spirit out there, it's what I was looking for," said the 58-year-old, who declined to explain why he refused to shake the hand of his opposite number Carlos Alberto Parreira at the final whistle.
In Rustenburg, Uruguay scored the winner just before half-time with a Luis Suarez header from an Edinson Cavani cross to the back post.
Mexico had chances to equalise, with Andres Guardado rattling the crossbar, but the result was rendered academic and both countries qualified because South Africa failed to beat France by a wide enough margin to finish ahead of Mexico on goal difference.
Uruguay finished top of the group with seven points with Mexico as runners-up on four points, the same total as South Africa.
"The important thing was to win and finish top of the group," said Uruguay striker Diego Forlan.
In Bloemfontein, South Africa took the lead with a 20th minute header from Bongani Khumalo.
France's day went from bad to worse when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off after half an hour when he jumped for a header and referee Oscar Ruiz adjudged he had elbowed South Africa's MacBeth Sibaya in the face.
Domenech buried his head in his hands as Gourcuff left the field.
Katlego Mphela put the host nation 2-0 ahead when he bundled the ball into the net after the French defence failed to clear.
But France pulled a goal back through substitute Florent Malouda -- remarkably, it was France's first strike of the entire tournament. |
10:13 PM | 
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