The Bafana Bafana slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Uruguay in their second group game following an opening day draw with Mexico, leaving them rooted at the bottom of Group A with a single point and a minus-three goal difference.
Meanwhile, France, finalists in 2006, have flopped in South Africa, suffering a miserable 2-0 reverse against Mexico following a goalless draw with Uruguay, with French coach Raymond Domenech admitting they needed a ‘miracle’.
The 1998 winners’ disastrous campaign further plunged into chaos after the players refused to train on Sunday in protest at the decision to send home star striker Nicolas Anelka. They released a statement protesting against the Chelsea striker’s exclusion from the squad for a foul-mouthed rant during the defeat to Mexico.
Amid the rancour in the French camp, even the host nation is not immune to claims of divisions.
Players from the eastern kwaZulu-Natal province are allegedly unhappy with what they consider to be underperforming ‘superstars’ from Johannesburg and Pretoria clubs.
Even if South Africa or France win, it could prove to be irrelevant if Mexico and Uruguay play out a draw in their match in Rustenburg which would knock out both teams. And Domenech insists that he is not bothered by a conspiracy theory that Mexico and Uruguay will play for an intentional draw to qualify together.
“I’m not bothered about the others. We have to play and do our thing and the other match is not my problem.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2010.
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