GROUP A
▲France 1 - 2 South Africa
Emotional South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said on Tuesday the team had a bright future despite becoming the first host nation to crash out in the first round of the World Cup.
Willed on by a passionate crowd in Bloemfontein, the Bafana Bafana went into a two-goal lead against 10-man France, raising hopes that they could pull off the near-impossible and qualify for the last 16.
However, South Africa conceded a second half goal and despite losing against Uruguay, Group A rivals Mexico edged them out on goal difference.
“We are disappointed that we didn’t qualify, but I do not consider this a failure,” said Parreira, stepping down as coach of South Africa, after the 2-1 win.
Parreira said when he had taken over, South Africa were languishing in the world rankings, but the team had made huge strides and their performances “showed that the work has paid off” and the team now had an identity.
“My main feeling is pride,” he said, adding that the team, not a powerhouse of African soccer, had beaten a world soccer power in France.
He said his side had lacked the luck they needed, hitting the woodwork when in desperate need of more goals.
Man of the match Katlego Mphela said: “I’m not sad at all. I think we gave our best. We missed a couple of chances, but a win is a win, especially against France in the World Cup.”
Parreira said he was pleased South African President Jacob Zuma had appeared in the dressing room to thank the players.
Zuma told reporters: “As you know we didn’t qualify and for that I’m disappointed, I think the team played very well. The boys made us proud today.”
“They ended in a very positive note as a team, and I’m very happy for that. We are hosting and that is a big win for the country,” he said.
“South Africa has done Africa well, hosting this Cup in the manner in which we are, so we are very happy,” he added. “As we entered this campaign the whole country was united, the entire continent was united, they had made a contribution to unite our nation.”
When asked why France coach Raymond Domenech had refused to shake his hand at the end of the game, Parreira tried to explain the snub.
“I believe it was because I had criticized his team after they qualified [when they controversially beat Ireland in the play-offs], but I really don’t remember,” he said.
“This is what his assistants told me. It seems to be that the attitude towards them is justified,” he added.
The much-traveled Parreira said he would take a break from soccer for the rest of the year and would not coach outside Brazil again.
“I will always remember this country with very, very good feelings,” he said.
■NO BONUSES
AFP, BLOEMFONTEIN
France captain Patrice Evra promised on Tuesday that his disgraced and humiliated World Cup team would not risk further public anger by claiming lucrative cash handouts.
However, the Manchester United defender, dropped for the final match of his country’s doomed campaign, pledged not to hold back on revealing the inside secrets of how France’s World Cup fell apart in a storm of resentment and rage.
“I share the pain of all France. Tonight is the time for apologies. It’s an apology that could have been made yesterday, but I was banned from doing so by the coach,” said Evra, one of the ringleaders of the players strike on Sunday that was called to protest the expulsion of teammate Nicolas Anelka.
His part in that disastrous public exercise was punished by embattled coach Raymond Domenech who dropped him from the team’s 2-1 defeat to South Africa on Tuesday.
“Now is not the time to settle scores. All of France will have the time to have explanations for this disaster ... I will tell the truth. I have nothing to hide,” he said.
France, the 1998 champions and 2006 runners-up, ended their ill-starred South African adventure at the bottom of Group A having lost to Mexico and South Africa and scraping a 0-0 draw with Uruguay.
They went home with one point, one goal and with the unwanted title of laughing stock of the soccer world.
Aware of the public fury, Evra said his teammates would not claim the bonuses owed to them from lucrative marketing deals.
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