2010 FIFA World Cup Group A

Group A of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 11 June and ended on 22 June 2010.[1] The group consisted of host nation South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and the runners-up from 2006, France.

France and South Africa previously met at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, when then-hosts France beat South Africa 3–0. They also previously met with Uruguay at the 2002 FIFA World Cup; the match ended in a 0–0 draw. France and Mexico were in the same group at the first ever World Cup in 1930; the two nations played the first-ever World Cup match and France won 4–1. France and Mexico had also met in 1954 but neither team qualified for the next round. This is also the second time that France, Mexico and Uruguay have been drawn in the same group with the host nation. They were grouped with England in 1966, when England and Uruguay advanced to the next round.

South Africa became the first World Cup host team to fail to advance past the group stage after finishing behind Mexico on goal difference. France, despite having made the final at the previous edition of the World Cup, were also eliminated after drawing one and losing two matches, including one against South Africa.

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Uruguay 3 2 1 0 4 0 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Mexico 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 4
3   South Africa (H) 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2 4
4   France 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
(H) Hosts

Matches

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All times local (UTC+2)

South Africa vs Mexico

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South Africa vs Mexico was the opening match of the World Cup, held on 11 June 2010.[2] It was described as an "enthralling" and "pulsating" match. Mexico put the ball in the net first, but it was offside. South Africa opened the scoring in the 55th minute after Siphiwe Tshabalala scored off a pass through Mexico's defence by Kagiso Dikgacoi. Mexico's captain Rafael Márquez equalised following a corner kick in the 79th minute.[3] In the final minutes of the match, Katlego Mphela almost scored a winning goal for South Africa, but his shot bounced off the post.[2]

Tshabalala was named as the man of the match. South Africa's coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira called the result "fair", while Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre stated "we could have won, we could have lost".[4]

South Africa  1–1  Mexico
Tshabalala   55' Report Márquez   79'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Africa[6]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mexico[6]
GK 16 Itumeleng Khune
RB 2 Siboniso Gaxa
CB 4 Aaron Mokoena (c)
CB 20 Bongani Khumalo
LB 15 Lucas Thwala   46'
RM 8 Siphiwe Tshabalala
CM 13 Kagisho Dikgacoi   27'
CM 12 Reneilwe Letsholonyane
LM 11 Teko Modise
SS 10 Steven Pienaar   83'
CF 9 Katlego Mphela
Substitutions:
DF 3 Tsepo Masilela   70'   46'
FW 17 Bernard Parker   83'
Manager:
  Carlos Alberto Parreira
 
GK 1 Óscar Pérez
RB 12 Paul Aguilar   55'
CB 5 Ricardo Osorio
CB 2 Francisco Javier Rodríguez
LB 3 Carlos Salcido
DM 4 Rafael Márquez
CM 16 Efraín Juárez   18'
CM 6 Gerardo Torrado (c)   57'
RW 17 Giovani dos Santos
LW 11 Carlos Vela   69'
CF 9 Guillermo Franco   73'
Substitutions:
MF 18 Andrés Guardado   55'
FW 10 Cuauhtémoc Blanco   69'
FW 14 Javier Hernández   73'
Manager:
Javier Aguirre
 
South Africa vs Mexico

Man of the Match:
Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa)

Assistant referees:
Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan)[5]
Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan)[5]
Fourth official:
Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)[5]
Fifth official:
Mu Yuxin (China)[5]

Uruguay vs France

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The Uruguayan and French teams warming up

France and Uruguay faced each other on 11 June 2010 at the Cape Town Stadium. Despite a red card being given to Uruguay substitute Nicolás Lodeiro in the second half, Uruguay were able to hold a "lacklustre" France to a 0–0 draw.[7] After the match, former World Cup-winning French player Zinedine Zidane criticised the French team and particularly coach Raymond Domenech for a lack of teamwork.[8] Domenech claimed after the match to be "happy with the overall performance".[9]

Uruguay  0–0  France
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uruguay[10]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France[10]
GK 1 Fernando Muslera
RB 6 Mauricio Victorino   59'
CB 2 Diego Lugano (c)   90+3'
CB 3 Diego Godín
LB 11 Álvaro Pereira
RM 16 Maxi Pereira
CM 15 Diego Pérez   87'
CM 17 Egidio Arévalo
LM 18 Ignacio González   63'
CF 10 Diego Forlán
CF 9 Luis Suárez   74'
Substitutions:
MF 14 Nicolás Lodeiro   65'   81'   63'
FW 13 Sebastián Abreu   74'
MF 8 Sebastián Eguren   87'
Manager:
Óscar Tabárez
 
GK 1 Hugo Lloris
RB 2 Bacary Sagna
CB 5 William Gallas
CB 3 Eric Abidal
LB 13 Patrice Evra (c)   12'
DM 14 Jérémy Toulalan   68'
CM 8 Yoann Gourcuff   75'
CM 19 Abou Diaby
RW 10 Sidney Govou   85'
LW 7 Franck Ribéry   19'
CF 21 Nicolas Anelka   72'
Substitutions:
FW 12 Thierry Henry   72'
MF 15 Florent Malouda   75'
FW 11 André-Pierre Gignac   85'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech

Man of the Match:
Diego Forlán (Uruguay)

Assistant referees:
Toru Sagara (Japan)[5]
Jeong Hae-sang (South Korea)[5]
Fourth official:
Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)[5]
Fifth official:
William Torres (El Salvador)[5]

South Africa vs Uruguay

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Uruguay took the lead in the 24th minute, when Diego Forlán launched a shot from 30 yards out that beat goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who did not attempt to save the shot.[11] In the second half, Luis Suárez was left through on goal, but he was brought down by Khune. Referee Massimo Busacca awarded a penalty and showed Khune a red card.[11] Deep into injury time, Uruguay scored their third goal when Álvaro Pereira tapped in a Suárez cross.[11]

South Africa  0–3  Uruguay
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Africa[12]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uruguay[12]
GK 16 Itumeleng Khune   76'
RB 2 Siboniso Gaxa
CB 4 Aaron Mokoena (c)
CB 20 Bongani Khumalo
LB 3 Tsepo Masilela
RM 8 Siphiwe Tshabalala
CM 13 Kagisho Dikgacoi   42'
CM 12 Reneilwe Letsholonyane   57'
LM 11 Teko Modise
SS 10 Steven Pienaar   6'   79'
CF 9 Katlego Mphela
Substitutions:
MF 19 Surprise Moriri   57'
GK 1 Moeneeb Josephs   79'
Manager:
  Carlos Alberto Parreira
 
GK 1 Fernando Muslera
RB 16 Maxi Pereira
CB 2 Diego Lugano (c)
CB 3 Diego Godín
LB 4 Jorge Fucile   71'
DM 15 Diego Pérez   90'
RM 17 Egidio Arévalo
LM 11 Álvaro Pereira
AM 10 Diego Forlán
CF 9 Luis Suárez
CF 7 Edinson Cavani   89'
Substitutions:
MF 20 Álvaro Fernández   71'
FW 21 Sebastián Fernández   89'
MF 5 Walter Gargano   90'
Manager:
Óscar Tabárez

Man of the Match:
Diego Forlán (Uruguay)

Assistant referees:
Matthias Arnet (Switzerland)[5]
Francesco Buragina (Switzerland)[5]
Fourth official:
Wolfgang Stark (Germany)[5]
Fifth official:
Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)[5]

France vs Mexico

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Mexico's 2–0 victory over France in Polokwane was overshadowed by French striker Nicolas Anelka launching a tirade of abuse towards coach Raymond Domenech during the half-time interval.[13] Anelka was subsequently dismissed from the squad, which resulted in many squad members, including captain Patrice Evra, boycotting training in the lead-up to the final group stage match against South Africa.[14]

France  0–2  Mexico
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France[15]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mexico[15]
GK 1 Hugo Lloris
RB 2 Bacary Sagna
CB 5 William Gallas
CB 3 Eric Abidal   78'
LB 13 Patrice Evra (c)
CM 14 Jérémy Toulalan   45+1'
CM 19 Abou Diaby
RW 10 Sidney Govou   69'
AM 7 Franck Ribéry
LW 15 Florent Malouda
CF 21 Nicolas Anelka   46'
Substitutions:
FW 11 André-Pierre Gignac   46'
MF 20 Mathieu Valbuena   69'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech
 
GK 1 Óscar Pérez
RB 5 Ricardo Osorio
CB 15 Héctor Moreno   49'
CB 2 Francisco Javier Rodríguez   82'
LB 3 Carlos Salcido
DM 4 Rafael Márquez (c)
CM 16 Efraín Juárez   48'   55'
CM 6 Gerardo Torrado
RW 17 Giovani dos Santos
LW 11 Carlos Vela   31'
CF 9 Guillermo Franco   4'   62'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Pablo Barrera   31'
FW 14 Javier Hernández   55'
FW 10 Cuauhtémoc Blanco   62'
Manager:
Javier Aguirre

Man of the Match:
Javier Hernández (Mexico)

Assistant referees:
Hassan Kamranifar (Iran)[5]
Saleh Al Marzouqi (United Arab Emirates)[5]
Fourth official:
Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)[5]
Fifth official:
Matthew Taro (Solomon Islands)[5]

Mexico vs Uruguay

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Mexico  0–1  Uruguay
Report Suárez   43'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mexico[16]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uruguay[16]
GK 1 Óscar Pérez
RB 5 Ricardo Osorio
CB 2 Francisco Javier Rodríguez
CB 15 Héctor Moreno   57'
LB 3 Carlos Salcido
RM 6 Gerardo Torrado
CM 4 Rafael Márquez
LM 18 Andrés Guardado   46'
AM 17 Giovani dos Santos
AM 10 Cuauhtémoc Blanco (c)   63'
CF 9 Guillermo Franco
Substitutions:
MF 7 Pablo Barrera   46'
MF 8 Israel Castro   86'   57'
FW 14 Javier Hernández   77'   63'
Manager:
Javier Aguirre
 
GK 1 Fernando Muslera
RB 16 Maxi Pereira
CB 2 Diego Lugano (c)
CB 6 Mauricio Victorino
LB 4 Jorge Fucile   68'
DM 15 Diego Pérez
RM 17 Egidio Arévalo
LM 11 Álvaro Pereira   77'
AM 10 Diego Forlán
CF 9 Luis Suárez   85'
CF 7 Edinson Cavani
Substitutions:
DF 19 Andrés Scotti   77'
MF 20 Álvaro Fernández   85'
Manager:
Óscar Tabárez

Man of the Match:
Luis Suárez (Uruguay)

Assistant referees:
Gábor Erős (Hungary)[5]
Tibor Vámos (Hungary)[5]
Fourth official:
Martin Hansson (Sweden)[5]
Fifth official:
Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)[5]

France vs South Africa

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France  1–2  South Africa
Malouda   70' Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France[17]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Africa[17]
GK 1 Hugo Lloris
RB 2 Bacary Sagna
CB 5 William Gallas
CB 17 Sébastien Squillaci
LB 22 Gaël Clichy
CM 18 Alou Diarra (c)   82'
CM 19 Abou Diaby   71'
RW 11 André-Pierre Gignac   46'
AM 8 Yoann Gourcuff   25'
LW 7 Franck Ribéry
CF 9 Djibril Cissé   55'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Florent Malouda   46'
FW 12 Thierry Henry   55'
FW 10 Sidney Govou   82'
Manager:
Raymond Domenech
 
GK 1 Moeneeb Josephs
RB 5 Anele Ngcongca   55'
CB 4 Aaron Mokoena (c)
CB 20 Bongani Khumalo
LB 3 Tsepo Masilela
CM 6 MacBeth Sibaya
CM 23 Thanduyise Khuboni   78'
RW 10 Steven Pienaar
LW 8 Siphiwe Tshabalala
CF 9 Katlego Mphela
CF 17 Bernard Parker   68'
Substitutions:
DF 2 Siboniso Gaxa   55'
FW 18 Siyabonga Nomvethe   68'
MF 11 Teko Modise   78'
Manager:
  Carlos Alberto Parreira

Man of the Match:
Katlego Mphela (South Africa)

Assistant referees:
Abraham González (Colombia)[5]
Humberto Clavijo (Colombia)[5]
Fourth official:
Héctor Baldassi (Argentina)[5]
Fifth official:
Ricardo Casas (Argentina)[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Match Schedule 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa" (PDF). FIFA.com (Press release). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b Holt, Oliver (11 June 2010). "South Africa 1-1 Mexico: The Daily Mirror match report". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  3. ^ Maasdorp, James (12 June 2010). "South Africa draws in pulsating WC opener". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  4. ^ Tongue, Steve (12 June 2010). "Marquez damps down incendiary show of South African pride". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Match Appointments" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 24 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Group A – South Africa-Mexico" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  7. ^ "French held by Uruguay". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  8. ^ "Zinedine Zidane critical of France team". Associated Press. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  9. ^ "France frustrated by stalemate". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Group A – Uruguay-France" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  11. ^ a b c "Forlan silences South Africa". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Group A – South Africa-Uruguay" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 16 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  13. ^ "French Revolt leaves Raymond Domenech High and Dry". The Guardian. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  14. ^ "French football in chaos after players' mutiny". Agence France Press. 20 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  15. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Group A – France-Mexico" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Group A – Mexico-Uruguay" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 22 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Group A – France-South Africa" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 22 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2010.