French fans were left hoping for a bit more va-va-voom from Anelka et al following the first round bore-draw

Two games on…

11^th June

South Africa 1 – 1 Mexico

France 0 – 0 Uruguay

17^th June

South Africa 0 – 3 Uruguay

France 0 – 2 Mexico

Having witnessed an uninspiring first round of matches, most notably accompanied by plentiful criticism of the French, fans were much looking forward to a more direct, purposeful second set of fixtures. Indeed we saw this from Uruguay and Mexico, who brought steel to add to their South American flair and in doing so produced two accomplished displays which put them in pole position to qualify. With the two sides now facing off against each other in a game where the pressure is on neither to win, a draw would see France fail to progress in a stunning anti-climax. South Africa will sense that an urgent performance could see them end with a victory.

Uruguay stepped up their attacking game, with the introduction of Edinson Cavani of Palermo seeing Diego Forlan drop in to a deeper role, where he ran the game like a dictator – playing short one-twos in the midfield, peeling off the full backs and moving infield, generally finding the opposition questioning who should mark him. His conversion of a penalty which he waited all of 5 minutes for, was indicative of his temperament and confirmed him as the man of the match for his second successive game. Oscar Tabarez’s team set the tone for the next game in the group… and another precise, deserving victory was delivered.

Forlan Celebrates his first goal

Perhaps less surprising than any of the results was Mexico’s comprehensive deconstruction of France, who must surely now be regarded as the poorest team in the tournament. Franck Ribery was truly awful in an unnatural position, perhaps even worse than he was in the first game, which is saying a lot. Nicolas Anelka was ineffective and Sidney Govou once more completely anonymous. The complete lack of urgency in their play was merely an on-field demonstration of the malaise surrounding the French camp. Perhaps there really isn’t a better word to describe it. Much has been said of the lack of unity and how the players have not forged an understanding with Raymond Domenech, with the post-match inquisition has doing little to dispel this ill-feeling; “We had good intentions but it didn’t work.”

The longest-serving French coach of all time, a master of no tournament but thankfully, a master of stating the obvious.

In keeping with a desire to end on a positive note, the Mexicans stepped in just where the Irish would have wanted them to – playing with a verve and control that suggested they were the superior team and prepared for the game knowing it. Their confidence was refreshing and their determination to carry the performance through to the last minute, equally so. Giovani Dos Santos, so often a dreadful disappointment in English football, looking as if he were on an academy player mistakenly thrown in to the deep end; looked as if he were indeed still too young to be playing but doing so with a guile and precision that should earn him a look-in at another good club. Spare a mention for Carlos Vela, who was substituted in the first half with what looked like a tournament-ending hamstring injury. Although Guardado or Barrera could be brought in, Vela is a favourite of coach Javier Aguirre and would be missed.

The introduction of Hernandez though, was the turning point. Just as the French looked like gaining momentum, troubling the Mexicans with crosses, the ineffective Franco was brought off for the livelier, quicker ‘Chicarito,’ giving his team a focal point to trouble the suspect pairing of Gallas and Abidal, neither of whom seemed to know who should be marking the lone striker. He took his goal wonderfully, and showed enough clever touches and runs to surely warrant his selection for the final game. The introduction of Cautehemoc Blanco also provided the composure and probing final-pass that was required to transform good possession into effective possession. His run up and finish for the penalty was as wonderful as it was bizarre and it was a special moment for the veteran to have his name on the score sheet in a victory that will rightfully be celebrated not just in Mexico but back in Dublin too.

Substitute Hernandez makes the breakthrough for Mexico and Ireland.

Certainly we hope that this second round of matches will continue to be much like what we have seen in the past day and less like the overly cautious, too-nervous-about-our-quality football that we have been ‘treated’ to so far. What we do know so far is that Group A has given us excitement from the underdog, the tournament’s best player so far… and it’s worst team.

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South Africa – Entering the tournament as the lowest-ever ranked host nation, little is expected of Bafana Bafana and we can see why. Uninspiring in failing to qualify for the African Nations Cup, they missed their chance to test themselves in readiness for the big stage.  Although unbeaten in seven months, they ambled to draws against Jamaica and Namibia, before beating Jamaica 2-0 in April. Beyond Steven Pienaar, their only top-level player, there is little quality in the side. Benni McCarthy, well known to English fans, was dropped from the final squad amid concerns over his form and weight. With the exception of captain Aaron Mokoena and Kagiso Dikgacoi of Fulham – hardly a regular – the squad lacks experience in competitive European Leagues, with a few members plying their trade in Greece and Germany having been omitted. World Cup-winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has called on a large group of domestic-based players who we can know little about. Nevertheless, he has been unbeaten in 11 games, upon being named coach and we can be sure to expect that the strong team spirit that has been fostered will do their nation proud.

Eyes will be on Steven Pienaar, yet to secure his long-term future at Everton after a wonderful season where he emerged as the injury-hit clubs’ leading light. Speculated interest from top four teams may well materialise with a strong showing at the finals, not that he needs any added incentive.

With the lack of expectancy on the hosts’ we can look forward to a celebration of the game on its visit to Africa; vuvuzelas will be an astoundingly irritating feature for the unknowing, but what will truly shine through is the spirit of the African people showing their passion in a way which is rarely matched anywhere in the world. Now they have the chance to prove it.

Uruguay – Enter the tournament boasting the two most prolific strikers in Europe. Strikers who have an astonishing goal:game ratio of almost 1:1 for two consecutive seasons. Their midfielders may just be the players who look like World Cup Wizards when supporting them, thus earning a move to one of Europe’s big leagues. One to look out for is the creative Nicolas Lodeiro of Ajax. Having just joined the Amsterdam giants in January, Lodeiro will be looking to announce his arrival on the big stage, showing all the skills that had many Uruguayans pushing for his inclusion in the starting line up. However, on Thursday morning Oscar Tabarez named his side to face the French, excluding his midfield whiz-kid.

Seven goals in two warm up games suggests form going in to the tournament.

However, a lack of general quality should see them come unstuck if and when they successfully negotiate the group stage.  Too much rests on their deadly strike pair, backed up by Edison Cavani of Palermo, who, it is believed has impressed sufficiently to interest the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham in recent months. Fernando Muslera, a goalkeeper of promise, has failed to convince but there is a dearth of quality in the goalkeeping ranks, something a few of the South American teams will be cursing.  At the back they have Diego Lugano, a tall and rugged centre back in the Nemanja Vidic mould. Lugano is widely regarded for his no-prisoners approach and he will be an intimidating presence for opponents. Much will also be expected of Martin Caceres, a young defender coming off the back of an uninspired loan spell with Juventus after failing to break in to the Barcelona ranks. A good World Cup could turn his career back in the right direction, yet it may be that too much is riding on Uruguay’s youngsters to camouflage the lack of depth through the squad. For all of the promise of the future, it seems only Brazil have brought the continents’ best when it comes to defensive players – a commanding mix of youth and experience that stabilises a team otherwise full of flair players.

Uruguay also warrant a mention for being the side that pioneered the introduction of players of African descent in to the game. It was perhaps this policy of social diversity that led them to becoming the first winners of the World Cup, drawing on talents of European and African heritage, creating a heady mix of power and dazzling technique that so many teams seek now. It is fitting that they return to take part in this celebration of the beautiful game, for the very first time on African soil; that which brought them so much success in the past.

Line up to face France: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Mauricio Victorino, Diego Perez, Alvaro Pereira, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Ignacio Gonzalez, Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez.

Prediction: to progress – France, Uruguay

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France – Where to begin with this most disjointed team of mavericks? Coached by Eugene Levy of American Pie fame (or is that Raymond Domenech?), the French always seem to be there or thereabouts in the final reckoning.

More questions have been realised since Lassana Diarra was ruled out – they could probably have replaced this Claude Makelele lookalike with, well… Claude Makelele. No one would have been the wiser. However, a re-jig has seen Florent Malouda introduced into a three-man central midfield alongside the outstanding Yoann Gourcuff, with anchorman Jeremy Toulalan holding it together. Clearly it can be argued that this system restricts Gourcuff, an attacking midfielder by nature, by placing too much defensive responsibility on him. With Malouda the other forward-thinking player in the three, the more harmonious trio of defensive Toulalan, creator Gourcuff and multi-tasking dynamo Diarra it seems, will be missed.It is a far cry from the Golden Generation’ that called upon Vieira, Zidane and Makelele – all leaders too, before we forget that the current team lacks a real commander. Much will be expected of Franck Ribery, who will surely relish the chance to banish the memories of a woeful end of season which saw him play second fiddle to Bayern Munich teammate Arjen Robben as the team’s protagonist; failing to perform in the big games, missing the Champions League Final and embroiled in a prostitution scandal that perhaps scuppered any chance of a move to one of Europe’s giants. Now is the time for Ribery to step forward and show he really is the next leader of the French team since the great Zidane, before someone else does.

A lack of cohesion really does belie the quality in this side, most likely to be led by left back Patrice Evra, who has been described as a “powerful influence in the dressing room” by both his club manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and the beleaguered Domenech. In goal they may boast two of Europe’s finest young keepers in LLoris and Mandanda, but of course you can only play one at a time. Wouldn’t the French wish they had instead one great keeper and perhaps a decent centre-half? The coaches’ lack of concern regarding the form and fitness of William Gallas is hardly re-assuring, considering his replacement is the even less inspiring Sebastien Squillaci. What of his partner in the middle, Eric Abidal? Ostensibly a left-back at his club Barcelona, he has struggled for consistency of late and it is no secret that they are on the lookout for a replacement. He is even overlooked for a role in the middle when Carles Puyol or Gerard Pique are unavailable, in favour of defensive midfielder Yaya Toure. A token mention for Thierry Henry, who will be (rightfully) confined to the bench. Still, not a bad option to have. They did leave out another out-of-form player in Karim Benzema, so will the less glamorous likes of Djibril Cisse, having thrived in the not-so frightening Greek League and Andre-Pierre Gignac, of 8 goals in 35 appearances last season, be able to support Nicolas Anelka in scoring goals?

When evaluating a team that has lacked unity, faith in the outgoing coach and consistency, both tactically and in form – there isn’t usually much to say of a positive nature. The question is, which France will turn up in South Africa? Surely not the team which surprised everyone in 2006 and dragged themselves to within inches of victory?

Let’s not forget that for all Africa has given to football, it is the French who have long benefitted the most – boasting a large array of naturalised citizens and 1st or 2nd generation descendents in their ranks. Plenty have proved genuinely top-drawer in quality. In their likely starting XI, as many as 8 can identify an African heritage. Could this stage prove the inspiration, a homecoming, of sorts?

Mexico – With a squad consisting of a heavy set of small, tricky attackers and just four recognised orthodox midfielders, Javier Aguirre will be placing great faith in Mexico’s very own Golden Generation, a group who have yet to really push on having won honours at youth levels. Perhaps attention shouldn’t be too focused on this though, considering Argentina’s dominance at youth level – their players have certainly made themselves famous, but it has rarely translated into international success since 1986. As evidenced against England, their confidence in possession and interchanging patterns can cause dizziness in opposition defences, but going the other way they leave a lot to be desired. Led by Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez, whose quality is not matched by his peers, they will probably not be able to stave off opposition attacks quite as well as they’ll be able to create chances.

They will benefit from the emergence of new Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez, a prolific goalscorer who will hope to feed off the service from the likes of Tottenham reject Giovani Dos Santos, Arsenal’s highly rated prodigy Carlos Vela (said by Arsene Wenger to be the reason a replacement for Adebayor was not signed) and the true veteran Cautehemoc Blanco. On hearing his inexperienced brother, Jonathan Dos Santos, was dropped, Giovani threatened to quit the squad, something that hardly inspires confidence regarding their prospects.

In a group with the weak hosts South Africa and the perplexing French, Mexico aren’t quite out of it but they’ll need to rely on a few things going wrong for their opponents. Get your nachos ready and enjoy what will hopefully be an exhibition of Mexico’s finest, but maybe just too short, generation.

next: Uruguay & South Africa

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