France 0 – 2 Mexico – Magnificent Mexico brush aside Feeble French.

Before the game, I suggested that Mexico, as the form side should be able to beat France even though, on paper the French would appear to have a superior team. I suggested it was as a result of one man. Raymond Domenech. I need to be honest here. I was wrong. Domenech will undoubtedly take much of the blame for his teams pitiful performance, but that will only serve to allow his outfield players off the hook. They were not blameless in this comprehensive defeat.

I say outfield players, because I believe you cannot apportion blame to the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. He did everything right in today’s game and was an unfortunate bystander in the utter self destruction of a bunch of prima donnas. Whether it was down to pure disinterest from some, like Patrice Evra, jealousy (allegedly over the captaincy) from one individual in William Gallas or pure ineptness from others, step forward Sidney Govou, this group of players never once looked like a side. Bar a few occasional moments of brilliance from a sullen Malouda, France didn’t look like causing the Mexicans problems.

That being said, I do not want to dwell on the French performance, nor where they go from here with a group of players who don’t care and how Laurent Blanc lifts them up when he takes over from a coach who doesn’t appear to have a clue. To do that would be disingenuous. I would much rather heap praise on the performance of the Mexicans. As poor as France were tonight, Mexico were outstanding.

My man of the match was Carlos Salcido. He was a constant thorn in tonight’s game, bombing forward at pace with the ball and regularly creating opportunities for his team mates. Notable mentions must also go to Rafa Márquez who was absolutely dominant and a large reason as to why the French struggled whenever they did threaten to attack, and to Giovanni, who on his two performances so far must surely be making Harry Redknapp think twice about letting him leave during the summer window.

Without the ball, the Mexicans were very tough to break down. When the French actually looked interested Javier Aguirre’s men were like a swarm, ensuring they provided enough pressure to force mistakes that would allow the quick countering that allowed them to dominate this game. In attack, they were breathtaking – whether it was their short, quick passing, or runs with the ball, they always looked like creating something.

For the majority of the game though, they were let down in the final third. Franco never looked like scoring, while Vela was always looking for the spectacular & Giovanni seemed to want to replicate Ronaldinho’s free kick against England. The injury late in the first half to Vela saw the introduction of Barrera, while the second half also saw Franco & Juárez withdrawn for the two players on the opposite sides of their careers, Javier Hernández & Blanco. These three players helped provide a more direct approach for the Mexicans that was to prove to be the key to their win in this game.

The composure shown by the man known in his homeland as Chicharito or “the little pea” was that of somebody closer to the age of his older team mate than a young man playing in his first World Cup. Barrera was the man who skinned Evra and went down to win a penalty from Abidal’s clumsy challenge with Blanco able to comfortably convert with a perfect penalty in the bottom corner.

Mexico now go into the final game against Uruguay knowing that a draw will see them both through. However, the prospect of playing Argentina in the round of 16 should they finish second would surely be enough to make both sides want to go all out for the win to avoid that fate. The alternative is surely their best chance of reaching the quarter finals.

France, on this performance will struggle against a South African team that will surely be determined to save some face and sign off in this competition with a performance for their fans to remember.

France, Group A, Mexico, World Cup 2010