Mexico pulled off a surprise 2-0 victory over France on Thursday, leaving the 2006 World Cup finalists facing serious risk of elimination in the group stage of this year’s tournament. Substitute striker Javier Hernandez, 22, put the Mexicans in the lead in the 64th minute, springing France’s offside trap before rounding keeeper Hugo Lloris and calmly netting.
Mexico’s second came from a rather older substitute, 37-year-old Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who scored from the penalty spot after Eric Abidal brought down Pablo Barrera in the 79th minute. France, like hosts South Africa, have just one point from two games in Group A while Uruguay and Mexico, who meet each other in the last group game, are on four and need only a draw to guarantee that both go on to the last 16.
In day’s second match of Group B at Bloemfontein Greece beat ten-man Nigeria 2-1 in a thrilling encounter on Thursday to record their first ever victory at a World Cup finals. It also kept their World Cup dreams alive in a match that hinged on a first half red card for the African team.
In first match of Thursday, played in Johannesburg, Argentina played like potential world champions as they demolished South Korea 4-1 with an outstanding all-round display highlighted by a hat-trick from Gonzalo Higuain at Soccer City on Thursday.
The victory, following their impressive opening 1-0 win over Nigeria on Saturday, virtually guaranteed their place in the second round as they tightened their grip at the top of Group B. World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and his attacking midfield sidekick Carlos Tevez were again inspirational.
Today’s fixture Germany v Serbia (1130) at Port Elizabeth Slovenia v United States (1400) at Johannesburg/Ellis Park England v Algeria at (1830) at Cape Town.
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