France On Brink Of Elimination After Being Upset By Mexico, 2-0

México is on the brink of the knockstage while France’s World Cup is near its end after El Tri’s 2-0 win over Les Bleus in Polokwane. Goals by Javier Hernández and Cuauhtémoc Blanco put México on four points in Group A, behind Uruguay on goal difference tiebreaker. With one point, France sits in third place with one match remaining.

France got to halftime scoreless despite Mexico generating the better first half chances, but a 64th minute goal from Chicharito put El Tri ahead. The goal came as William Gallas kept the 21-year-old striker onside while the French line tried to trap 28 yards from goal. Rafa Marquez’s chip from near the center circle was dropped perfectly over the back line, giving Hernández space to trap the ball, take a touch around an oncoming Hugo Lloris and finish into an empty net from sixteen yards out.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco has converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute against France to put Mexico up 2-0 in Polokwane. The kick was awarded after Eric Abidal took down Paulo Barrera in the penalty box. Blanco finished to the right of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who guessed correctly but missed the shot by inches.

Blanco had come on in the 62nd minute for Guillermo Franco.

Javier Hernández was ruled onside in the 64th minute before scoring the go-ahead goal against France, though video shows México may have benefited from an advantageous call.

Here is Hernández’s position at the time Rafa Marquez played the final ball:

Javier Hernández beat the France offside trap and took Rafa Marquez’s chip in alone on Hugo Lloris. One move to his right around an oncoming `keeper gave Chicharito an empty net from 16 yards and México a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.

Early in the second half, Mexico had started reasserting control of the match, having had their first half momentum stymied by the halftime break. Their more patient second half approach paid off when Hernández, 28 yards from goal, was kept onside by William Gallas. Rafa Marquez chipped a perfect ball to the edge of the box, allowing the new Manchester United man an easy goal.

Mexico’s Efrain Juarez has picked-up a yellow card early in the second half and will now miss Mexico’s third Group A match. They play Uruguay on Tuesday.

Juarez was carrying a yellow card into today’ match with France and picked-up another in the 48th minute for pushing Franck Ribery after a challenge.

Though France has had the better of possession, Mexico has looked the slightly more dangerous side in a relatively even, scoreless first half in Polokwane where the bigger news is who is no longer in the match and who will miss the next tone.

Carlos Vela has had to be subbed-out in the 31st minute after picking up a leg injury. Pablo Barrera was brought on as a replacement by Javier Aguierre.