Host Nation Exits World Cup on a High Note
The South African World Cup team exited the tournament on a high yesterday, after beating the French side 2-1.
It was a bittersweet victory for Bafana-Bafana. On the one hand it was the first time in World Cup history that the host nation did not make it through to the next round.
But on the other hand, it's victory over France meant that Les Bleus also didn't make it through.
The 1998 champs reached the field yesterday bitter and dispirited, following a week full of woes, including a player strike and the banishing of their star striker, Nicolas Anelka, back to France.
Around half an hour into the match, play maker Yoann Gourcuff, got sent off the field for elbowing MacBeth Sibaya from the South African side.
A misjudged calculation by the French goalie saw South Africa lead in the 20th minute of the match, with Bafana doubling the lead with a goal by Katlego Mphela.
South Africa needed two more goals to get it through to the next round of the World Cup, but that was not to be and the final result was a two goals to one in favour of the host nation.
"Our exit from the tournament should not detract from the nature of this result," said the political group, the Democratic Alliance, in a statement. "A victory over former world champions, in front of our home fans, on the grandest stage of all."
In the meantime with their beloved Bafana out of the tournament, South Africans are now switching support and backing their second favourite teams.
Popular choices for South Africans include England, the United States, Brazil and Argentina, and betting companies are feeling an upsurge in votes at their sites as a result.
