World Cup Day 7: Mexico vs France

Winners in 1998, runners-up in 2006, probably going home in 2010.  France has nobody to blame but themselves.  The turmoil swirling through the camp since arriving in SA (and possibly before) was caused by "veterans" who thought they had earned a spot in the Starting XI based on their service to the country.
*sticks out tongue and blows*
As Zinedine Zidane said earlier this week, you can't win matches and World Cups with that attitude.

In the first half, les Bleus were les Blah.  The second half was no different.  Frustrated by the feisty Mexican midfield, they struggled to find any identity, much like they did in their first match with Uruguay.  Despite their 13 shots (4 on goal), 7 corner kicks (Mex. only had 1), and a slight majority in possession (52%), the French lacked what the Mexicans had in abundance...heart.
Deadlocked at 0-0 at the half, many fans thought, "oh no here we go again...a scoreless match."  Both sides had chances but Mexico kept plugging away.  They exploited the French midfield's lack of exuberance (mainly due to the absence of playmaker Yoann Gourcuff) until they found a break in the 64'.  Captain Rafael Marquez, a defender for Barcelona, launched a perfect ball forward to the just-onside Javier Hernandez.  The French midfield and defenders stood flatfooted, thinking he was offside (he wasn't).  So little Chicharito ran towards an on-charging Hugo Lloris, who had no choice but to cut off his scoring angle.  Hernandez, who had subbed on in the 53',  juked to the left, then the right, leaving Lloris on the pitch.  GOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!  Javier, who will be playing for Manchester United next season, carried on a family tradition...his grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, scored a goal against France in the 1954 World Cup.
After that, it was all Mexico.  In the 78' Barcelona center-back Eric Abidal hauled down Pablo Barrera in the area...penalty.
Who would take the penalty?  The oldest outfield player in the Cup...Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a 37-yr-old in his third World Cup.  Lloris guess the right direction, but Blanco's side-netting strike was pinpoint.  Mexico 2-0.
That was the end of the scoring, but Mexico, unlike France, kept trying to increase the goal differential.  The Bleus seemed resigned to the fact that they won't be spending much more time in South Africa.

Ironically, the country cheering in equal ferocity with the Mexicans was Ireland, also a green team.  Left out of the 32-team field by a double-tap handball courtesy of French forward Thierry Henry, the Irish have had an axe to grind since.  Fate.  Karma.  Reciprocity.  Whatever you want to call it, ESPN Soccernet's headline after the match said it all:
Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez jukes Lloris, one of the finest keepers in Europe