Now screening: Les Miserables

We feel like a small footballing nation and it hurts, Evra said after an embarrassing display from the 2006 World Cup runners-up. Theres nothing to say other than its a catastrophe, he added.

To make matters worse,the early exit now looming large would be the second in a row for France at a major tournament after their Euro 2008 flop. I really thought we had learned the lessons from 2008, Evra said. I didnt see this defeat coming. Im dejected.

Evra had said a day before the match against Mexico that he felt France were united and could go places at this World Cup. The problem is that we are not a great team on the pitch, he said after finding out he had probably been wrong.

The atmosphere in the squad may not have been as good as players have kept repeating in recent weeks,the France captain suggested.

Im not going to tell you what I think went wrong, he said. Ill tell those involved first. Nervous at the back,short of ideas in midfield and harmless up front,France looked a pale shadow of their brilliant best and never suggested they could make an impact.

Coach Raymond Domenech,who has faced criticism from fans and media for years and will be replaced by Laurent Blanc after the tournament,was lost for words. At the moment we feel a lot of disappointment and sadness, said Domenech. We have a tiny chance left and we must take it,if only to show that we can react from this. France,Evra also said,still had their battered pride to fight for and would try at least to win a match. We must beat South Africa,if only for pride. As for miracles,personally,I dont believe in them too much.

Press charges

Catastrophe! says one French commentator. Pathetic! says the front-page headline on Frances most read tabloid. It was all glum faces and angry media in France on Friday after the teams 2-0 loss to Mexico. The daily LEquipe calls the team The Impostors. Morning talk shows were dominated by former athletes,politicians from left and right and many others all trashing Les Bleus performance.

Frances most influential sports daily views the game as one of the worst slaps … ever inflicted to the French team under the Domenech era.

The loss,coming after a dull 0-0 draw against Uruguay,means France will need a lot of help to get out of the first round. LEquipes front page says this minute hope doesnt even matter.

Lets have no sadness or desolation,and even less anger, it said. That would be giving too much to a team that has nothing to offer.

Wave of support for Mexico

POLOKWANE: The Mexican camp is not getting carried away after defeating France on Thursday but fans sporting green shirts and sombreros are growing in number after another entertaining performance.

Spurred on by the vast majority at the Peter Mokaba Stadium,Javier Aguirres troops beat France for the first time in seven attempts and,if they did not have people talking about them before,they will now after a swashbuckling display.

Uruguay are next up on June 22 and,with Argentina likely to lie in wait for the Group A runners-up,Aguirres team will be looking to win to ensure they avoid Lionel Messi and Co Uruguay will win the group if the game is drawn.

I hope against Uruguay we can impose our style. If we draw then of course they will benefit, former Mexico international Aguirre said. Mexico and Uruguay both have four points but the South Americans have a superior goal difference.

Aguirres team bossed a lacklustre France on Thursday. When I leave this team whoever comes after me will have his own style,thats the beautiful thing about football. But I think the credit goes to my players. They kept their cool and style and simply shot forward, Aguirre said.

(Reuters)