Day twelve sees hosts South Africa face a French side in disarray in their final group match in Bloemfontein, with both teams needing a miracle to qualify for the last 16 stage.
France's World Cup campaign has been a total disaster, with reports of factions within the team being confirmed after striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for verbally abusing coach Raymond Domenech during Les Bleus' 2-0 defeat to Mexico. The French squad boycotted training in protest of the expulsion of Anelka and French Football Federation chief Jean-Louis Valentin resigned over the fiasco.
"It's a scandal for the French, for the young people here. It's a scandal for the federation and the French team," said Valentin. "As for me, it's over. I'm leaving the federation. I'm sickened and disgusted," he added.
The meltdown in the French squad has been met with a furious reaction back home, with President Nicolas Sarkozy condemning the fiasco as "unacceptable."
French newspaper Le Parisien wrote: "Through the national team and its coach the very image of French soccer has been tarnished in the eyes of the world. The mutiny of Knysna will always be remembered as the Waterloo of French soccer."
On the pitch too, the star-studded French team has failed to deliver, with just a single point to show for its efforts after two games. To qualify for the round of 16, they need to win tonight's match by a minimum of four goals and hope for a favorable result in the other group game. A draw between Mexico and Uruguay would see the two Latin American teams qualify, irrespective of the result in Bloemfontein.
South Africa's campaign got-off to a decent start as they held Mexico to a draw in their first match, much to the delight of the home fans. But their momentum came to a shuddering halt as they were cruelly exposed in a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay.
They now look set to become the first host team in history to be eliminated in the group stage, as they will need to beat the French by a minimum of five goals to stand any chance of qualifying. Haters of the vuvuzela - beware. The drone of the horns will go up several notches for what is likely to be the Bafana Bafana's farewell game of the tournament.
The French are likely to start with Thierry Henry in place of disgraced striker Anelka. Holding midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is suspended for tonight's match after picking up two bookings.
For South Africa, Moeneeb Josephs is likely to deputise in goal for the suspended Itumeleng Khune. Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi is also ruled out through suspension.
Probable line-ups:
France (4-5-1): Lloris, Sagna, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Diaby, Diarra, Ribery, Govou, Malouda, Henry
South Africa (4-4-2): Josephs, Gaxa, Mokoena, Khumalo, Masilela, Sibaya, Modise, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Pienaar, Mphela
Kick-off: 10:00 am ET
Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)
Venue: Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein)
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.