South Africa recovers pride with 2-1 over France; both exit

South Africa crushed 10-man France 2-1 Tuesday but that still made them the first World Cup football hosts to go out in the group stage and also sent home the shambolic Europeans.

Bongani Khumalo headed home a corner-kick 20 minutes into the game and Katlego Mphela made it 2-0 in the 37th as the hosts hoped for a miracle to make the round of 16, but failed to get the bigger win they needed.

Substitute Florent Malouda tapped home with 20 minutes left to silence the Free State Stadium crowd. France earlier had playmaker Yoann Gourcuff sent off in the 26th for elbowing in an aerial duel.

Uruguay defeated Mexico 1-0 in the other game which saw the South Americans first in the group and Mexico second by two goals over South Africa, with France last without a win as in their 2002 exit.

Les Bleus made even more negative headlines off the pitch with striker Nicolas Anelka sent home for insulting the unpopular outgoing coach Raymond Domenech and the players on strike on Sunday over it.

Domenech rang the changes after the last tumultous days, benching several players led by captain Patrice Evra who had led the protests against the sending home of Anelka.

Gael Clichy took the defensive place of Evra while up front Djibril Cisse came on for Anelka, and the allegedly unpopular Gourcuff back in the starting 11.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira also had a new lineup, including goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, in place of suspended Itumeleng Khune - as the hosts hoped for a miracle to stay alive and follow the proud tradition of World Cup hosts to make the second stage.