BAFANA AGAINST LES BLEUS
Bafana Bafana have played France four times in the past, the first time some 25 years ago. That includes two meetings at the FIFA World Cup, which have yielded mixed success.
FRANCE 2 SOUTH AFRICA 1
October 11, 1997 – Lens Nine months before the teams clashed at France 98, they met in a friendly and South Africa gave a good account of themselves.
In fact, Bafana took the lead through Shaun Bartlett against a French side containing all of their leading stars, including current coach Didier Deschamps, but were undone in the second half. Stéphane Guivarc’h early in the second half for what proved his only ever international goal, before substitute Ibrahim Bá scored a winner seven minutes from time as he had too much power and pace for Neil Tovey.
Willem Jackson and Isaac Shai made their Bafana debuts in this game.
FRANCE 3 SOUTH AFRICA 0
June 12, 1998 – Marseille Bafana were competitive in the game nine months earlier, but thoroughly outplayed in this World Cup clash that set the tone for France’s triumph on home soil. Christophe Dugarry was an early sub for the injured Guivarc’h, and he headed in Zinedine Zidane’s corner in the first half.
That was the way it stayed the 77th minute when Dugarry had a hand in the second as his shot was turned into his own net by Bafana’s France-based defender Pierre Issa. There a third just before the end when Thierry Henry’s show was bundled over the line by Issa, who probably should have cleared it. A bad day in the office for Bafana.
SOUTH AFRICA 0 FRANCE 0 October 7, 2000 – Johannesburg The teams met for the third time in three years in this Nelson Mandela Challenge fixture that finished 0-0 at Ellis Park, with world champions France again playing a near full-strength side in honour of the great man.
It was a determined performance from Bafana under Carlos Queiroz, though it was a game not without some controversy. Nicolas Anelka scored for Les Bleus, but Botswana referee Jelas Masole overruled his assistant and called it offside.
The Bafana side was captained by Bartlett with Lucas Radebe missing out due to injury.
SOUTH AFRICA 2 FRANCE 1 June 21, 2010 – Bloemfontein France were in disarray going into this final World Cup group stage win having had bitter fights within the squad that soured the atmosphere in one of the more shameful displays from the notoriously tempestuous side. Bafana took full advantage, knowing they needed a win to keep their hopes of a place in the knockout stages alive. They led 2-0 at halftime as goals from Bongani Khumalo, and header from a corner, and Katlego Mphela put them in charge. In between those two goals French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff was red carded for an elbow on MacBeth Sibiya. Florent Malouda pulled a goal back for France with 20 minutes to go, but Bafana were able to hold on for one of their more famous wins. It was still not enough to advance though.