Mexico leave France in peril

France are in grave danger of FIFA World Cup elimination after defeat by Mexico left the 2006 runners-up three points adrift of second place in Group A.

Javier Hernández, who will join Manchester United FC after this tournament, gave Mexico the lead with 26 minutes left and fellow substitute Cuauhtémoc Blanco then converted a penalty. France and South Africa are three points behind Mexico and Uruguay; Les Bleus must beat the hosts on Tuesday and hope for a positive result in the meeting of the top two to have any chance of reaching the last 16 on goal difference.

Just as in their 0-0 draw with Uruguay last Friday, France had plenty of  possession without creating clear openings; by contrast Mexico, held 1-1 by South Africa in the opening game, showed a real threat. Their captain, FC Barcelona's Rafael Márquez, was playing some incisive balls from defence and one set Carlos Vela clear, but the Arsenal FC forward shot over.

Guillermo Franco also put the ball above the bar on the turn and Carlos Salcido made Hugo Lloris save. Vela was forced off by injury on 32 minutes and Mexico's pace slowed prior to the interval.

André-Pierre Gignac replaced Nicolas Anelka at the break as Raymond Domenech tried to refresh France's attack and on 54 minutes Florent Malouda made Óscar Pérez tip over his strike from outside the box. However, within nine minutes of his introduction, Hernández was sent clear by a perfectly-timed Márquez pass and rounded Lloris to score.

It got worse for the 1998 winners with 12 minutes remaining when Éric Abidal brought down Vela's replacement, Pablo Barrera, and Blanco, on his 120th international appearance, dispatched from the spot. France have it all to do against South Africa, when Jérémy Toulalan will be suspended after his second finals booking.