JOHANNESBURG - Uruguay and Mexico reached the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday while 1998 champions and 2006 runnersup France and hosts South Africa were eliminated as Group A concluded.

Uruguay finished top after defeating Mexico 1-0 in Rustenburg but Mexico took second spot in the group after South Africa's 2-1 win over France in Bloemfontein proved not enough for either side to advance.

South Africa became the first World Cup host nation to fail to qualify for the last 16.

France exited the World Cup after a disastrous tournament scarred by the exclusion of star striker Nicolas Anelka and the players' refusal to take part in a training session in protest.

In Rustenburg, Uruguay secured a place in the second round of the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990.

A well-made and perfectly-taken headed goal by striker Luis Suarez after 43 minutes settled the outcome of their final group clash as Mexico lost their way after an evenly-balanced first half.

In a tightly contested but open game, with no sign of any intention to play for a draw, Uruguay, champions in 1930 and 1950, had to resist Mexican pressure in the closing stages to keep a third straight clean sheet.

The first half was littered with stoppages, tension seeming to grip both teams.

As the sun went down, Mexico, playing the more intricate football, had the best early chance when Andres Guardado fired in a wicked left-foot drive from 30 meters that rebounded off the bar.

But Uruguay were in no mood to be dazzled or unnerved and, combining strength with pace in attack, they gave as good as they received in an evenly-balanced and, at times, fascinating contest.

Uruguayan midfielder Diego Perez suffered a cut head, apparently from an errant elbow, and required treatment before returning in a vivid blue bandage just before his side swept ahead after 43 minutes.

Diego Forlan began the move in midfield with a pass to winger Edinson Cavani and from his deep cross the persistently-dangerous Luis Suarez rose at the far post to send a bouncing header past Oscar Perez.

Uruguay almost added to their lead when, from a Forlan freekick, captain Diego Lugano's close-range header was well saved and Alvaro Pereira's follow-up shot was blocked.

Invigorated by three quick substitutions and their fans, Mexico fought back and almost leveled when Francisco Rodriguez met a Pablo Barrera cross, but headed wide from just six meters.

Hosts save blushes

The 83rd-ranked South Africa came tantalizingly close to the miracle win the country dreamed of by defeating ninth-ranked France 2-1. But they fell short of the points needed to advance out of their group to the next round, the first World Cup host ever to miss the mark.

That hardly diminished the enthusiasm among tens of thousands of supporters packed into fan parks while on sidewalks each goal was greeted with honking horns, trumpeting vuvuzelas and cheers.

"It's fabulous. The vibe is hectic. It means a lot to us, especially as we are the host," said Thabo Maswanganye, a 27-year-old watching the game on a jumbo screen in downtown Johannesburg.

For many, disappointment fell second to immense pride at hosting the event and the remarkable show of national unity behind the team.

"I think it's been very good for South Africa. It's brought us together again," said 29-year-old Matt Logan at a Cape Town fan park.

"The '95 (rugby) World Cup did same thing," he said, referring to Nelson Mandela's support behind the mainly white rugby team, a moment now seen as an iconic gesture of reconciliation.

The sentiment was echoed around the nation, with President Jacob Zuma comparing the mood to the euphoria seen when Mandela was released after decades in an apartheid prison.

"South Africa has never experienced such vibrancy and jubilation since the release of president Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners in 1990," Zuma said in Johannesburg before heading to the game.

"We are truly excited by the success and the spirit engulfing the country. For the first time ever in the 16 years of freedom and democracy, we see black and white South Africans celebrating together in the stadiums and fan parks."

afp/reuters China Daily 06/23/2010 page12)