World Cup Group A
France 1 Malouda 70 
South Africa 2 Khumalo 20, Mphela 37

France can down tools for good. The World Cup nightmare is over, with the final on-field chapter reflecting the misery of what had gone before. At least Les Bleus mustered a goal to break their duck at World Cup 2010, just as it was looking as though the hosts might fashion improbable progress.

All that awaits France now on their return home are recriminations – and a government investigation into how their 22-man squad could have gone on strike in sympathy for their expelled team-mate Nicolas Anelka. That was the last illustration of the turmoil which unleashed a tidal wave of opprobrium upon them.

Raymond Domenech, who will now, in what feels like an act of mercy, step down as manager, had called upon his disaffected players to show decisive action.

The time for talking had stopped, he said. Yet on the evidence of another desperate display, the talking was infinitely more entertaining. And it has not yet stopped. Not by a long shot.

France's story at this World Cup will go down as one of the game's great implosions. They have disgraced their country and it might be some time before their supporters lose the hollow feelings in the pits of their stomachs. Domenech's rag-tag team bowed out with a rally late in the second-half, but the damage had already been done by Yoann Gourcuff's red card in the 25th minute and some comic defensive cuts.

For South Africa, the victory was not enough to propel them past Mexico; they fell short on goal difference, but at least they showed spirit to please their fans.

Domenech made six changes from the team that slumped 2–0 against Mexico – there was no room for Patrice Evra, who led the protest against Anelka's sending home – but the selection still looked to have the talent to overcome South Africa whose coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, has come under fire for his selection and tactics.

That, however, was to overlook the bankruptcy on so many levels in French ranks. Domenech even refused to shake Parreira's hand on the final whistle.

They conceded the crucial first goal in sloppy fashion, which served to rev up the passionate home crowd still further and there was also, inevitably, a slice of Gallic self-destruction. Only Gourcuff knew what he was doing when he leapt for a header with an arm outstretched and sent it into the side of MacBeth Sibaya's face.

Although the referee, Oscar Ruiz, initially looked to have sent off Djibril Cissé, it became clear that the early bath was for Gourcuff.

Hugo Lloris is rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world but France's collective jitters affected him too. From Siphiwe Tshabalala's corner he missed his punch and Bongani Khumalo, who perhaps climbed on Abou Diaby, sparked frenzy when he headed home.

Domenech had said that this had been "a difficult game to prepare [for]", showing a dramatic flair for the understatement, and it is worth recapping what he had been through or, more pertinently in many respects, brought upon himself.

France had arrived against a backdrop of his tactical tinkering and selectorial whims, with a sex scandal thrown in for good measure. William Gallas, having been overlooked for the captaincy, and Thierry Henry, having been dropped, were among the unhappy players. Then came the row with Florent Malouda on the eve of the opening game against Uruguay, bad results, more rows and then things erupted over Anelka's reported half-time abuse of the manager in the Mexico defeat.

South Africa sensed their opportunity.

The outstanding Katlego Mphela dragged just wide after an enterprising run and with France in disarray at the back, they surged into a two-goal lead. Tshabalala's cross hit Diaby but Tsepo Masilela fired the ball back across from the left and Mphela bundled home ahead of Gaël Clichy.

Although Moeneeb Josephs had to save smartly when Franck Ribéry's free-kick bounced on, with Gallas unable to apply a touch, South Africa were denied a third when Lloris tipped Mphela's low shot round a post. France stared even deeper into the abyss at half-time.

The second-half came to feel like a damage-limitation exercise for them and, for the first part of it, South Africa passed through and ran round them. With Uruguay winning against Mexico, what had seemed impossible for South Africa came to feel distinctly possible.

Mphela was denied the third goal only by a post after Tshabalala had threaded him clean through the France defence. Mphela terrorised them and Lloris was called into action on a number of occasions, particularly in the 90th minute to deny Tshabalala.

Yet, with Henry on as a substitute, France finally pieced together an attack. Ribéry had not let his head drop and he was rewarded for his persistence when, after an incisive run, he squared for Malouda to tap home.

The atmosphere fell flat and the match petered out. South Africa become the first host nation to fall at the group stage. For France, the memories will be rather more grisly.