France, World Cup | featured news

The U.S. women's soccer team advanced to the World Cup final by beating France 3-1 Wednesday on a rain-soaked field in Moenchengladbach, Germany.

France coach Laurent Blanc will drop all 23 World Cup players for his first match next month as collective punishment for the team's embarrassing fiasco in South Africa.

South Africa went out with heads high on Tuesday, despite being the only hosts ever to exit the World Cup's first round, but France headed home in shame and Latin American giants Argentina cruised into the second round.

Baby-faced Javier Hernandez and ageless Cuauhtemoc Blanco came off the bench early in the second half and combined for two goals, giving Mexico a clutch 2-0 win over punchless France on Thursday in chilly Polokwane, moving El Tri a giant step closer to a berth in the the second round of the World Cup.

Ireland has given up hope of a World Cup playoff replay against France because of Thierry Henry's hand ball. Henry's deliberate handling set up a goal for William Gallas in Wednesday's 1-1 draw that sent France to next year's tournament and knocked out Ireland. The Irish appealed to the French federation to agree to a replay but were turned down Friday.