France captain Patrice Evra and Florent Malouda were both banished to the bench for the vital Group A game against South Africa at the Free State Stadium.

HOST nation South Africa were left facing the prospect of an early World Cup exit after slumping to defeat at the hands of a Diego Forlan-inspired Uruguay in Pretoria last night.

World Cup Group A

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni handed some of his fringe players the chance to play themselves into World Cup contention in tonight’s friendly clash with South Africa.

SUBSTITUTE Daniel Alves broke South African hearts with an 88th-minute free-kick for Brazil that dumped the hosts out of the Confederations Cup with a narrow semi-final victory in Johannesburg.