Mexico Beats France, Looks Good. What’s Next?

Mexico’s World Cup team stepped up the level a couple of notches and beat a sluggish French side 2-0 with goals by Javier Hernandez and veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco, moving into second place of Group A behind Uruguay on goal difference.

The victory, which wasn’t quite as surprising as some may think, makes it difficult but not impossible for Mexico not to make it into the round of 16.

Mathematically, no one of the four teams is eliminated, although after going down 3-0 to Uruguay, South Africa would need to beat France and have Mexico or Uruguay lose to have a chance. Even then, the combined results would have to add up to five or six goals. Not a very probable outcome.

France will still have a chance if it wins by several goals and either Mexico or Uruguay lose – with a combined difference of four or five goals.

A draw between Mexico and Uruguay will send the two Latin American sides through with Uruguay ahead on goal difference.

And there’s the rub.

The runner-up of Group A will play the winner of Group B, and all indications are that it will be Argentina. The winner of Group A will almost certainly meet Greece or South Korea, although Nigeria could still scrape through.

So Mexico, which lost 2-1 to Argentina in the 2006 round of 16, will be battling all out for victory over Uruguay. The match promises to be a tough one, as playing for a draw would be a big risk for the South Americans.

In its quest for that elusive “fifth game,” the quarter final which, FIFA and other rankings aside puts a country in the world’s top eight, Mexico should come out blazing on June 22.