It was the night that the vuvuzelas went quiet. For all the support that gathered at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and for all the passion they inspired across South Africa, Bafana Bafana were completely unable to raise their game when it mattered. Uruguay, who had been no more than moderately efficient against France, outplayed them with considerable ease to record only their second World Cup win in 16 attempts.

South Africa had no idea how to deal with Diego Forlan in his new withdrawn role and since they now need to beat France to survive, the loss of Kagisho Dikgacoi, who picked up a second yellow card and keeper, Itumeleng Khune, sent off for a foul on Luis Suarez, will hardly help.