I find that hard to believe when they needed to cheat to even make it to the tournament.
Agreed.
I'd even dared to say that it is because they cheated that they lost this way somehow. Actually, it's not a kind of poetic justice, it's rather than the French honor was hit, and this way, our national team lost support from France months ago. The majority of French population was in favour of another match against Ireland, a kind of replay, can you imagine that?
Even when the world cup began, there were nobody more despised in French medias than the members of our so-called French football team.
Always, during these weeks, we called them cheaters, especially in France. It may sound weird for outsiders, but for Frenchmen it's important. The average Frenchmen did not recognize themselves in their national team: it was a conflict of values. Of course, no wonder "our" team members were demoralized from the start, since they had almost no real popular support in France.
So they lost, and they lost the most ridiculous way, torn up by childish bickerings, and over the vast amount of money those spoiled brats were making. Even our government officials said they were the shame of the nation, not because of their (predictable) results, but because of their puerile attitude. Truth is, the majority of people in France wished this defeat, and even hoped South Africa could qualify with a large score.
Now, the crowd in France is appeased.
Don't wonder why. Such things happen in France and in France only.