South Africa: Uruguay experience was key, Mokoena

South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena believes his side were "a bit naive" against Uruguay but has urged them to put the 3-0 defeat aside and focus on their crucial final World Cup Group A game against France.

Bafana Bafana are facing the prospect of becoming the first World Cup hosts to be eliminated at the group stages following the loss in Pretoria, which has left them with one point from their opening two games.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira launched a scathing attack on the performance of Swiss referee Massimo Busacca after the match, but that could not disguise what was a disappointing showing from the home nation.

Parreira's side barely threatened Fernando Muslera's goal during the 90 minutes and, although Uruguay's finishing was far from clinical, Oscar Tabarez's team scored three times through Diego Forlan (two) and Alvaro Pereira.

Speaking after the match, Parreira felt Uruguay's experience had been crucial in the victory.

Mokoena felt naivety on South Africa's part had also played its role.

"Uruguay provoked us and we fell into their trap and we stopped playing our football," he said.

"We were all aware about the way they play and what they would be intending to do to us and unfortunately we were a bit naive - that's what happened."

The Bafana Bafana skipper, who inadvertently played a telling part in Uruguay's opening goal when Forlan's 25-yard shot deflected off his back and looped in off the crossbar, wants his team to look forward rather than back now, though.

On Tuesday, South Africa face 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France in what will be crucial clash as Parreira's side attempt to squeeze into the last 16.

"It (the Uruguay loss) was one of those things and it's important that we forget what happened," said Mokoena on www.kickoff.com.

"We still have a game to play against France and that is important.

"It's going to be a hard game against France. But for us it is about going back to the drawing board and making sure we are ready for France. We have got to show belief."

FIFA, meanwhile, announced today that they are not planning to take any action against Parreira for his comments about referee Busacca.

Busacca booked two South Africa players and, in an incident late on, sent off Itumeleng Khune and awarded Uruguay a penalty after the home goalkeeper tripped Luis Suarez in front of goal.

Forlan scored from the resulting penalty to make it 2-0 and all but ended the host nation's hopes of getting anything out of the game.

Parreira said of the official afterwards: "Myself and everyone else said it was the worst refereeing performance in this competition so far.

"I hope we don't see his face again in this tournament because he probably doesn't deserve to be here."

FIFA have let the Brazilian off the hook, however.

"Yes, we have looked at it and no elements have been found by the disciplinary committee to open an investigation," spokesman Nicolas Maingot said today.

"This is because there was no violation of the FIFA disciplinary code."