It had the potential to be a game of high drama but proved a stage too difficult for South Africa to sneak an improbable place in the next round of the World Cup.

If they won handsomely against Saudi Arabia and the French hosts did the same in their match with Denmark in Lyon, South Africa had a narrow opportunity to make progress in their first appearance at the finals.

But, after a promising start, with Shaun Bartlett firing them ahead on 18 minutes, it turned as sour as the off-field events which have beset their camp throughout the tournament. South Africa, who expelled two players at the weekend following a late-night drinking spree and have seen frequent altercations between the players and their temperamental coach Philippe Troussier, squandered a series of further first-half chances as their timid play reflected their mood.

Bartlett's goal, brilliantly finished from a tight angle, should have set the tone for a siege of the Saudi goal, but chances were missed repeatedly. Not even the wake-up call of a late first-half penalty, when the midfielder Youssef Al-Thyniyan theatrically went down under a non-challenge from Pierre Issa, converted by Sami Al-Jaber for Saudi Arabia's equaliser, could galvanise Bafana Bafana into a position to take advantage of the Danish defeat in Lyon.

A gamble at the break by Troussier, taking off the young hero Benni McCarthy for the erratic but skilful Jerry Sikhosana, proved an unconvincing move and there was to be further misfortune as Saudi Arabia converted a second penalty in the 73rd minute to take a 2-1 lead.

Issa was again involved, wrestling the substitute Ibrahim Al-Shahrani to the ground for Al-Thyniyan to put the Saudis ahead.

A packed Saudi defence, combined with some poor last touches from the South Africans, saw raid after raid repulsed. And as the game wore on, so the task became easier for a Saudi back four where Abdullah Zubramawi was outstanding in a sweeping role.

That South Africa managed to get an injury-time equaliser, again a penalty, conceded when Hussain Sulaimani brought down Sikhosana and converted by Bartlett, was scant consolation for a team with big hopes but not enough heart.

And in the wake of the match Troussier quit the manager's post with those sentiments on his lips.

"I thought that today's match was the most important for us, really the most important," he said. "But not in one single case was there any sense of the players playing as a team," said Troussier, whose contract ends with South Africa's elimination from the World Cup.

"It's the way they've evolved during the last four weeks," he added. "It's a group which has trouble living together. They come for dinner, then they disperse or they look to see if I'm around so they can escape out the window. It was a diverse, completely fragmented group."

Troussier also questioned their commitment on the pitch.

"Talent is fine but you need to have to have that will to win," he said.

"I never felt there has been that sort of mentality in the South African team. I never felt there was that little bit extra which makes them go out and play for every ball."

Troussier's future is still undecided and the manager was remaining cagey about his plans.

He has already had talks with Sheffield Wednesday, been approached by Saudi Arabia and linked to the Tunisian coach's job recently vacated by Polish-born Frenchman Henri Kasperczak.

But he would only say: "I feel I can only get committed again once I have had a rest."