CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -- Lackluster France failed to turn its superior
possession into chances and could ultimately pay a heavy price as they
were held to a 0-0 draw by Uruguay in an uninspired World Cup Group A
clash on Friday.
After South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in
the tournament curtain-raiser in Johannesburg all four teams have a
point each in what always looked an intriguing group.
It
was not quite a repeat of France's 2002 horror show when, as holders, it
lost 1-0 to Senegal en route to a first-round exit but the draw leaves
the 2006 runners-up with plenty to do.
Uruguay finished the
match with 10 men after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro picked up a second
booking in the 81st minute.
The match on a crisp Cape Town
night was never likely to match the opening game for action and fervour
but France, despite pessimism among its fans, looked lively early on.
It had a great chance after seven minutes when Franck Ribery
escaped down the left and crossed low only for Sydney Govou to sidefoot
wide from six metres out.
Yoann Gourcuff kept goalkeeper
Fernando Muslera on his toes with a near-post free-kick but then the
chances dried up.
Uruguay were relying on strike duo Diego
Forlan and Luis Suarez to open up the French defence on their own,
rarely committing midfielders forward to support them.
As
the game wore on it began to look a reasonable tactic with the livewire
Forlan dangerous around the box, albeit testing Hugo Lloris only once
with a 20-metre curler.
Nicolas Anelka led a three-man
front line but looked off the pace and was replaced by Thierry Henry
after 73 minutes.
Despite the vuvuzela-led promptings of
the 64,000 crowd in the magnificent new Green Point stadium neither side
could raise their game, though Forlan lashed wide with 15 minutes left.
Domenech now faces a test of his abilities against Mexico
before what could a mouthwatering finale versus the hosts.
Uruguay,
twice champion but who has not got past the second round since 1970,
will probably be pleased with the result as the group remains there for
the taking.