Uruguay v France full time result
Uruguay 0 France 0
Uruguay and France played out a disappointing goalless draw in their opening Group A fixture in Cape Town, as the South Americans had substitute Nicolas Lodeiro sent off.
After hosts South Africa and Mexico had drawn 1-1 earlier in the day, both sides entered this match knowing that victory would put them top of the group, but in truth neither side did enough to earn the three points.
The French were marginally the better side, with Sidney Govou missing a glorious opening in the early stages, and Yoann Gourcuff and Nicolas Anelka both going close later.
Diego Forlan was a constant menace at the other end, but Uruguay’s threat disappeared along with midfielder Lodeiro, who was given his marching orders after a late challenge on Bacary Sagna – his second booking in the twenty minutes he was on the field.
The French will be desperately disappointed not to win this match, and were on top in the opening stages. They should have taken a sixth minute lead when Franck Ribery’s left wing cross picked out Govou, only for the Lyon man to s***w his effort horribly wide when it looked easier to score.
Uruguay do have quality in their ranks though, and the dangerous Forlan went close at the other end with a clever turn and shot from the edge of the box, which forced goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into an excellent save.
Back at the other end, Anelka and Gourcuff were at the centre of most of France’s good work, and the latter saw a free kick from an extremely tight angle beaten away by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, before the former glanced a header wide shortly before half time.
Forlan was at it again early in the second period, expertly controlling a long ball from Mauricio Victorino before firing a left footed volley wide.
The Atletico Madrid striker went close again shortly after the hour mark, and although the introductions of French substitutes Florent Malouda and Thierry Henry galvanised Les Bleus, they were unable to make the breakthrough.
The removal of Lodeiro increased the pressure, and Henry appealed for penalty for handball late on – somewhat ironically given how he helped his side qualify for the tournament.
That wasn’t given, and after the veteran Frenchman hit a free kick into the wall in stoppage time, French chances were over.
Tags: