France and Uruguay end goalless
Posted: Jun 11 2010
France and Uruguay drew 0-0 in a World Cup Group A encounter at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.
After a goalless first half, the second period only sparked into life for moments, before Nicolas Lodeiro of the South Americans was dismissed ten minutes from the end, having been shown a second yellow card.
The first five minutes of the match offered little.
Abou Diaby spun cleverly in midfield before feeding Franck Ribery down the left channel. The Bayern Munich man delivered wickedly low towards the near post, where Sidney Govou didn’t get enough on the ball to force it on target.
Les Bleus looked good in the early stages. Diaby slashed a shot from distance wide, while a header from William Gallas following a Yoann Gourcuff corner smacked Luis Suarez on the midriff, blocking what might have been a dangerous effort. Moments later, the Girondins de Bordeaux playmaker centered once more, but Nicolas Anelka couldn’t steer his header down on target.
On the quarter hour mark Diego Forlan’s movement on the edge of the box took him away from Gallas, and cutting in from the left flank, the Atletico Madrid striker whipped a powerful right-footed drive at goal that Hugo Lloris did well to beat away.
This proved to be something of a flash in the pan from the South Americans as France were quickly back on the offensive. Set-piece specialist Gourcuff, from an outrageously tight angle, cracked a shot towards Fernando Muslera’s top corner, though the goalkeeper was sharply across to parry wide.
Both sides created half chances early in the second half. Nacho Gonzalez shot wide for Uruguay before Anelka replied with a strike that was deflected wide. Forlan showed terrific control to pull down a long pass and unleash a shot at goal, though from a tight angle he could not threaten Lloris’ goal.
At no stage were France in total control, and an angled free kick from Forlan was well held by Lloris as the ball narrowly beat several heads clamoring to get a decisive touch.
With ten minutes remaining substitute Nicolas Lodeiro was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.
France pushed players forward, with Uruguay happy to sit back and cling on for the point.
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: 2010-06-12 03:18
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