Romero shields the ball from Micoud (Allsport).
France 0 Uruguay 0
By David Anderson, PA Sport, Busan
France are clinging on to the World Cup by their fingertips after their 10 men
were held by Uruguay in the Asiad Stadium.
France played most of the game a man short after Arsenal's Thierry Henry was
controversially sent off on 25 minutes for a late lunge on Marcelo Romero.
Roger Lemerre's side, who came closest to scoring when Emmanuel Petit hit the
post from a free-kick, must now beat Denmark in the final Group A game by two
clear goals to qualify for the second phase.
After Lemerre had made optimistic noises about Zinedine Zidane's possible
return, the Real Madrid star was not recovered sufficiently from his torn thigh
muscle to make the bench even.
France, who were kitted out as Les Blancs rather than Les Bleus, were forced
to make the first change in the 16th minute when Vincent Candela replaced the
injured Frank Leboeuf.
Fabien Barthez denied Uruguay when he stuck out his right boot a la Pat
Jennings to save Alvaro Recoba's right-foot shot following a good break by the
South Americans.
France's task became all the more difficult when Henry was dismissed and the
striker will now be suspended for the Denmark game.
Henry, who was last sent off in spring 2000 for the Gunners in the UEFA Cup,
lunged at Romero, catching him late and referee Felipe Ramos Rizo ruled it was a
violent challenge and produced the red card.
France's 10 men regrouped and lone striker David Trezeguet headed over from
Sylvain Wiltord's right-wing cross.
Lady luck continued to shun the French and Petit whipped a free-kick over the
Uruguayan wall only to see the ball come off the face of the post.
France, though, were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men in first-half
stoppage time when Petit elbowed Sebastian Abreu and the Chelsea midfielder
escaped with just a caution.
Fabian Carini denied France repeatedly after the interval and he plucked a lob
from Trezeguet from the air before he pushed a long-range effort from Candela
over the bar.
Not to be outdone, Barthez made a double save from Recoba before the
quick-heeled Inter Milan striker rounded him only to shoot into the side netting
from the narrow angle.
The chances continued to come and go and Abreu should have done better when he
headed wide from six yards out.
Carini continued to thwart France and he did well to parry a drive from
Trezeguet and then a minute later Barthez saved a shot from Recoba.
France thought their moment had finally come midway through the second half
when Paolo Montero brought down his Juventus team-mate Trezeguet on the edge of
the D.
Petit stepped over the ball and Johan Micoud curled the free-kick over the
Uruguay wall only for that man Carini to punch it away.
Uruguay almost stole victory in the dying seconds and Barthez made a fine stop
from substitute Federico Magallanes.
Teams France: Barthez, Lizarazu, Desailly, Leboeuf (Candela 16),
Thuram, Vieira, Micoud, Petit, Henry, Wiltord (Dugarry 90),
Trezeguet (Cisse 80).
Subs Not Used: Boghossian, Christanval, Coupet, Djorkaeff,
Makelele, Rame, Sagnol, Silvestre, Zidane.
Sent Off: Henry (25).
Booked: Petit.
Uruguay: Carini, Lembo, Montero, Sorondo,
Rodriguez (Guigou 72), Varela, Romero (de los Santos 71),
Garcia, Recoba, Silva (Magallanes 59), Abreu.
Subs Not Used: Bizera, Elduayen, Forlan, Mendez, Morales,
Munua, O'Neill, Olivera, Regueiro.
Booked: Garcia, Romero, Abreu, Silva.
Att: 38,289
Ref: F Ramos Rizo (Mexico).
|
