Lemerre - still believes France can qualify (Allsport)

France coach Roger Lemerre insisted there was "still hope" for his faltering world champions after Thierry Henry's controversial sending off left their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

Arsenal striker Henry was red carded in the 25th minute by Mexican referee Felipe Ramos Rizo for a late tackle on Marcelo Romero, leaving 10-man France to battle on in vain for the win they badly needed in Busan.

And deep into injury time France needed a save by Fabien Barthez, with his legs, to deny Uruguay substitute Federico Magallanes a winner that would have ended the reigning champions' World Cup.

But a defiant Lemerre said: "First of all I say to my players there is still hope."

France lie bottom of Group A with one point from two games and must beat Denmark, who have four points along with Senegal.

"We need to do well against Denmark," said Lemerre.

"If we play a great game against Denmark we can still go through."

"It's a pity no goal was scored tonight - maybe the number of goals will decide which teams advance to the second round."

Lemerre, continued his defiant tone, adding: "Tonight France are still not eliminated. We are still masters of our destiny.

"I can't say the players didn't play well. France has seen what the players have accomplished, they gave everything they had."

Uruguay's coach Victor Pua admitted his side should have taken their champions against the reigning world champions.

"We had a lot of opportunities but couldn't take them. We will do our best in the match against Senegal.

He added: "We started off a little unsure of ourselves but we got better as the game went on.

"We should really have scored but, all in all, a draw is a fair result."

Lemerre, bemoaning his side's failure to score in their opening two matches, said: "It's asking a lot to beat Denmark 2-0 when we haven't scored in the first two matches."

The France coach also revealed that Zinedine Zidane was "not ready" to make his comeback from a thigh injury against the Uruguayans and said he would leave it up to the player to decide if he might be ready in time for the Denmark match in Incheon next Tuesday.

"He's recovering little by little and he is running now. It was premature for him to play today but I hope to get him back in the game very soon."

Lemerre acknowledged that France are not the same side without their inspirational playmaker.

"The entire system doesn't change because of Zidane's absence but when it comes to efficiency, that's more questionable."

Lemerre admitted he had been banking on a win against the South Americans after the opening match defeat against Senegal - "we were expecting three points from this game and only managed to get one" - but praised his players for coping with 10 men for three quarters of the match.

"It's always hard to play with just 10 men but we knew how to play tactically. We organised ourselves well and we had a few chances to score."

Lemerre also saluted Barthez whose injury-time save from Magallanes kept France in the World Cup.

"Without Barthez Uruguay would have scored," said Lemerre, "and I say with confidence that there can be no question about the quality of the French team."

Barthez admitted France now have a mountain to climb if their first two displays were anything to go by.

He said: "The team showed great courage tonight having been reduced to 10 men.

"They really stretched themselves to the limit against a team who didn't not come to play football. They (Uruguay) just sat back and waited.

"Judging on our performances so far it is asking a lot but we are not World and European champions for nothing."

But team-mate David Trezeguet felt the Mexican referee had over reacted in reaching for the red card.

The Juventus striker said: "I have not seen the TV replays of the tackle yet but the decision to send Thierry Henry off looked to me to be a severe one.

"And afterwards, with 10 men, it was really hard work for me on my own up front."

Trezeguet was replaced by Djibril Cisse with nine minutes remaining and said he did not understand Lemerre's decision to take him off.