Domenech's France fail to fire again

A match between former World Cup champions produced an opening day dud, with France and Uruguay playing out a 0-0 draw.

France, in South Africa thanks to a controversial goal by William Gallas, right, could not make an impression against Uruguay last night.

France's struggles in front of goal continued last night as the Group A favourites were held to a goalless draw by a Uruguay side who finished the match with 10 men. Raymond Domenech's side have been lacklustre in warm-up friendlies, losing 1-0 to China. And this result is unlikely to appease Les Bleus' supporters with whom Domenech is distinctly unpopular. France, who are in South Africa thanks to William Gallas's highly-controversial goal in their qualification play-off against the Republic of Ireland, left Thierry Henry, the former captain, on the bench with Patrice Evra, the Manchester United left-back, having inherited the armband. Uruguay, meanwhile, boasted two of European club football's most potent goalscorers up front in Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan and Ajax forward Luis Suarez. In the opening few minutes a dangerous two-on-one France break was halted when Nicolas Anelka tangled legs with defender Diego Lugano, flooring the Uruguay skipper. France should have opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Abou Diaby played Ribery in down the left and when the winger's left-footed cross flashed across the face of goal, Govou failed to strike it cleanly and the ball went well wide. Anelka then headed over the bar, while at the other end a bending Forlan effort from the edge of the box forced Hugo Lloris to save. Uruguay performed resolutely at the back and were always a threat on the break. Yoann Gourcuff, the French playmaker, tried to catch Fernando Muslera out when he directed a free-kick on the left touchline on goal, but the keeper reacted to swat it out for a corner and the teams went in 0-0 at the break. Forlan always looked the most likely player to score. In the second half, he took a long ball down on his chest, but fired over with Gallas in close attention. Suarez and Anelka were taken off within minutes of each other in the final quarter of the match as both managers looked to change things up front. Henry, the subject of much debate over whether he should start this week, was Domenech's substitute choice for France but it was the lively Forlan at the other end who had the next chance, screwing a good chance past the left-hand post. Nicolas Lodiero, who only came on in the 63rd minute, was sent off 18 minutes later for a second booking, forcing the South Americans to defend for the rest of the match. They held out with relative ease. * Compiled by Thomas Woods, with agencies Sent off: Lodeiro (Uruguay) 81' Man of the match:Abou Diaby (France)