Uruguay 0 France 0: France again lack cutting edge to get off to slow start

France should have opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Abou Diaby played Franck Ribery in down the left and when the winger's teasing left-footed cross flashed across the face of goal, Sidney Govou deflected the ball well wide.

The first booking by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura came after 11 minutes when Patrice Evra was cautioned for a cynical shirt pull while Ribery joined him in the book before the break.

France striker Nicolas Anelka headed over then at the other end a bending effort by Diego Forlan from the edge of the box forced Hugo Lloris to save.

Egidio Arevalo and Forlan both had chances early in the second half but neither could find the target for the twice World Cup-winning South Americans.

Mauricio Victorino was carded for a late lunge on Evra in the 59th minute and Ribery blasted wide from the resulting free-kick. Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez sent on Nicolas Lodeiro for Ignacio Gonzalez and he was booked within a minute.

In the 66th minute Lloris dropped a catch under pressure from Suarez, who could not capitalise before Jeremy Toulalan was booked for a lunge on Alvaro Pereira two minutes later.

Domenech sacrificed Anelka to send on Thierry Henry in the 71st minute to the delight of the 64,100 crowd, which was mainly comprised of

locals.

Forlan had a 73rd-minute sight of goal but dragged a first-time effort wide from Suarez's flick-on, before his strike partner was swapped for Sebastian Abreu, while Domenech threw Chelsea's Florent Malouda on for the disappointing Gourcuff.

Lodeiro's hapless cameo was ended abruptly in the 81st minute when he was carded again for a late and high challenge on Bacary Sagna.

French appeals for a penalty were dismissed when Henry's stab towards goal seemed to hit Victorino's lower arm in the 89th minute. Henry then hit the wall from a free-kick.

Uruguay: Muslera, Victorino, Lugano, Godin, Pereira, Maxi Pereira, Perez (Eguren 87), Arevalo Rios, Gonzalez (Lodeiro 63), Forlan, Suarez (Abreu 73). Unused substitutes: Castillo, Fucile, Gargano, Cavani, Scotti, Alvaro Fernandez, Sebastian Fernandez, Caceres, Silva.

France: Lloris, Sagna, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou (Gignac 85), Gourcuff (Malouda 75), Toulalan, Diaby, Ribery, Anelka (Henry 71). Unused substitutes: Mandanda, Reveillere, Planus, Cisse, Squillaci, Diarra, Valbuena, Clichy, Carrasso.

Referee: Yuici Nishimura (Japan).