France: Barthez, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Malouda (Dhorasoo 88), Vieira, Makelele, Zidane (Trezeguet 90), Wiltord (Ribery 60), Henry.

Korean Republic: WJ Lee, YC Kim, JC Choi, DJ Kim, YP Lee (JH Ahn 72), NI Kim, JS Park, EY Lee (KH Seol 45), H Lee (SS Kim 69), CS Lee, JJ Cho.

France came out looking a side in a hurry as they sought to put their disappointing opening display behind them and show they remain a world force. The Koreans were only too happy to allow them the initiative.

Malouda, brought into the side, was keen to run at the defence from the start and created early problems. He would continue to look a threat throughout but, despite drawing a couple of cautions for Korea, his decision making would let him down too often.

Wiltord provided the first test for WJ Lee after being set up by Henry but the keeper was equal to the challenge. Then Malouda shot wide as Korea retreated deep into their own half.

France's bright start was rewarded on nine minutes. Wiltord tried a shot from 25 yards but made awful contact. The ball ran kindly for Henry who suddenly found himself clear just inside the box. His low finish was clinical.

Any notion that the goal might bring the Koreans out was quickly dispelled as they continued to form a human barrier around their goalmouth. The barrier seldom looked solid, however.

Zidane and Malouda were wide of the mark with half chances before Korea almost drew level in farcical circumstances. There seemed little danger from a punt upfield until Gallas managed to send a strong header towards his own goal from distance. The ball sailed over Barthez but just missed the angle.

It was a brief moment of anxiety and the French should have seen their lead extended just past the half hour. Vieira sent in a strong header that was clearly well over the line before WJ Lee managed to scoop it clear.

For some reason the referee awarded Korea a free kick, it possibly seemed the best way out of an awkward situation with his linesman somehow failing to signal the goal.

Korea almost took advantage of this reprieve when CS Lee fired a free kick through a crowd of players and saw it just miss the far post.

It was still France doing most of the pressing although clear sights of goal were becoming rarer as half time approached.

Half Time: France 1 Korean Republic 0

The second half followed a similar pattern but it was easy to see the conviction quickly ebbing from the French performance.

Hopeful shots from Wiltord and Malouda left WJ Lee untroubled and there was little sign of invention from Zidane.

Henry remained a danger but he looked like he was beginning to find the efforts of his teammates as annoying as those of his opponents.

The introduction of the Wolves winger KH Seol brightened up the Korean effort and the later changes they made also provided them with more thrust. An equalising goal still seemed highly remote until one suddenly arrived with less than ten minutes remaining.

Seol dashed down the right to send over a deep ball to the far post. JJ Cho got up well to knock down into the heart of goal and JS Park reacted quicker than a pocket of defenders to lob a fortunate shot over Barthez and into the corner of the net.

France tried in vain to respond to this shock. Vieira sent a shot into orbit and Zidane finally carved out an opening for Henry but WJ Lee was out quickly to make a fine save.

Seol sent in a strong shot at the other end as the game finally opened up but this was blocked to spare France any further embarrassment.

The draw leaves this group wide open but French confidence, which looked brittle to start with, cannot have been helped by this faltering display.

Full Time: France 1 Korean Republic 1

France: Barthez 4, Sagnol 6, Thuram 6, Gallas 5, Abidal 5, Malouda 6, Vieira 6, Makalele 6, Zidane 6, Wiltord 5 (Ribery 5), Henry 7.

Korean Republic: WJ Lee 7, YC Kim 6, JC Choi 7, DJ Kim 5, YP Lee 6 (JH Ahn 6), NI Kim 5, JS Park 6, EY Lee 5 (KH Seol 7), H Lee 4 (SS Kim 5), CS Lee 4, JJ Cho 6.

Referee: B.Archundia (Mexico) 4
I don't know how much blame should be attached to the ref for not giving Vieira's goal but he was never a decisive figure.

Good:
Very little, really.

Bad:
Quite a lot. The ultra defensive tactics of the Koreans did not help.

Ugly:
The Koreans aren't an attractive race in general. Am I allowed to say that? Probably not.