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FIFA World Cup 2010 match 2 - Group A France: Lloris, Sagna, Abidal, Gallas, Evra, Gourcuff (Malouda, 75), Toulalan, Diaby, Ribery, Govou (Gignac 85), Anelka (Henry 71). Uruguay: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Victorino, M.Pereira, A.Pereira, Perez (Eguren 87), Arevalo Rios, Gonzalez (Lodeiro), Suarez (Abreu 73), Forlan. With the opening game of the group having ended in a draw a victory in this game would obviously go a long way towards securing qualification for either of these two sides. This made it all the more disappointing that the game should develop into such a turgid affair. France, as might have been expected, made the early running and should have taken the lead on six minutes. Ribery broke clear of a weak challenge down the left to send over a perfect low centre to Govou who slid the ball horribly wide from point blank range. The French would be unable to fashion such an opening again. The French continued to press but now found the Uruguayan defence predictably well manned and organised. Anelka got his head to a right wing set piece but could not trouble Muslera who was generally well protected by those in front of him. It quickly became clear that France are lacking the creative midfield players of previous teams with Ribery their only obvious source of inspiration in the wider areas. Teams like Uruguay are always likely to be able to stifle the threat of one man, however, and this was generally the case here. At the other end Diego Forlan was his usual busy self and tested Lloris with a stinging effort after cutting in from the left and the French keeper was fortunate that no-one was on hand to profit as his unconvincing parry bounced back into the box. Muslera had to react smartly to punch a Gourcuff free kick, from tight to the left hand touchline, out of the postage stamp at his near post. Anelka also got his head to another right wing centre but could only glance wide as a tame first half came to a tame end. Half Time: France 0 Uruguay 0 Anybody hoping that the second half would be an improvement were in for a big disappointment. The only real difference was that France seemed to lose confidence and any remaining ambition with each passing minute while Uruguay began to entertain modest hopes of sneaking a victory. Forlan blazed one half chance over and whipped in a free kick which could have been touched home and still required safe handling from Lloris. Uruguay then had their best chance following a long throw in on the left. They only put two men in the box but the first of these, Suarez, was able to help the ball on with his thigh to the unmarked Forlan who snatched at his shot and sent it a couple of yards wide of the post with a defender desperately lunging to block. Don't think France would fare too well against Stoke City on that evidence. France's lack of ambition or belief was exposed as they brought Henry on but removed Anelka but they were given stimulus ten minutes from time when Uruguay lost their substitute Lodeiro to a second yellow card. Lodeiro's first booking, straight after coming on, had been harsh as he flicked the ball back towards where a free kick had been conceded but it was probably as well he was shown it as it prevented any semblance of controversy when he was shown a second yellow for a bad foul on Sagna which might have been a red in itself. Could France take advantage of their numerical advantage? In a word, no. Henry claimed hopefully for a penalty when his scuffed shot bounced up against Victorino's hand at close quarters but the defender had his arms by his side and the referee was correct to wave away the protests. The ref did then give France a somewhat generous free kick deep into stoppage time but Abreu rose majestically in the Uruguay wall to head Henry's attempted curler to safety and the worst game of the World Cup so far came to an end. It might take some beating. Full Time: France 0 Uruguay 0 France Ratings: Lloris 5, Sagna 7, Abidal 4, Gallas 5, Evra 5, Gourcuff 4 (Malouda 6), Toulalan 5, Diaby 5, Ribery 6, Govou 1), Anelka 5 (Henry 4). Uruguay: Muslera 6, Lugano 6, Godin 6, Victorino 4, M.Pereira 7, A.Pereira 6, Perez 6), Arevalo Rios 6, Gonzalez 5 (Lodeiro 2), Suarez 5 (Abreu 6), Forlan 7. Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan) 8 Good: The final whistle. Bad: Virtually everything but I would single out Patrice Evra. Evra didn't actually play badly but it was strange to see someone who is so positive and adventurous for Manchester United barely get over the halfway line in a game where he scarcely had any defending to do. Summed up France's lack of ambition and conviction. Ugly: It won't be the last bad challenge we see in these finals but Nicolas Lodeiro got the ball rolling with a late lunge on Sagna that deservedly brought his dismissal.
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