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Impotent France held by Romania
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SportsDesk on 09 June, 2008 04:03:43
 
By Nick Reeves
Zurich, Switzerland
June 9: France stumbled in their opening Euro 2008 game here on Monday
as Romania held Raymond Domenech's favourites to a goalless draw, a result that
will put a totally new complexion on Group C.
Romania, beaten by France in their opening match of Euro '96, were able to
stifle a largely muted Gallic attack to emerge with a priceless point in their
fight to survive the group of death that includes world champions Italy and Euro
1988 winners Holland.
As for Domenech he can perhaps take consolation from the 2006 World Cup when
France were slowly into gear, only exploding in the knockout stages to make it
all the way to the final.
France went into the game boosted by the news that talismanic captain Patrick
Vieira had recovered enough from the injury that had threatened to send him home
to remain with
the squad.
Thierry Henry, who missed three pre-match training sessions after picking up a
knock in
the friendly 1-0 win on his 100th appearance for Les Bleus against Colombia,
started on
the bench leaving Lyon's Karim Benzema to partner Nicolas Anelka in attack with
Jeremy Toulalan taking Vieira's place in midfield.
The encounter at Zurich's sold out Letzigrund stadium was characterised by lots
of polished passing let down for the most part by sterile finishing. France's
iron defence marshalled by Lilian Thuram, wearing Henry's captain's armband,
rarely let Romania have much of a look in in the first half yet Les Bleus'
domination went unrewarded.
Franck Ribery showed occasional flashes of the silky skills that have made him
such a star in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich last season but up front hitmen
Benzema and
Anelka failed to seriously trouble Bogdan Lobont in goal. In the 10th minute
Benzema sent a long range effort high while Anelka's best effort was a sharply
angled shot from the right which thudded in to the side netting. On 32 minutes
Eric Abidal floated in a cross from a Ribery-taken corner only for Razvan Rat, a
splendid name for the villain of the next Batman movie, to knock the ball over
the bar.
Romania's neatest piece of play of the first period was arguably a 1-2 between
Adrian Mutu and Daniel Niculae whose shot went wide. The striker, who is based
in France with Auxerre, was booked in the 25th minute for handball in the box,
and two of his teammates, Cosmin Contra and Dorin Goian also went into Spanish
referee Manuel
— AFP