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2010 World Cup: Uruguay vs France – Post Match Analysis

Angela Asante, June 11 2010,
Uruguay and France played out a 0-0 draw like South Africa and Mexico did in Group A. The only difference in their result is that there were no goals unlike the South Africa vs Mexico encounter which ended 1-1.

Franck Ribery tackled by Uruguay players.
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Uruguay vs France, First Half: Nothing Too Exciting

It was not much of a surprise as Florent Malouda had to start his night from the bench. The Chelsea winger’s attitude during training came under criticism from Coach Raymond Domenech ahead of the match, reports stated. Manchester United’s Patrice Evra carried the captain’s armband for the French national team although William Gallas found his spot in defense as a starter.

Like the headline suggests it, the first half didn’t produce anything exciting or near what the public witnessed in the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The first thing that caught the people’s attention was Franck Ribery’s breathtaking move on the left hand side inside the 6th minute. The Bayern Munich superstar hurdled a challenge from a Uruguayan defender, however, his square ball couldn’t be converted by Sydney Govou who arrived with pace inside the box. The Lyon forward definitely shouldn’t have missed from 4 yards out, though. 

About Diaby’s long shot four minutes later pleased the crowd but didn’t trouble La Celeste Olimpica’s goalkeeper as the ball went high and wide. At the other end of the field, Hugo Lloris got caught into panic and his resulting movement should have seen the South Americans awarded with a corner kick. But this event went unnoticed by the referee who whistled for a goal kick in favor of France.

Speaking about man-to-watch Diego Forlan, the night was a hard one for him to settle. France’s defense proved too strong for the Atletico Madrid forward, and his own mistakes piledNicolas Anelka dribbling vs Uruguay. him under more pressure. Forlan failed to trouble Les Bleus on the counter attack when a chance opened up at the 27th minute; his ineffective through ball came at the detriment of the whole team that was looking to break the deadlock.

Before that however, he was the author of Uruguay’s best attempt on goal with his deep volley getting punched away by the alert Hugo Lloris. Three minutes before the break, Nicolas Anelka flashed a header wide while the Uruguayans couldn’t punish the French on the counter attack later on as the referee signaled the end of the first half.

Uruguay vs France, Second Half: Hot Events, But Still Dull Football

With the way both teams were playing, one may wonder if the 22 men on the pitch were really aware that they game was a World Cup encounter and no other ordinary thing. The crowd kept blowing their Vuvuzela horns anyways, but had to wait until just before the hour mark to witness more hit in the clash.

Before the hour mark, Mauricio Victorino picked up a yellow card for a late tackle on Patrice Evra who was bursting forward down the left hand side of the pitch. The resulting free-kick came to nothing as Toulalan blasted the last shot wide. Diego Forlan then had another opportunity to make his mark on the night through a 63rd minute free-kick. But the striker couldn’t deceive Hugo Lloris; the score line remained 0-0.

The moment arrived when the spectators at the Cape Town Stadium blew the Vuvuzela horns harder. That was when Thierry Henri stepped onto the pitch inside the 71st minute for Nicolas Anelka who came off. Seconds after, Diego Forlan cut the public’s breath with a powerful shot that just couldn’t find its way into Hugo Lloris’ net.

Thierry Henri talking to the referee vs Uruguay.Later on, the shock: Nicolas Lodeiro sustained the first red card of the 2010 FIFA World Cup after two bookable offenses. The last of those was a reckless challenge on Bakari Sagna for which he received his marching orders on 81 minutes. Being 10-man down, Oscar Tabarez applied a defensive tactic – leaving the French disorganized around the 18-yard box.

Late in normal time, substitute Thierry Henri had a shot on goal blocked with what appeared to be a handball. But the referee waved away the protest. No penalty for Les Bleus and no goals in the end, although Henri again could have clinched a last-minute winner through his injury time free-kick.

Group A remains like it was before June 11. South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, and France are all on 1 point. Match-day two might reveal a lot more about the fate of these four teams in the 2010 FIFA World Cup competition.

2010 World Cup: Uruguay 0-0 France – Match Facts

Uruguay’s Lineup:

Muslera; Lugano; M. Pereira; Godin; Victorino; Perez; Gonzalez; Arevalo; A. Pereira; Suarez; Forlan

France’s Lineup:

Lloris; Abidal; Gallas; Sagna; Evra; Ribery; Toulalan; Diaby; Gourcuff; Govou; Anelka

Uruguay’s Substitutions:

Lodeiro in for Gonzalez (63');  Abreu in for Suarez (73'); Eguren in for Perez (88')

France’s Substitutions:

Henri in for Anelka (72'); Malouda in for Gourcuff (75'); Gignac in for Govou (85')

Uruguay 0-0 France – Goals:

No Goals

Uruguay Bookings:

Yellow cards: Victorino (59'); Lodeiro (65', 81'); Lugano (90')

Red cards: Lodeiro (81')

France Bookings

Yellow cards: Evra (12'); Ribery (19'); Toulalan (68')

Red cards: None
 

 



 

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