Romania hold France in bore draw
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Lacklustre France failed to score in their opening Euro 2008 game against Romania which could leave them with an uphill task to qualify from Group C, reports BBC.
Without influential captain Patrick Vieira and main striker Thierry Henry, they created little against the hard-working but unambitious Romanians.
Franck Ribery cut a ball back for Karim Benzema to cushion an 18-yard shot into Bogdan Lobont's arms on 62 minutes.
Romania barely threated but they were content with a point from the drab tie.
The match under the fading Zurich sun marked the first time France has entered a major tournament in over a decade without the now-retired Zinedine Zidane.
And, with influential skipper Vieira missing with a thigh injury and sciatic nerve victim Henry on the bench, it was a chance for a new generation to shine.
But, with high hopes stacked on their shoulders, young stars such as Benzema, Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan all failed to set a dreary first half alight.
Romania's Cosmin Contra on the 0-0 draw.
Though the Euro 2000 winners shaded possession, they lacked urgency in a match they were under pressure to win given world champions Italy and European heavyweights Netherlands make up the rest of Group C.
A flurry of scrappy half chances fell just before the 10-minute mark, first to Romania's Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu after a poor Eric Abidal clearance before Nicolas Anelka fired well wide from a tight angle.
Mutu then headed down for strike partner Daniel Niculae on 15 minutes who crashed a low shot wide from 30 yards.
France emerged more focused and Ribery created the first clear-cut opening when he cut a ball back for the lurking Benzema, who cushioned a shot into Lobont's arms from 18 yards.
Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka led the French line in the absence of Henry
On 65 minutes Benzema then showed great feet on the edge of the box to leave Gabriel Tamas and Cosmin Contra bamboozled - but he dragged his low 15-yard shot wide.
Without influential captain Patrick Vieira and main striker Thierry Henry, they created little against the hard-working but unambitious Romanians.
Franck Ribery cut a ball back for Karim Benzema to cushion an 18-yard shot into Bogdan Lobont's arms on 62 minutes.
Romania barely threated but they were content with a point from the drab tie.
The match under the fading Zurich sun marked the first time France has entered a major tournament in over a decade without the now-retired Zinedine Zidane.
And, with influential skipper Vieira missing with a thigh injury and sciatic nerve victim Henry on the bench, it was a chance for a new generation to shine.
But, with high hopes stacked on their shoulders, young stars such as Benzema, Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan all failed to set a dreary first half alight.
Romania's Cosmin Contra on the 0-0 draw.
Though the Euro 2000 winners shaded possession, they lacked urgency in a match they were under pressure to win given world champions Italy and European heavyweights Netherlands make up the rest of Group C.
A flurry of scrappy half chances fell just before the 10-minute mark, first to Romania's Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu after a poor Eric Abidal clearance before Nicolas Anelka fired well wide from a tight angle.
Mutu then headed down for strike partner Daniel Niculae on 15 minutes who crashed a low shot wide from 30 yards.
France emerged more focused and Ribery created the first clear-cut opening when he cut a ball back for the lurking Benzema, who cushioned a shot into Lobont's arms from 18 yards.
Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka led the French line in the absence of Henry
On 65 minutes Benzema then showed great feet on the edge of the box to leave Gabriel Tamas and Cosmin Contra bamboozled - but he dragged his low 15-yard shot wide.