Romania 0 - 0 France
France 0-0 Romania: Bore draw in Zurich
| Scoring Summary | |
| Romania | France |
| Match Stats | ||
| Romania | France | |
| Shots (on Goal) | 6(2) | 11(3) |
| Fouls | 18 | 20 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 3 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 2 | 0 |
| Match Information |
|
Stadium:
Letzigrund Stadium
Attendance: 30,000 Match Time: 12:00 ET Official(s): Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Referee) Olegario Benquerenca (Fourth Official) Juan Carlos Yuste Jimenez (Linesman) Jesus Guadamuro (Linesman) |
Updated: June 9, 2008, 3:00 AM ET
ZURICH, June 9 (Reuters) - France did their chances of advancing from a tough Group C no favours when they drew 0-0 with Romania in a tight, tactical affair in their opening match at Euro 2008 on Monday.
The 2006 World Cup runners-up, who will also face the
Netherlands and world champions Italy in what is seen as the
toughest group of the tournament, looked nervous and failed to
breach a tight Romania defence.
France started the match at the Letzigrund stadium without
striker Thierry Henry, who received a knock in a warm-up game,
and midfielder and captain Patrick Vieira, sidelined by a thigh
injury.
The first 45 minutes featured few highlights with Romania
concentrating on defending and France dominating play but
creating few clear chances.
Nicolas Anelka, playing in place of Henry, shot just wide on
nine minutes and headed the ball over the bar after the
half-hour mark in two of France's few threatening moves.
France had another chance on 17 minutes, Romania keeper
Bogdan Lobont rushing out to deny Florent Malouda before Anelka
fired wide with an angled shot from the edge of the box.
Romania also showed signs of nerves, collecting three yellow
cards in the first half, but stood firm at the back to keep
alive their chances of making the quarter-finals.
The second half started in more promising fashion for France
with Malouda twisting his way past two defenders and racing into
the box to shoot just wide with an angled shot.
The pressure was back on Romania when striker Karim Benzema
fired straight at Lobont after collecting a Franck Ribery cross
shortly before the hour.
Romania kept their cool, though, demonstrating how they had
topped their qualifying group ahead of the Netherlands and
showing their determination to give their group rivals a hard
time.
France, looking for the right balance between ageing
stalwarts and exciting newcomers, need to step up a gear in
their next outings if they are to survive the group stage.
Monday, June 9, 2008
| Romania | 0 | |
| France | 0 | FT |
| Netherlands | 3 | |
| Italy | 0 | FT |
