Boos for Les Bleus as Domenech admits to fear factor

Group C
Romania 0
France 0

* Dominic Fifield in Zurich
* The Guardian,
* Tuesday June 10, 2008

This may just prove to be the group of slow, lingering death. Its opening tie was drifting to a grim goalless stalemate when the big screens at either end of the arena flashed up an image of the Uefa president, Michel Platini, flanked by his compatriot Bernard Laporte, sitting numbed in the stands. While the former France rugby union coach appeared intrigued enough, Platini merely stared blankly out as the tedium took hold. Only the sense of anti-climax was gripping.

Romania emerged encouraged to have held the World Cup finalists, while for France this was a troubling draw to endure. Les Bleus have gained a reputation as slow starters in major finals and could not defeat either Switzerland or South Korea in their opening group games in Germany two years ago. Their participation in that tournament stretched to the final in Berlin, yet they may find this group trickier to negotiate.

Raymond Domenech applauded heartily at the final whistle but he could hardly have failed to notice the jeers and boos emanating from the end draped in blue. "I'd have liked us to have won 10-0 and created loads of chances, but that was not possible," admitted the coach. "They're a solid team. They played Holland twice in qualifying and the Dutch did not score against them. I'll only be disappointed if we don't qualify from the group. But two years ago we started with two draws and we still got through.

"Perhaps we played with a bit of fear, which is understandable. Defeat at this stage makes things difficult, but a draw keeps things open for everyone. There's certainly a lot more we can do in terms of our offensive play. That's clear."

The French may have been solid throughout and nullified what little threat Romania posed, but the lack of creativity in their ranks was disturbing. Only Franck Ribéry, all swerving menace with the ball glued to his instep, suggested he might eke out reward, the Bayern Munich midfielder combining with Karim Benzema to prompt the match's only shot on target. Bogdan Lobont, whose nerves suggested he was vulnerable, gathered easily as he flopped to the floor. Benzema, shoulders hunched on the edge of the area, knew his chance had gone.

Domenech was handicapped by injury to key personnel. While Patrick Vieira has been retained in the squad at Mathieu Flamini's expense as he recovers from a torn thigh muscle, there was no Thierry Henry to turn to last night. The striker had suffered "bruising" in last week's friendly against Colombia - the knock was to his foot, though it might have been to his ego given that he was booed on the occasion of his 100th cap at the Stade de France - and was not ready to participate last night.

He will rejoin his team-mates in full training today, but the "old Henry", the player in his prime in his Arsenal days, was missed. The 30-year-old would have relished a tight contest such as this. France have fallen in love with Benzema as the veteran's star has slipped, though the 20-year-old is a work in progress and he struggled to make an impact. Nicolas Anelka, effectively selected as a result of Henry's injury, went anonymous on his first appearance in a major finals since Euro 2000.

That was the last time Romania played on a stage this grand and they will take much from their rugged solidity here. Theirs was a more direct game and their three advanced forwards were content to sink in behind the ball whenever France threatened to generate a head of steam. Adrian Mutu and Daniel Niculae shot on sight in the early stages when there was hope that this game would explode into life. As it drifted, only French frustration offered Victor Piturca's side a potential route to unlikely victory.

There were corners forced near the end to leave Domenech twitching in the dug-out, but Cristian Chivu's delivery did not match his reputation. "Personally, I would have wanted to secure three points because I don't think France are at the same level they used to be," said Piturca. "Maybe the French are bored with playing at the highest level and let us Romanians win a point. My players are exhausted." Everyone else was merely drowsy.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer