The opening tie of Group C 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. 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.
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 Ribery, 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.
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. The striker had suffered �bruising� in last week�s friendly against Colombia.
Romania 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.?
Dominic Fifield© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008
Comments
SHARE