Romania 0-0 France

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.

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 midfielder Claude Makelele then showed a hint of quality using the outside of his right boot to weave a clever pass through to Florent Malouda, but left winger showed no conviction as Romania keeper Bogdan Lobont hacked clear.

Aside from one flash when Lyon forward Benzema and Bayern Munich midfielder Ribery linked up, the game lacked urgency.

Romania did press forward when they could but often displayed spoiling tactics - picking up three cynical yellow cards.

Anelka - badly out of form for club and country - headed over from a bouncing Ribery corner on 32 minutes but the eastern Europeans finished the first period on the attack.

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.

And with Romania largely unthreatened, France coach Raymond Domenech brought on promising St Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis for the morose Anelka on 73 minutes, and then withdrew the frustrated Benzema for Marseille's Samir Nasri.

Romania's talisman Mutu, who in the past 19 games in which he scored has always been on the winning side, was bizarrely dragged off with just over 10 minutes remaining for Inverness striker Marius Nikulae.

But the raft of substitutions had little effect.

Romania defender Cristian Chivu floated a poor free-kick miles behind the goal and Eric Abidal's long-range effort flew wide.

The unfancied Romanians did cause panic in added time when Banel Nicolita's cross was headed on by Daniel Nicolae.

But France survived, though questions will now be asked about their credentials to win the tournament after their lack of leadership and composure going forward.

Romania - and group C rivals Italy and Netherlands - will be hugely content with the result.



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Romania: Lobont, Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat, Cocis (Codrea 63), Radoi (Dica 90), Chivu, Nicolita, Daniel Niculae, Mutu (Marius Niculae 78).
Subs Not Used: Popa, Stancioiu, Petre, Marica, Sapunaru, Ghionea, Moti, Cristea, Radu.

Booked: Daniel Niculae, Contra, Goian.

France: Coupet, Sagnol, Thuram, Gallas, Abidal, Ribery, Toulalan, Makelele, Malouda, Anelka (Gomis 72), Benzema (Nasri 77).
Subs Not Used: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Vieira, Govou, Henry, Evra, Clerc, Squillaci, Diarra.

Booked: Sagnol.

Att: 30,000

Ref: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).



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Rater man of the match: Romania's Cristian Chivu 6.47 (on 90 minutes).


TRIVIA
Lilian Thuram played in his 15th European Championship match, therefore breaking the all time record of most appearances in the competition.

Nicolas Anelka has still not scored at the European Championship, making him one of the most unsuccessful strikers in the competition. With six goalless matches behind Anelka's name, Turkey's Arif Erdem is the only 'scoreless' striker at the European Championship with more matches played (seven).

The 0-0 result between Romania and France is the first draw of Euro 2008. It is also the 20th goalless draw in the history of the European Championship since the introduction of the group phase (1980). 15 of those 0-0's took place in the group phase, five in the knock-out stages.

Romania have still won only once at the European Championship in 11 matches; that victory being 3-2 against England at Euro 2000