Euro 2000 champions France were held to a goalless draw by a disciplined Romania side in the Group C opener at the Euro 2008 in Zurich on Monday. It was also this competition’s first game that did not produce a goal.
Grouped along with Italy and the Netherlands in the ‘Group Of Death’, neither France nor Romania looked to go all out, apparently not wanting to expose their backline and get punished, for the fear of losing the opening game.
Les Bleus had most of the possession, but found it difficult to break down their rivals, who were content to sit back and try to hit on counters.
France missed striker Thierry Henry and inspirational captain Patrick Vieira due to injury problems and as such, Karim Benzema and Jeremy Toulalan were included in the starting line-up by Raymond Domenech.
Nicolas Anelka and Benzema saw their shots early in the half, miss the target, but the first-named had an easier chance in the 34th minute. The Chelsea ace however, skied his header after a goalmouth melee following a cross by Franck Ribery.
Former Blues forward, Adrian Mutu and Daniel Niculae showed some purpose when they had a couple of half-chances for Victor Piturca’s side, but otherwise the slow-paced first period had nothing to write home about.
France’s intent was made clear early into the second half by Chelsea winger Florent Malouda as he ran at the rival defence from the left, and hoodwinking a couple of Romanians, unleashed a powerful drive that, however, missed the top corner by a narrow margin.
In a first glimpse of a flowing move, hard-working Ribery ran down the right flank and crossed to Benzema, whose carpet drive brought out a save from Bogdan Lobont in the 58th minute.
Another chance went begging for the Les Bleus in the 65th minute as Benzema, having got the better of the defenders in the 18-yard box, failed to hit the target.
With nothing going France’s way, Domenech sent on young forward Bafetimbi Gomis of St Etienne in the 72nd minute taking off Anelka.
Getting a bit more adventurous as the time ticked by, full-back Eric Abidal tried a long-range shot, but missed the goal by some way.
Romania, meanwhile, got the bodies behind the ball and defended in numbers, to counter the French attacking threats that also included substitute Samir Nasri, who is linked with Arsenal.
However, the highly rated Gomis, who is linked with Newcastle, and Nasri failed to give glimpses of their talent as they failed to assert themselves as the game ended in a stalemate.
Teams:
Romania: 1 Bogdan Lobont, 5 Cristian Chivu (Capt), 2 Cosmin Contra, 3 Razvan Dinca Rat, 4 Gabriel Sebastian Tamas, 15 Dorin Goian, 6 Mirel Matei Radoi (Nicolae Marius Dica 90), 16 Banel Nicolita, 11 Razvan Cocis (Paul Codrea 64), 10 Adrian Mutu (Marius Niculae 79), 21 Daniel George Niculae.
Substitutes not used: 12 Marius Popa, 23 Eduard Stancioiu, 7 Florentin Petre, 9 Ciprian Marica, 14 Sorin Ghionea, 17 Cosmin Moti, 22 Stefan Andrei Radu, 13 Cristian Sapunaru, 19 Adrian Cristea.
Coach: Victor Piturca.
France: 23 Gregory Coupet, 5 William Gallas, 3 Eric Abidal, 19 Willy Sagnol, 15 Lilian Thuram (Capt), 7 Florent Malouda, 6 Claude Makelele, 20 Jeremy Toulalan, 22 Franck Ribery, 8 Nicolas Anelka (Bafetimbi Gomis 72), Karim Benzema (Samir Nasri 78).
Substitutes not used: 16 Sebastien Frey, 1 Steve Mandanda, 12 Thierry Henry, 4 Patrick Vieira, 2 Jean Alain Boumsong, 10 Sidney Govou, 17 Sebastien Squillaci, 13 Patrice Evra, 14 Francois Clerc, 21 Lassana Diarra.
Coach: Raymond Domenech
Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez.
Grouped along with Italy and the Netherlands in the ‘Group Of Death’, neither France nor Romania looked to go all out, apparently not wanting to expose their backline and get punished, for the fear of losing the opening game.
Les Bleus had most of the possession, but found it difficult to break down their rivals, who were content to sit back and try to hit on counters.
France missed striker Thierry Henry and inspirational captain Patrick Vieira due to injury problems and as such, Karim Benzema and Jeremy Toulalan were included in the starting line-up by Raymond Domenech.
Nicolas Anelka and Benzema saw their shots early in the half, miss the target, but the first-named had an easier chance in the 34th minute. The Chelsea ace however, skied his header after a goalmouth melee following a cross by Franck Ribery.
Former Blues forward, Adrian Mutu and Daniel Niculae showed some purpose when they had a couple of half-chances for Victor Piturca’s side, but otherwise the slow-paced first period had nothing to write home about.
France’s intent was made clear early into the second half by Chelsea winger Florent Malouda as he ran at the rival defence from the left, and hoodwinking a couple of Romanians, unleashed a powerful drive that, however, missed the top corner by a narrow margin.
In a first glimpse of a flowing move, hard-working Ribery ran down the right flank and crossed to Benzema, whose carpet drive brought out a save from Bogdan Lobont in the 58th minute.
Another chance went begging for the Les Bleus in the 65th minute as Benzema, having got the better of the defenders in the 18-yard box, failed to hit the target.
With nothing going France’s way, Domenech sent on young forward Bafetimbi Gomis of St Etienne in the 72nd minute taking off Anelka.
Getting a bit more adventurous as the time ticked by, full-back Eric Abidal tried a long-range shot, but missed the goal by some way.
Romania, meanwhile, got the bodies behind the ball and defended in numbers, to counter the French attacking threats that also included substitute Samir Nasri, who is linked with Arsenal.
However, the highly rated Gomis, who is linked with Newcastle, and Nasri failed to give glimpses of their talent as they failed to assert themselves as the game ended in a stalemate.
Teams:
Romania: 1 Bogdan Lobont, 5 Cristian Chivu (Capt), 2 Cosmin Contra, 3 Razvan Dinca Rat, 4 Gabriel Sebastian Tamas, 15 Dorin Goian, 6 Mirel Matei Radoi (Nicolae Marius Dica 90), 16 Banel Nicolita, 11 Razvan Cocis (Paul Codrea 64), 10 Adrian Mutu (Marius Niculae 79), 21 Daniel George Niculae.
Substitutes not used: 12 Marius Popa, 23 Eduard Stancioiu, 7 Florentin Petre, 9 Ciprian Marica, 14 Sorin Ghionea, 17 Cosmin Moti, 22 Stefan Andrei Radu, 13 Cristian Sapunaru, 19 Adrian Cristea.
Coach: Victor Piturca.
France: 23 Gregory Coupet, 5 William Gallas, 3 Eric Abidal, 19 Willy Sagnol, 15 Lilian Thuram (Capt), 7 Florent Malouda, 6 Claude Makelele, 20 Jeremy Toulalan, 22 Franck Ribery, 8 Nicolas Anelka (Bafetimbi Gomis 72), Karim Benzema (Samir Nasri 78).
Substitutes not used: 16 Sebastien Frey, 1 Steve Mandanda, 12 Thierry Henry, 4 Patrick Vieira, 2 Jean Alain Boumsong, 10 Sidney Govou, 17 Sebastien Squillaci, 13 Patrice Evra, 14 Francois Clerc, 21 Lassana Diarra.
Coach: Raymond Domenech
Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez.
