Echos of the World Cup as France open with drab draw

AFP - 9 June 2008 20:41

French midfielder Franck Ribery(L) is challenged by Romanian defender Razvan Rat during their Euro 2008 Championships Group C football match in Zurich. The two teams tied 0-0.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) - Raymond Domenech drew parallels with France's drab opening stalemate with Switzerland at the 2006 World Cup after a similarly uninspiring result in Monday's Euro 2008 opener against Romania.

In Germany Domenech's men gradually clicked into gear to make it out of their group and all the way to the final in Berlin.

He will be hoping his team read from the same hymn book here but there is one glaring difference.

At the World Cup, aside from the Swiss France's first round rivals were South Korea and Togo.

Without wishing to belittle them those nations are a long way off the might of France's Group C opposition - with Holland and world champions Italy coming up on Friday in Berne and next Tuesday back in Zurich respectively.

All the pre-competition talk of this group of death was of France and Italy squeezing out the Dutch and Romanians but after Monday's first shots were fired it's all looking a great deal different now.

The Dutch top the group after their sizzling 3-0 win over the Azzurri in Berne, with France and Romania tied for second and the Italians propping up the table.

Domenech was bereft of France's most prolific scorer Thierry Henry against Romania and how he must hope the Barcelona striker is fit to face the Dutch after Karim Benzema and Nicolas Anelka fired blanks in Zurich.

"Thierry's doing better. He had a small problem and wasn't quite ready for today. He'll be back on track tomorrow," Les Bleus' manager reported before evoking that World Cup game against Euro co-hosts Switzerland.

"It's the same time, the same weather, a similar stadium, and what's more just like that day in Germany our coach today stopped at every red light on the way to the stadium, and like today Claude Makelele was the man of the match."

"We were all a bit nervous, that's what happens with a first match."

He added: "I wish we had won this game 10-0 with many goal chances but that didn't happen.

"But remember Romania defended well and we didn't manage to lose them, there was always a risk that they'd do something on the break.

"We've known this group was going to be tough for six months, today we saw the confirmation.

"I'll be disappointed if we don't qualify. I'm already preparing for the next game against the Dutch."

Henry agreed, saying: "It's a little like the World Cup. The Romanians defended superbly well. We have to raise our game against the Dutch."

Both Domenech and his Romanian counterpart Victor Piturca suggested climactic conditions had hardly helped the players.

"This has been the first very hot day after a week of cold weather - it made things difficult and didn't help the teams to find solutions."

Piturca is an impassive character but he must have been chuffed to bits with coming away from the game with a priceless point in front of vociferous support from thousands of Romanian supporters.

"It was very important to play well in front of all those fans - we felt their hearts supporting us and I'm really glad we managed to satisfy them.

"Personally we would have wanted the three points. France may no longer be at the same level as before - or perhaps they've just played in too many major finals and were being generous!

"My aim was to win three points but a draw is a fair result. Both teams are still in a good position to qualify."

Romania striker Adrian Mutu, who played despite a death in the family, reckoned to get a point from France was something of an achievement.

"They didn't underestimate us and did everything to try and win. It's going to be hard for all the group."

The Fiorentina star added: "I didn't play as I'm used to playing. My grandmother died a few days ago and it was difficult for me but we played with courage and the support of our fans."

He paid tribute to Piturca.

"His tactics worked perfectly this evening."

While France meet the Dutch in Berne Romania return to Zurich for their date with world champions Italy on Friday.