Minute by Minute: Romania - France

Jonathan Roorda - 9 June 2008 17:08

France will aim to achieve a good result in their opening game

ZÜRICH (SW) - Day 3 of Euro 2008 kicked off with the Group C clash between Romania and France. SoccerWay kept you up to date on the most important events.

Final score: <b>0-0</b>

More match information: <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/match/european-championships/romania/france/529747/">Here</a>.

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FULL TIME - Romania will be the happier side as France are held to a scoreless draw. In fact it's the first draw at this tournament after the previous four matches ended with winners and losers.

Minute 90+3: We're in the last minute and Romania are going to make one last change. Radoi leaves the pitch for Nicolae Dica.

Minute 90+1: The referee has added three minutes. Just 180 seconds left for either team to make a difference.

Minute 85: It looks like France are starting to get more afraid to lose this match than inspire to win it, as Lobont hasn't had to intervene in a while.

Minute 81: Romania get a corner kick and Rat gets to shoot on goal but it's deflected by a teammate.

Minute 78: Skipper Chivu fails to get it on goal. Romania also make a change now as Marius Niculae replaces Mutu.

Minute 77: Domenech takes off Benzema for the talented Nasri, and Romania prepare to take a free kick at a dangerous spot.

Minute 75: A far shot from Eric Abidal curves away from Lobont's goal and ends up going well wide.

Minute 72: There he comes, and Nicolas Anelka makes way. Not too surprising, this move.

Minute 71: France are about to bring on striker Gomis.

Minute 70: The French try to break through the Romanian defense but the men in yellow are hard to get past. Just twenty minutes are left in regular time to break the deadlock.

Minute 64: Another attempt by Benzema in a crowded penalty area, but the ball goes well wide.

Minute 64: Romania perform the first substitution of the match. Cosis comes off for Codrea.

Minute 57: Benzema shoots on goal from outside the penalty area and Lobont does well to collect.

Minute 53: Rat sends in a left winged cross but the ball is just a bit too high for Niculita.

Minute 52: Mutu takes the following free kick but hits the wall.

Minute 51: A good attack from the Romanians forces Willy Sagnol to foul Adrian Mutu and the Frenchman concedes a yellow card.

Minute 49: Good chance for France as Florent Malouda finds a way into the penalty area and fires a shot just past the post-bar junction.

Minute 48: A Mutu free kick from the left wing curves towards the goal but sails just past the right post.

Minute 46: The second half has begun and no changes have been made.

HALF TIME - And so the first half goes by goalless. France were the dominant side but failed to create real chances. Romania did try to put some pressure on their opponents at some moments.

Minute 45+1: The Romanians put some serious pressure in the last minutes of this half, and France really need to stay focused.

Minute 44: Romania clears and the danger passes.

Minute 43: Goian is the third Romanian to be booked for a foul on Ribery. France have a free kick.

Minute 43: Good chance for Benzema who receives a short pass from Ribery but his following effort is saved by Lobont.

Minute 40: Cosmin Contra gets a yellow card for bad sportsmanship as the Romanian keeps a Frenchman from taking the ball for a free kick.

Minute 37: Anelka comes down the right wing and should try to find a team mate, but instead tries a shot from an impossible angle. The ball hits the side net.

Minute 33: A French corner kick ends with Nicolas Anelka trying a header but it lacks precision.

Minute 30: Malouda takes the free kick and hits the wall. Poor effort.

Minute 29: Rat fouls Benzema and France get a free kick at about 32 meters from the goal.

Minute 27: Romania striker Niculae gets the first yellow card for handling in the French penalty area.

Minute 26: Dangerous short cross from Florent Malouda but a defender heads it away.

Minute 22: Romania captain Chivu sends a high pass into the area but teammate Niculae wasn't expecting it. This had the potential to cause trouble.

Minute 17: Dangerous moment near the Romanian goal as Lobont needs to come out of his goal to get in the way of a French attack but doesn't control properly. The French don't take advantage though.

Minute 16: Niculae gives it a try and shoots from outside the penalty area. His low attempt goes well wide of the far post.

Minute 10: Benzema strikes from a distance but his effort goes just over and wide.

Minute 9: Adrian Mutu gets the ball on the edge of the French penalty area but doesn't manage a shot on goal.

Minute 6: If anything, the Romanians show how motivated they are today, having committed no less than six fouls in the first five minutes.

Minute 3: Not much going on in the first few minutes. The French enjoy most of the possession but haven't created a chance yet.

Kick-off: The first Group C match at Euro 2008 has begun!

Pre-match: While the anthems are played at the Letzigrund, both Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira have to watch from the bench as they're not in the starting line-up.

Pre-match: The stadium in the Swiss town of Zürich is slowly filling up. The temperature is comfortable at 22 degrees Celsius and it's not raining at the moment.