Deadlock: Nicolas Anelka holds back Uruguay's Diego GodinIt wouldn't be a World Cup without the French beginning the tournament in apparent disarray and last night Raymond Domenech and his mutinous players once again appeared a bemused and befuddled bunch as they stumbled to a drab draw.
Not since they beat South Africa 3-0 on their way to lifting the World Cup in their home country in 1998 have France won their opening game. Now this disappointing, tedious affair can be added to a 2002 loss to Senegal and a draw with Switzerland four years ago.
Sadly, the magnificent Cape Town stadium deserved far better than this. France brought their internal divisions into the game but Uruguay, reduced to 10 men late in the game, proved unable to take full advantage.
After a week in which France coach Domenech was once again at odds with his players over selection, he left out Chelsea winger Florent Malouda as well as Thierry Henry.
The latter was never expected to play, while the former was sidelined after a difference of opinion with his coach on the training ground.
Both players were on as substitutes by the end, but by then it was too late to rescue the French from their own mediocrity.
Even after Uruguay substitute Nicolas Lodeiro was sent off for two bookings, France couldn't prosper and things could have been much worse had Diego Forlan not volleyed a presentable chance wide with 17 minutes left.
Off you go: Nicolas Lodeiro is shown the red card by referee Yuichi NishimuraHenry appealed in vain for a penalty late on when the ball struck Uruguay defender Mauricio Victorino in the midriff.
Understandably, there was little sympathy for Henry, given that it was his handball against the Republic of Ireland last November that allowed his country to qualify in the first place.
Without Malouda, France relied heavily on the talented Ribery to give them width down the left. As it was, he provided Domenech's team with their best chance of the first half in the seventh minute.
Ribery enjoyed a fortunate ricochet to beat right back Mauricio Victorino and crossed low to the near post from where Sidney Govou should have scored. Instead, the first-time effort was guided across goal and wide of the post.
That apart, France created only half chances in the opening 45 minutes and Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera made only the one save, reacting smartly to turn Yoann Gourcuff 's clever free-kick round the frame of the goal.
Heads up: Egidio Arevalo Rios nods the ball away from Yoann GourcuffFor their part, the Uruguayans were ambitious when they were in possession.
Perhaps looking to take hold of the group with a victory after the earlier draw between South Africa and Mexico, they sought to feed their front two of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez whenever possible.
Forlan, formerly of Manchester United, of course, left William Gallas on the seat of his pants with one quick turn and also brought a decent save from Hugo Lloris with a curling, right-foot shot. The first half also brought bookings for Ribery and Patrice Evra, both yellow cards being shown for shirt pulling. A sign of things to come from the officials in this tournament, perhaps.
What was really telling here last night, though, was that we only had to wait seven minutes for our first Mexican wave. That is always the sign of a poor game.
Domenech cut an agitated figure as the game wore on, appropriate for a man who seems to spend every second of his working life under considerable pressure.
Gourcuff and Jeremy Toulalan both had shots blocked before the hour and France dominated as the game wore on, even if there was little of the fluency for which they were once so well known.
Hot shot: William Gallas defends an effort from Diego Forlansource: dailymail
