World NewsFrance Held By Uruguay |
Steve Savidan's exhilarating debut performance for France was the main highlight as Uruguay claimed a draw in a soporific international friendly in Paris tonight.
Caen striker Savidan excelled as a second-half substitute, crashing two bicycle kicks wide and creating a handful of other chances as the South Americans were forced to hang on in the French capital.Prior to Savidan's half-time introduction, both countries appeared to be going through the motions with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.
Les Bleus' under-fire defence can at least console themselves with their first clean sheet since June but - Savidan apart - there was little else for the packed Stade de France crowd to celebrate.
The French national anthem was impeccably observed - unlike last month when it was whistled prior to the friendly against Tunisia - but home coach Raymond Domenech's name was jeered before kick-off by an unforgiving Parisian public.
It has been a difficult last few months for the 56-year-old, who survived the boot despite Les Bleus' pitiful Euro 2008 endeavours and their poor start to the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
And he will not have been impressed by some weak defending early on that allowed Diego Lugano and Diego Forlan to head just over from 10 yards.
An error by Roma centre-back Philippe Mexes, restored to France's starting line-up but again unconvincing, then allowed Cristian Rodriguez in but the former Paris St Germain schemer fired wide.
France created a few chances of their own in a low-key first 45 minutes but nothing really of note.
Jeremy Toulalan shot straight at Fabian Carini, Nicolas Anelka twice missed the target with headers and returning captain Patrick Vieira skied a left-footed effort over the bar after cleverly working a bit of space for himself.
But overall it was poor fare and by the 20th minute, the crowd had resorted to Mexican waves to keep themselves amused.
Alou Diarra and Savidan replaced Vieira and Anelka for the second half.
It capped a remarkable rise by Savidan, making his national-team debut at the age of 30 and watched by the entire Caen squad who travelled down to the capital to cheer on their team-mate.
Four years ago, Savidan was playing semi-professional football for non-league Angouleme, supplementing his modest income by working as a binman.
Here he was wearing the blue shirt of France, and he tested Carini with an angled shot in the 54th minute.
Moments later, Uruguay'sWalter Gargano fired over when unmarked 12 yards out and then France suffered a blow when Franck Ribery was helped off the pitch with what appeared an injury to his right knee.
Savidan sent a spectacular overhead kick just wide and then spun his defender to curl over from 30 yards, the striker doing more than anyone to reignite the atmosphere.
Savidan was enjoying himself, another bicycle kick flying across the face of goal, past the lurking Thierry Henry, before he sent a deft chip just over in the 78th minute.
Sebastien Abreu headed wide at the other end but Uruguay were hanging on by then.
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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