VS.
The second match of the opening day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup featured the other teams from Group A and two former champions as Uruguay battled France 0-0 in a tough, hard-fought match.
(MEXSPORT/ETZEL ESPINOSA Photo via Newscom)

The French controlled the possession throughout the first half, Les Blues started dangerously in the seventh minute when Franck Ribery centered a pass from the left to Lyon forward Sidney Govou which Govou deflected wide past Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera. In the 18th minute, Yoann Gourcuff almost surprised Muslera with a curling free kick from 20 meters outside the left side of the box but Muslera did well to knock the ball out.

Uruguay's best chance in the first half came in the 16th minute when star striker Diego Forlan got the ball on the left side of the box, cut inside his marker and blasted a tricky shot that was well handled by French keeper Hugo Lloris.

The second half started much the same as the first half with the difference being a better organized and tighter Uruguayan defense. France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan blasted a low, grass-cutting shot from outside the box in the 55th minute that was easily saved by Muslera.

Uruguay did manage to put some pressure on the French defense with Forlan making the noise. In the 63rd minute, the Atletico Madrid striker bent a freekick that was just missed by second-half sub Nicolas Lodeiro and controlled by Lloris. In the 72nd minute, Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Pereira threw a ball into the box to Luis Suarez who fought off his marker and found Forlan open in the box, but Forlan's one-time blast went wide.

Nine minutes later, Lodeiro got his second yellow card and was expelled after a bad cleats-up tackle that caught French defender Bakary Sagna on the ankle. Lodeiro played only 18 minutes and left Uruguay with 10 men for the last nine minutes of the match, but France could not capitalize.

In the 89th minute with France attacking there was a scramble in the box in which second-half French sub Thierry Henry shot toward goal. The ball appeared to have deflected off the arm of Uruguay defender Mauricio Victorino but it was unintentional and Japanese official Yuichi Nishimura silenced his whistle and play continued to its scoreless end.

Group A play continues for Uruguay on the 16th when they face South Africa in Tshwane/Pretoria and France looks to get three points from Mexico on the 17th in Polokwane.

Click here to see FIFA's official match report