France begin Deschamps era with Uruguay draw
Reuters - Wednesday 15 August 2012, 22:11
France drew 0-0 with Uruguay in their
first international under new coach Didier Deschamps on
Wednesday.
Deschamps, captain of the team that won the 1998 World Cup,
took over from Laurent Blanc after France lost to eventual
champions Spain in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.
None of the four France players - Samir Nasri, Jeremy Menez,
Hatem Ben Arfa and Yann M'Vila - accused of misbehaviour at Euro
2012 were included in Deschamps' squad for the friendly in Le
Havre.
But Karim Benzema and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery,
who will have to face a judge to answer claims that they paid
for sex with a minor, played and Benzema had an encouraging game
before being substituted after an hour.
France began fluently with Benzema playing with Olivier
Giroud up front.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, making his debut in central defence, had
a fine effort following a corner saved by Fernando Muslera, and
the Uruguay goalkeeper was soon in action again to turn away a
Benzema header.
Uruguay, without Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, struggled
to get out of their half for long periods with France enjoying
the lion's share of possession, but the defence of the Copa
America champions kept its shape.
France were more incisive after half-time and Muslera kept
out a shot from Mathieu Valbuena before Benzema crashed a volley
against Uruguay's left-hand post with the keeper beaten.
A rare Uruguay attack sparked by Diego Forlan forced Hugo
Lloris, France's captain, to save from Sebastian Abreu with his
feet before Muslera denied Bafetimbi Gomis with a flying save
after the French substitute shot from outside the area.