Doubts hang over France after unimpressive opener

Whether France prove the doubters wrong with a fine World Cup run or make another embarrassing exit remained anybody's guess after their opening 0-0 draw with Uruguay on Friday.

Neither disastrous nor totally reassuring, the former world champions' performance on the perfect pitch of the graceful Green Point stadium failed to answer the many question marks hanging over their campaign.

It was the third time in a row that the unpredictable French have started a major tournament with a goalless draw.

At the 2006 World Cup, they did so against Switzerland and went on to reach the final, which they lost to Italy on penalties.

It happened again at Euro 2008, this time against Romania, and they left with their heads down after the first round, with just one point and one goal to their credit.

Against a brave but limited Uruguay side on Friday, France failed to translate superior possession into clear chances and could have been punished by their opponents' danger man, Diego Forlan, who kept trying and threatened a couple of times.

At least France looked dominant in midfield, which has not happened that often over the past few years, and finished strongly, even if they could not break down a Uruguay side reduced to 10 men for the last 10 minutes.

WIDE OPEN

The 1-1 draw between hosts South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City leaves Group A wide open, with both those teams capable of giving France a hard time.

Coach Raymond Domenech, under a cloud of fan and media doubt since the Euro 2008 flop, did not get everything wrong, however.

By shelving the 4-2-3-1 system they had used for years for a bolder 4-3-3 formation, France have signalled their intention to play a more exciting game.

Uneasy with that 4-3-3 at first, they conceded a goal in each of their three warm-up games, something they managed to avoid against Uruguay, even if they did look shaky at the back and their fans shivered every time Forlan got the ball.

Domenech's new-look France is not just about different tactics, with former talisman and captain Thierry Henry, who came on late in the second half on Friday, now a substitute.

Nicolas Anelka, who has replaced Henry up front in the starting line-up, was not really convincing but Domenech will probably feel he deserves another chance.

FINE-TUNING REQUIRED

Some fine-tuning is required in just about every area of their game and France need to recapture that killer instinct that often gave them the extra goal they needed.

Unlike at Euro 2008, when a rift between the youngsters and seasoned warriors in the squad marred their dismal run, they seem cheerful off the pitch and united on it.

They have some way to go to indicate they can make an impact at this World Cup but have not lost all hope of rolling back the years with a repeat of their 2006 revival.

The great players they had then, it might be argued, have now retired, notably their midfield maestro, Zinedine Zidane.

Some players, however, could grow on the pitches of South Africa, notably Abou Diaby, a surprise starter on Friday and arguably the best man on the pitch with Forlan.

The same lanky frame, same ability to capture the ball and move it up the field with calm authority, Diaby reminded the French fans of a once-great player who did not make the squad.

A new Zidane is nowhere to be seen but, in Diaby, France may have found the new Patrick Vieira.