The World Cup began in lacklustre fashion for Chelsea's French pair of Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda on Friday evening, with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.
Anelka started the game but was withdrawn before the end after cutting a frustrated figure in attack, while Malouda was surprisingly left on the bench until the final quarter-hour.
Malouda's exclusion was the shock news before the game, after an apparent fall-out with controversial coach Raymond Domenech, and so Arsenal's Abou Diaby started in a midfield three instead, Anelka the lone forward with Franck Ribery and Sidney Govou either side.
It was Govou that should have opened the scoring after just six minutes when Ribery squared across the Uruguay six-yard box, but the Lyon forward tapped wide when the goal looked unmissable.
Uruguay forward, ex-Manchester United man Diego Forlan, forced a smart save from French stopper Hugo Lloris at the other end before Yoann Gourcuff, who played against Chelsea during 2008/09 for Bordeaux, went close with a curling free-kick.
Four minutes before half-time the Chelsea forward got across his man inside the area, but glanced his header just wide after Govou had crossed from the right.
On the hour, a cross from the other flank by Ribery picked Anelka out, but it was slightly too high and he could only divert it over.
That was to be Anelka's last major input, and he was replaced with 19 minutes remaining by Thierry Henry.
Moments later Forlan could have won it for the Uruguayans but snatched at his shot, and then it was time for Malouda to enter the action, 16 minutes from time, surprising given his excellent form this season and the uninspiring display from those around him.
The wide man did manage to flash a shot across goal, but could make no major difference on a disappointing night for the French.
Before the end, Uruguay sub Nicolas Lodeiro was dismissed for a second yellow after a heavy challenge on Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna, meaning he will be suspended for Uruguay's next match.
Anelka started the game but was withdrawn before the end after cutting a frustrated figure in attack, while Malouda was surprisingly left on the bench until the final quarter-hour.
Malouda's exclusion was the shock news before the game, after an apparent fall-out with controversial coach Raymond Domenech, and so Arsenal's Abou Diaby started in a midfield three instead, Anelka the lone forward with Franck Ribery and Sidney Govou either side.
It was Govou that should have opened the scoring after just six minutes when Ribery squared across the Uruguay six-yard box, but the Lyon forward tapped wide when the goal looked unmissable.
Uruguay forward, ex-Manchester United man Diego Forlan, forced a smart save from French stopper Hugo Lloris at the other end before Yoann Gourcuff, who played against Chelsea during 2008/09 for Bordeaux, went close with a curling free-kick.
Four minutes before half-time the Chelsea forward got across his man inside the area, but glanced his header just wide after Govou had crossed from the right.
On the hour, a cross from the other flank by Ribery picked Anelka out, but it was slightly too high and he could only divert it over.
That was to be Anelka's last major input, and he was replaced with 19 minutes remaining by Thierry Henry.
Moments later Forlan could have won it for the Uruguayans but snatched at his shot, and then it was time for Malouda to enter the action, 16 minutes from time, surprising given his excellent form this season and the uninspiring display from those around him.
The wide man did manage to flash a shot across goal, but could make no major difference on a disappointing night for the French.
Before the end, Uruguay sub Nicolas Lodeiro was dismissed for a second yellow after a heavy challenge on Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna, meaning he will be suspended for Uruguay's next match.
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