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Former World Cup winners France have drawn 0:0 with Switzerland Stuttgart.
Both sides came out with the intent of scoring an early goal, with chances on both sides, with the French just shading the advantage in possession.
Although Switzerland had a couple of chances, France were more dangerous in front of goal in the first-half, but nothing that worried Switzerland goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler.
The Swiss almost scored when Alexander Frei got the slightest of touches from a free-kick that ricocheted off the post, which saved Lilian Thuram’s blushes, who was playing both Frei and Senderos onside.
Franck Ribery did well to get a shot on target in the 31st minute, turning well in the area, but unleashing a shot straight at Zuberbuehler.
There was a penalty call from the French in the 38th minute for a handball, but it was waved away by the referee, with Ribery in a position to have scored, but he waited for the call from the referee and wasted his chance.
Neither side had any clear-cut chances in the first period and the game went into half-time 0-0.
The second-half started very slowly, with neither team seeming willing to commit themselves to an attack and it wasn’t until the boos started ringing around the stadium from the fans, who wanted to see some action, that both sides started to press.
Switzerland had a great chance to open the scoring in the 65th minute when a lofted cross from Swiss left-winger Ludovic Magnin to substitute Daniel Gygax, who’s close-range downward header was saved by Fabien Barthez’s left-leg.
Franck Ribery was substituted by Louis Saha in the 70th minute in an attempt by France head coach Raymond Domenech to strengthen the French attack.
Zidane played a lovely chipped ball to Sylvain Wiltord in the penalty area during one of France’s better breaks, but yet again the attack was broken down by the well-drilled defence.
The French captain’s free-kick’s were not of his normal quality and Henry often found himself stranded at the front, with no supply.
Wiltord was subbed for Vikash Dhorasoo in the last minutes of the game, and he immediately made his impact, with a crucial pass that almost found Henry and then a shot in the dying minutes that went just wide of the Swiss goal.
The game finished 0-0, with France needing to find something from their players if they want to progress to the next stage of the tournament.