Uruguay line-up: Muslera, Lugano (c), Godin, Victorino, Suarez (Abreu, 74'), Forlan, A.Pereira, Perez (Eguren, 87'), M.Pereira, Arevalo, Gonzalez (Lodeiro, 63')
France line-up: Lloris, Sagna, Abidal, Gallas, Ribery, Gourcuff (Malouda, 75'), Govou (Gignac, 85'), Evra (c), Toulalan, Diaby, Anelka (Henry, 72')
A game which will be remembered for two things: the first red card of the tournament picked up by Lodeiro and the potential miss of the competition by Govou. French fireworks kicked off before the actual match did with news of a bust-up between Chelsea's Florent Malouda and coach Raymond Domenech which left Malouda starting on the bench. Another surprise was the omission of Henry from the starting line-up.
The first half again looked like two teams feeling each other out and trying to tease themselves in. passing wasn't particularly great from either player but the best cross came from Ribery who was quiet in the match apart from that point. The cross fizzed across the six yard box and Sidney Govou was on the end of it to tap it in from four yards, he put it wide.
The second half mirrored the first; poor passing all round with a few tasting shots which forced some effort from the keepers. Forlan and Gourcuff the main shot makers, Uruguay looked to press home an advantage when bringing on attacking midfielder Lodeiro but his night lasted 16 minutes where he managed to skillfully pick up two yellow cards form the Japanese referee who had a decent game.
France overall couldn't seem to make anything of the man advantage for the last ten minutes and remarkably it was Uruguay who looked like they were going to score. Anelka and Ribery both seemed too quiet to do anything in the game. Their best players were Gourcuff who looked capable of opening up Uruguay's defence and Toulalan who dominated centre midfield. Hugo Lloris also pulled a few decent saves but not as many as Muslera.
Uruguay's best player had to be Forlan who hit a few testing shots but generally just played the better balls when Uruguay had possession. Muslera pulled a few decent saves but again wasn't made to work as hard as maybe he should have been. The only way these two can play though now is hopefully better.
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