Impotent France held by Romania

France stumbled in their opening Euro 2008 game here on Monday as Romania held Raymond Domenech's favourites to a goalless draw, a result that will put a totally new complexion on Group C.

Romania, beaten by France in their opening match of Euro 96, were able to stifle a largely muted Gallic attack to emerge with a priceless point in their fight to survive the group of death that includes world champions Italy and Euro 1988 winners Holland.

As for Domenech he can perhaps take consolation from the 2006 World Cup when France were slowly into gear, only exploding in the knockout stages to make it all the way to the final.

“Every match is now effectively a knockout match,” said Domenech, whose selections for the squad like for the 2006 World Cup raised eyebrows as he left out Juventus star striker David Trezeguet of the 23 entirely.

“We were missing something today (Monday).

“Now it leaves us with two matches to taking six points from the remaining two matches.

“I am neither pessimistic or optimistic. We were playing against a team that didn't want to play, just wanted a draw.

“We controlled the match without making many chances.”

France went into the game boosted by the news that talismanic captain Patrick Vieira had recovered enough from the injury that had threatened to send him home to remain with the squad.

Thierry Henry, who missed three pre-match training sessions after picking up a knock in the friendly 1-0 win on his 100th appearance for Les Bleus against Colombia, started on the bench leaving Lyon's Karim Benzema to partner Nicolas Anelka in attack with Jeremy Toulalan taking Vieira's place in midfield.

France's iron defence marshalled by Lilian Thuram, wearing Vieira's captain's armband, rarely let Romania have much of a look in in the first half yet Les Bleus' domination went unrewarded.

Franck Ribery showed occasional flashes of the silky skills that have made him such a star in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich last season but up front hitmen Benzema and Anelka failed to seriously trouble Bogdan Lobont in goal.

In the 10th minute Benzema sent a long range effort high while Anelka's best effort was a sharply angled shot from the right which thudded in to the side netting.

On 32 minutes Eric Abidal floated in a cross from a Ribery-taken corner only for Razvan Rat, a splendid name for the villain of the next Batman movie, to knock the ball over the bar.

Romania's neatest piece of play of the first period was arguably a 1-2 between Adrian Mutu and Daniel Niculae whose shot went wide.

The striker, who is based in France with Auxerre, was booked in the 25th minute for handball in the box, and two of his teammates, Cosmin Contra and Dorin Goian also went into Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez' little black book.

Five minutes after the interval a charging Mutu was sent crashing to the ground by Willy Sagnol. The Bayern Munich defender was booked for his troubles while Mutu – who amazingly played given that on Friday he was landed with a 12million euro fine to pay former club Chelsea and lost his favoured grandmother on Saturday – embedded the freekick into the Gallic wall.

The game badly needed a goal or failing that a decent shot on target and it at least got the latter on 56 minutes when Ribery scampered down the right to centre for Benzema whose low shot went straight into the hands of Lobont.

Romania coach Victor Piturca made his first substitution on the hour mark, replacing Razvan Cocis with Paul Codrea.

Domenech, desperately trying to inject some bite into Les Bleus' muted bark, then followed by switching Anelka for Saint Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis who made a name for himself with both goals in the 2-0 friendly win over Ecuador last month.

Benzema was then hauled off to make way for Marseille man Samir Nasri but the changes failed to produce the required effect as the final whistle came with the Romanian fans cheering and their French counterparts booing.

Ribery for his part said that all was far from lost.

“The result leaves us with a lot more pressure on our shoulders, but we always knew it was a very difficult group,” said Ribery.

“But we don't feel we have been beaten, we still have two matches to play.”