Defensive Uruguay and unambitious France produced a disappointing Group A encounter in the Cape Town stadium.

Uruguay were a man down for the final ten minutes after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro became the tournament’s first dismissal.

But the game was drifting towards stalemate, and France lacked penetration, even with a man advantage.

Sidney Govou should have put Les Bleus ahead on seven minutes, only to side-foot Franck Ribery’s cross wide from six yards.

La Celeste’s best player, Diego Forlan, stung the hands of French keeper Hugo Lloris with a right-footed drive in the 16^th minute.

And two minutes later, Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera athletically palmed away Yoann Gourcuff’s free-kick.

A Forlan snapshot wide on 73 minutes was the best chance of a dismal second half.

And seven minutes later Lodeiro saw yellow for a studs-up challenge on Bacary Sagna, having been booked earlier for throwing the ball away at a free-kick.