France and Uruguay play out dramatic draw

France are clinging on to the World Cup by their fingertips after their 10 men were held to a goalless draw by Uruguay in the Asiad Stadium.

France played most of the game a man short after Thierry Henry was sent off on 25 minutes for a late lunge on Marcelo Romero.

Roger Lemerre's side must now beat Denmark in the final Group A game by two clear goals to qualify for the second phase.

They came closest to scoring when Emmanuel Petit hit the post from a free-kick.

Fabien Barthez denied Uruguay when he stuck out his right boot to save Alvaro Recoba's right-foot shot following a good break by the South Americans.

France's task became all the more difficult when Henry was dismissed and he will now be suspended for the Denmark game.

The 10 men regrouped and lone striker David Trezeguet headed over from Sylvain Wiltord's right-wing cross.

Luck continued to shun the French and Petit whipped a free-kick over the Uruguayan wall only to see the ball come off the face of the post.

France, though, were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men in first-half stoppage time when Petit elbowed Sebastian Abreu and Petit escaped with a caution.

Fabian Carini denied France repeatedly after the interval and he plucked a lob from Trezeguet from the air before he pushed a long-range effort from Candela over the bar.

Not to be outdone, Barthez made a double save from Recoba before the Inter Milan striker rounded him only to shoot into the side netting from the narrow angle.

The chances continued to come and go and Abreu should have done better when he headed wide from six yards out.

Carini continued to thwart France and he did well to parry a drive from Trezeguet and then a minute later Barthez saved a shot from Recoba.

France thought their moment had finally come midway through the second half when Paolo Montero brought down his Juventus team-mate Trezeguet on the edge of the area.

Petit stepped over the ball and Johan Micoud curled the free-kick over the Uruguay wall only for that man Carini to punch it away.

Uruguay almost stole victory in the dying seconds and Barthez made a fine stop from substitute Federico Magallanes.