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1998 World champion France started the 2006 championship unsuccessfully - in their first Group G match, "Les Bleus" met another European team, the Swiss national team, and played a rather unimpressive game which ended in a goalless draw.
Gottlieb Daimler Stadium, Stuttgart, 52000 spectators. Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia) France 0 - 0 Switzerland
France: Barthez, Abidal, Gallas, Thuram, Sagnol, Zidane, Makelele, Vieira, Ribery (69' Saha), Wiltord (84' Dhorasoo), Henry.
Switzerland: Zuberbuhler, Magnin, Senderos, Muller (74' Djourou), Philipp Degen, Cabanas, Vogel, Wicky (81' Margairaz), Barnetta, Frei, Streller (57' Gygax).
From the very first minutes of the match, the French started attacking their opponents, with the first more dangerous attack happening when David Trezeguet passed the ball to his teammate Thierry Henry, but the Frenchman's shot towards the goal was inaccurate.
Just a few minutes later, the opportunity to score a goal came to the team's goalkeeper Patrick Vieira, but his shot flew over the Swiss goal. Another French striker, Sylvain Wiltord, had the chance to score, however, the player failed to properly control a perfect pass from T. Henry inside the penalty area.
In the 24th minute, the Swiss team was very close to scoring - after Tranquilo Barnetta's penalty shot hit the crossbar, but Alexandr Frei missed the chance on the rebound. Half an hour into the game, debutant Franck Ribery found himself in the French team's attack, but his shot flew over the crossbar.
Towards the end of the first half, T. Henry had another chance to score, but after F. Ribery's pass, his shot hit Patrick Muller's hand inside the penalty area. Nevertheless, the match referee did not award a penalty kick.
After a cautious first half, in the second half, Swiss goalkeeper Tranquillo Barnetta had a good opportunity, but the approaching player towards the penalty area was stopped by French defender Eric Abidal.
In the middle of the second half, the Swiss had a good chance to break through - after Ludovico Magnin's pass, Daniel Gygax's header was blocked by French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. French coach Raymond Domenech, strengthening the attack, sent Louis Saha onto the field and made a few other substitutions, however, despite all of France's efforts to snatch a victory, the match ended in a goalless draw 0-0.
