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French draw keeps hopes alive

Henry (second right) receives his marching orders

PUSAN, South Korea (CNN) -- French hopes of retaining their World Cup title are still alive -- but only just -- after their 10-man team battled to a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.

They played most of the game a man down after striker Thierry Henry was sent off with a straight red card for stamping on Uruguayan Marcelo Romero in a midfield tackle.

But they enjoyed long periods of pressure, especially in the second half, with Uruguay rarely threatening in attack.

Thursday's draw, which followed a 1-1 draw between Denmark and Senegal, means all four teams in the group can progress to the knockout stages with one match each to play.

But Senegal and Denmark, with four points each, are in pole position.

France began both halves brighter. But where the first period was marked by niggling fouls and three Uruguay yellow cards on top of Thierry's red, the second was a much more open affair with football flowing from end to end.

Alvaro Recoba looked certain to break the deadlock when he sped past French keeper Fabien Barthez, who had rushed from the penalty are in a bid to clear the ball. But as he ran into the box his angled shot harmlessly hit the side netting.

Sylvain Wiltord attempts to get past Dario Rodriguez and Gonzalo Sorondo

David Trezeguet broke through the Uruguay defence but with 40 yards to run there was time for Uruguay to race back and get in a last gasp sliding tackle.

French pressure was beginning to grow. A goalmouth scramble saw the ball hacked away and a free kick on the edge of the area from Micoud was palmed to safety by keeper Fabian Carini.

In injury time both sides could have scored but a fine Uruguayan tackle on the penalty spot and a Barthez block kept the game goalless.

France began the match sweeping forward in numbers to test the Uruguayan defence and even had the ball in the net but Trezeguet's effort was ruled offside.

Uruguay enjoyed their first serious attack on 20 minutes -- a breakaway move that set the South Americans three-on-three against the French defence but Recoba's shot was comfortably beaten away by Barthez.

As the half wore on a series of fouls produced stop-start football with only a few chances. Thierry's stamp was spotted by referee Felipe Ramos Rizo. Yellow cards were also issued to Sebastian Abreu, Pablo Garcia and Marcelo Romero.

France reorganised to cope with the sending off and refused to sit back. An Emmanuel Petit curling free kick was heading goalwards until Carini, diving at full stretch, touched the ball round the post.

France Fabien Barthez, Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel Desailly, Lillian Thuram, Frank Leboeuf; Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Slyvan Wiltord, Johan Micoud, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet.

Uruguay Fabian Carini, Alejandro Lembo, Paolo Montero, Dario Rodriguez, Gonzalo Sorondo, Pablo Garcia, Gustavo Varela, Marcelo Romero, Dario Silva, Sebastian Abreu, Alvaro Recoba.

Referee: Felipe Ramos Rizo (Mexico)