France stay top with draw in Italy

MILAN, Italy -- France battled to a goalless draw against Italy in Milan to maintain their lead in Group B of qualifying for Euro 2008.

It was the second meeting between the two giants of Europe since Italy beat the French on penalties to win the World Cup last year.

France lead the group with 19 points from their eight matches, one point ahead of Scotland, who beat Lithuania 3-1 in Glasgow earlier on Saturday, and two points ahead of Italy.

In a tight match of few chances, Italy's Filippo Inzaghi lobbed on to the bar on the half hour while Nicolas Anelka of France could not convert when he only had keeper Gianluigi Buffon to beat in the second half.

A little of the gloss was taken of France's point as they will host Scotland at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday without star striker Thierry Henry following his yellow card after a foul on defender Fabio Cannavaro.

Italy will be without tough Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso in Ukraine on Wednesday following his yellow card in the first half.

Marco Materazzi, famous for receiving a headbutt into the chest from Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final, was watching from the stands because of a thigh injury.

France coach Raymond Domenech was also in the stands following his one-match ban by European football's ruling body UEFA for bringing the game into disrepute.

Domenech caused a surprise by naming Lassana Diarra at right back in place of the injured Willy Sagnol, rather than the expected Lyon defender Francois Clerc.

Striker Anelka, playing alongside Henry, looked impressive early on as France dominated possession but it was Alessandro Del Piero of Italy who had the first chance of the match.

Mauro Camoranesi got the better of Diarra to set up Del Piero but his effort was well caught by France keeper Mickael Landreau.

Moments later, Inzaghi found himself on the left side of the penalty area and his lob-cum-shot beat Landreau and landed on the crossbar.

France's Florent Malouda and Franck Ribery had chances for France before the break but it was not till after the interval that the home side had their best opportunity to go ahead.

In the 52nd minute Henry set up former Arsenal team-mate Anelka who darted into the penalty area, but was not unable to get the better of Buffon. E-mail to a friend