Soccer: Germany pleased but France 'tired'

Thierry Henry said it felt more like a World Cup match than a friendly international.

France and Germany treated each other with the utmost respect and caution at Stade de France on Sunday but Jurgen Klinsmann will be the coach taking the greater encouragement following the 0-0 draw in the last international of the year for both countries.

Coming less than 72 hours after France had flown 8000km following their 3-2 victory over Costa Rica in Martinique, it was perhaps no surprise that Raymond Domenech's men produced a performance which matched his description of the heavy and uneven Stade de France pitch: "The surface wasn't worthy of a match at this level."

France created just two half-chances, scorned by Henry and David Trezeguet in either half, and Germany always looked the more threatening until Nicolas Anelka and Djibril Cisse, replacing the ineffective first-choice strikers, brought some urgency to the home team's play in the closing stages.

Although France are now unbeaten in 17 matches under Domenech, his reign has been dogged - bizarrely, considering the array of attacking talent at his disposal - by a shortage of goals.

Germany, in contrast, have had no trouble finding the net this year. While Klinsmann's team impressed again going forward here, they could take even greater pleasure from the way they carried out his game plan.

The Germans, who had conceded at least two goals in seven successive internationals until they beat China last month, set out to isolate the French forwards by closing down on their defence and midfield and the tactic paid a handsome dividend.

France sorely missed the injured Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira in midfield and all too often their back four were forced to hoof long balls downfield, which were no problem for German defenders Robert Huth and Per Mertesacker, Germany's impressive central defenders.

Klinsmann said the match was good experience at shutting down the French. Trezeguet, for his part, said France was tired after the Costa Rica match.

- INDEPENDENT