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Clueless France held to goalless stalemate by Belgium
Posted Wednesday, November 16, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

PARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - France extended their unbeaten run to 17 games but once again failed to impress in a 0-0 draw against Belgium in a dull friendly at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

Les Bleus, who beat the United States 1-0 last Friday with an equally mediocre performance, were booed off the pitch by a frustrated crowd.

Laurent Blanc’s side barely created a clear-cut chance as they looked short on ideas on a frosty Parisian night.

Belgium had the best opportunity 15 minutes from time when the unmarked Kevin Mirallas was denied from close range by a couple of lightning quick Hugo Lloris saves.

France, who qualified for the Euro 2012 finals last month, next face Germany in Bremen next February.

France dominated but Belgium had the first clear chance when Daniel van Buyten’s downward header shaved Hugo Lloris’s post in the 19th minute.

Yohan Cabaye had France’s first shot on target after 20 minutes but his 25-metre attempt was easily blocked by Thibaut Courtois.

Newcastle United midfielder Cabaye, with his neat defending and inspired passing, was by far the best French player on the pitch in a team lacking creativity.

Holding midfielder Yann Mvila left the pitch on a stretcher with a neck brace after he fell heavily following a challenge by Lille’s Eden Hazard and was replaced by Olympique Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons shortly before halftime.

Gonalons attempted to score with a 22-metre effort early in the second half but the ball sailed just over the bar.

Cabaye tried his luck from outside the box again, only for his attempt to go just wide as the Paris crowd’s boos grew louder.

Blanc added fresh blood in his attacking line by replacing Franck Ribery with Florent Malouda, Karim Benzema with Jeremy Menez and Loic Remy with Olivier Giroud, but to very little effect.

Fifteen minutes from time, substitute Mirallas found himself unmarked in the box but Lloris blocked his shot from close range to salvage the draw.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia