France held by Belgium

Belgium managed just a single worthwhile attempt on goal, with defender Daniel van Buyten heading wide in the 17th minute.

The host was better, though not markedly, and shared the blame for a second period that yielded nothing of note in either penalty box.

The match started in subdued fashion, with neither side mustering any serious attacks in the opening exchanges.

Belgium's Thomas Vermaelen gave France a sight of goal when he fouled Yann M'Vila 25 yards out, but after getting back up to take the set-piece he failed to beat the wall.

Van Buyten had Belgium's first - and it later transpired, only - chance seven minutes later but his header failed to find the target despite being just six yards from goal.

Yohan Cabaye attempted to find the net from a full 35 yards soon after only to see his attempt punched clear by Thibaut Courtois.

Van Buyten gave France another free-kick with a hand ball on the half-hour mark but the host again wasted the delivery, Karim Benzema putting the ball high over the crossbar.

Half-time approached without Belgium troubling Les Bleus at the back for a second time.

M'Vila, meanwhile, had his evening ended early when he collided with Eden Hazard and was taken from the pitch in a neck brace, with Maxime Gonalons the man to replace him.

Neither side used its bench at the interval, but Gonalons was quick to try and assert himself as he shot wide from long-range two minutes after the restart.

The substitutions started in earnest after the hour-mark passed, with France sending on Olivier Giroud, Jeremy Menez and Florent Malouda and Belgium calling on Nacer Chadli and Kevin Mirallas.

None of the new players could make much of an impression on a match that had begun at a low tempo and slowed to a crawl.

Neither side managed anything close to a respectable attempt on goal in the second period, with possession drifting between the sides without incident.

The rival strikers saw little or nothing of the ball, while successive corners from Hazard in the 80th minute constituted a busy attacking period for the Belgian attack.

The final whistle came as a relief all round in a match which is unlikely to linger in the memory.