Uruguay youngster Nicolas Lodeiro became the first player to be sent off at the 2010 World Cup as his side played out a 0-0 draw against a lacklustre France in Group A.
Winger Sidney Govou had by far the clearest chance to score for France in only the seventh minute, side-footing a Franck Ribery cross wide with the goal gaping. Uruguay even played the last nine minutes with ten men after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro's dismissal.
France, who are in South Africa thanks to William Gallas' highly controversial goal in their qualification play-off against the Republic of Ireland, left former captain Thierry Henry on the bench with Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra having inherited the armband.
Uruguay, meanwhile, boasted two of European club football's most potent goalscorers up front at Green Point Stadium in Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan and Ajax forward Luis Suarez.
France should have opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Abou Diaby played Ribery in down the left and when the winger's teasing left-footed cross flashed across the face of goal, Govou failed to strike it cleanly and the ball went well wide.
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