Source: Team_Talk
Malouda: Sub role highly frustrating
Florent Malouda found it "frustrating" to be kept on the bench until the last 15 minutes of Friday night's World Cup stalemate with Uruguay.[LNB] France failed to win in their opening group match for the third successive World Cup as Raymond Domenech's mis-firing side failed to find a way past their Group A opponents at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.[LNB]Domenech deployed Malouda, Thierry Henry and Andre Pierre Gignac off the bench but the Chelsea forward admits it was disappointing to come on with just 15 minutes left.[LNB]"It's frustrating," he said. "But that's life. I hope I get a chance to show my quality.[LNB]"Hopefully we can take this (point) as an opportunity to move on. That will be important."[LNB]After Group A rivals South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in yesterday's early match, Domenech believes it is they who hold the advantage.[LNB]"We lacked that last bit, the last pass," Domenech admitted. "We had to guard against an unlucky counter (by the opposition).[LNB]"It is almost a beautiful 0-0, but the result is what it is. They were good, solid in defence."[LNB]Uruguay striker Diego Forlan had a few opportunities for the South Americans, whose emphasis was on keeping tight and looking to counter.[LNB]France, though, had chances to win the game, not least in the seventh minute when winger Sidney Govou somehow side-footed wide from close range after Franck Ribery's teasing left-wing cross.[LNB]The outgoing France boss added: "The other two have the advantage."[LNB]Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, whose side were not bullied in terms of possession by the 1998 champions, said: "The pitch was not particularly good. It created some problems for us controlling the ball.[LNB]"Bearing in mind what happened in the game and that France, a recent world champion who are very well organised and prepared, I think it is not a bad result, bearing all this in mind.[LNB]"The results in the second round of matches are now more important because both opening matches ended in draws."[LNB]Tabarez was forced to defend his team's discipline on the eve of the match and had to do the same last night after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro was sent off for two bookings.[LNB]"I think football is one thing, and behaviour on the pitch is a different kettle of fish," he said. "Theoretically, any card is avoidable but I was once a player and I know what it is like to be out there. So I understand my players' point of view."
