Yet the evening had started reasonably for France. Clad in their fashionable basketball-themed two-layered jerseys, the French looked lean and modern compared to their South American opponents, who seemed to be still stuck in a time trap with their early 90s-styled jerseys, complete with redundant laces in front. The French players even got to display their singing prowess to a cringing worldwide television audience when the filming crew decided to stick a microphone under the disaffected players’ noses when their national anthem was played. Being World champions certainly has its own perks.

After their shock opening day loss to Senegal, France needed a convincing win to get their campaign back on track. However, Lemerre chose to start with virtually the same line-up as that ill-fated game, with Johan Micoud stepping in for the injured Zidane and Djorkaeff. Which meant that France persisted with their much-criticized 4:2:3:1 formation, with Henry and Wiltord once again plying the flanks.

Uruguay had to absorb some early pressure as France sought to restore their pride in this game. However, the South Americans suffered a heavy blow when Frank Leboeuf limped in the 15th minute with a groin injury, to be substituted by AS Roma’s Vincent Candela. The cameras zoomed in on Leboeuf on the touch-line as he received treatment, but the action is abruptly cut when the French lifted his shorts too high up to reveal his nether regions. Some television magnate in Malaysia must be panicking over the indecent transmission.

The first genuine chance of the game came just two minutes later as Uruguay capitalized on the rejoicing French defenders’ complacency to almost steal a lead. Recoba’s shot took a deflection off Thuram to wrong-foot Barthez in the French goal, but the custodian blocked the shot instinctively with an outstretched foot to preserve the deadlock.

Any advantage gained by Leboeuf’s absence was soon nullified though, as Thierry Henry was sent off for a reckless two-footed lunge on Marcelo Romero with his studs showing in the 24th minute. The Arsenal star looked genuinely stunned by the decision and reluctantly left the field close to tears, but his team-mates rallied to continue to apply pressure on Uruguay with only ten men. After all, they did play a full game with Frank Leboeuf in the opener.

Thereafter the game degenerated to a stop-start rhythm with niggling fouls committed by both teams. This pundit also nodded off to sleep from time to time. Okay, so it’s only eight in the evening, but I’ve had a long had day at work, you know.

At least the second half was a vast improvement, with end-to-end action as both teams went for the jugular. Recoba was to Uruguay what Zidane represented for France, and the Inter Milan star thrived on the extra space created by Henry’s sending off to run the show. Fabien Barthez did his best to entertain fans of the Leboeuf comedy act, racing off his line in the 52nd minute to a 50-50 ball only to be rounded by Recoba, but the striker thrashed his shot into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.

To be fair, Barthez did save France’s blushes with some key saves with his feet, particularly one right at the death from substitute Federico Magallanes. But it’s all uphill for the World champions now, particularly as they will be without the suspended Henry and Petit for the final round-robin game against Denmark in a do-or-die mission in which they must register a two-goal win. Already, an era of invincibility appears to be drawing to an ignominious end.

France (4-2-3-1): Barthez; Thuram, Leboeuf (Candela, 16), Desailly, Lizarazu; Vieira, Petit; Wiltord (Duggary, 90), Micoud, Henry; Trezeguet (Cisse, 80).

Uruguay (4-3-1-2): Carini; Lembo, Montero, Rodriguez (Guigou, 72), Sorondo; García, Romero (Santos, 70); Abreu, Recoba, Silva (Magallanes, 59), Varela.