France failed to rise to the occasion again on Friday when a lackluster performance in a tepid 0-0 draw with Uruguay handed the initiative to their lesser-ranked World Cup Group A rivals.

After South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in the tournament curtain-raiser in Johannesburg, France, runners up four years ago, had the chance to stamp their authority on the group by beating one of the outsiders.

Instead, after an encouraging start, they lost their way completely, barely tested goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and failed even to take advantage of an 81st-minute red card for Uruguay substitute Nicolas Lodeiro.

While it was not quite a repeat of France’s 2002 horror show when, as holders, they lost 1-0 to Senegal en route to a first-round exit, the draw and the performance will still have been greeted with delight by their next opponents, Mexico.

South Africa, whose confidence is soaring after a promising second-half display at Soccer City when they were a 11 minutes from a famous win, will also now view their group finale against the French with new optimism.