Netherlands - 0 France - 0 France have long been untouchable, though the Dutch have reeled them in. Those away supporters who had travelled in hope of witnessing a record 15th consecutive victory departed deflated here last night, the meekest of stalemates stalling the sequence after 14 months of constant success.
Perhaps it was best that the Republic of Ireland's Group Four World Cup qualifying rivals were brought back down to earth at some stage. It was just a pity that there was precious little entertainment, a pair of searing Pierre van Hooijdonk free-kicks aside, for Holland to celebrate in checking the run.
Not that either Dick Advocaat or Jacques Santini will be overly concerned. This was largely a useful if tedious run-out for the back-up players who may not even feature at Euro 2004. For two nations expecting to set Portugal alight this summer, there is clearly strength in reserve. This match may have been insipid, but bigger priorities lie ahead.
The Dutch enjoy inviting all-comers to this arena, its imposing atmosphere as much as the home side's slick approach ever capable of reducing opponents to gibbering wrecks. Not that France ever suggested that they would succumb easily.
"They are the favourites to win Euro 2004," conceded the Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy beforehand. "Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira are men who make a difference." Yet two of that trio - as well as the creator-in-chief Zinedine Zidane - were absent here and Henry began on the bench, much to the relief of Arsene Wenger. Any elation at Old Trafford at the absence of van Nistelrooy will only surface today, once Manchester United assess the niggling knee injury which prevented him from training in the build-up.
United expect him fit and fresh in time for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final, although Holland laboured without him. For all that, there were plenty of pretty passing interchanges from both sides, but the lack of incision - even on a largely pedestrian occasion - will have troubled the dug-outs, particularly during a lacklustre first period.
It took France over half an hour to venture from their training routines, with Sidney Govou wriggling into space and firing a shot at goal which Edwin van der Sar tipped wonderfully over the bar.
That prompted a relatively frenzied spell of pressure from the European champions, Olivier Dacourt receiving Bixente Lizarazu's pass before sending the Bayern Munich defender scurrying away from Mario Melchiot. He dragged the shot wide.
Marcel Desailly might have converted Johan Micoud's corner, but his failure to react was as wasteful as Phillip Cocu's at the other end, the centre-half flicking Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick over the bar. The home side's brightest moments had been prompted by the Ajax prospect, though Roy Makaay looked too isolated without van Nistelrooy at his side.
That may have been down to Lilian Thuram's presence, excelling in the centre for only the second time for Les Bleus, though Van der Vaart - with Wesley Sneijder at his back - found a way to elude him. The 20-year-old anticipated Andy van der Meyde's centre and knocked a back-heel at goal before spinning and, from Fabien Barthez's save, somehow spearing the rebound wide.
By then, France resembled a second-string side playing behind a world-class striker in the ever elusive Thierry Henry, although even he sported the air of one vaguely indifferent.
HOLLAND (4-3-3): Van der Sar; Melchiot, Heitinga, Cocu, Zenden; Van Bommel (Sneijder, half-time), Van der Vaart (De Jong, 69), Davids; Van der Meyde (Bosvelt, 89), Makaay (Van Hooijdonk, 68), Overmars. Subs not used: De Jong, Reiziger, Waterreus.
FRANCE (4-1-3-2): Barthez; Sagnol, Thuram (Gallas, 68), Desailly, Lizarazu (Silvestre, 57); Makelele (Pedretti, 57); Giuly (Cheyrou, half-time), Dacourt, Micoud; Trezeguet (Luyindula, 68), Govou (Henry, half-time). Subs not used: Boumsong, Malbranque, Coupet.
Referee: W Stark (Germany).
Guardian Service
The Republic of Ireland's fellow World Cup Group Four contenders Switzerland were beaten by Greece in a friendly at Heraklion, Crete, last night.
Vassilis Tsartas's 57th-minute goal made amends for his earlier penalty miss, which was saved by the keeper Jorg Stiel, and was the only goal of the game.
In a lacklustre performance the Swiss failed to even get a shot on the Greek goal until the 68th minute, and never looking liked getting an equaliser thereafter.
