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France flatter to deceive

	Zinedine Zidane ... missed France's first two matches

France made World Cup history in 2002 - but for all the wrong reasons - as surprise packages Denmark and Senegal sailed into the second round.

The underdogs became the first qualifiers after the Danes overcame France 2-0 and Senegal survived a second-half fightback from Uruguay to clinch their place with a 3-3 draw.

France's ignominious exit from the competition made them the first reigning world champions to fail to score a single goal at the World Cup.

As well as that 2-0 scoreline, their other Group A matches ended in 0-0 draw with Uruguay and in a major upset, went down to a shock 1-0 defeat against debutants Senegal.

It was a far cry from France's illuminating display in Paris four years ago when, in the first round, they scored nine goals and conceded only one in the first round on their way to the Cup.

They are also the first defending champions to return home after the first round since Brazil in England in 1966.

Injuries, especially to playmaker Zinedine Zidane, and suspensions cost the French dearly but coach Roger Lemerre was not seeking excuses.

He candidly admitted his side deserved to go. "We just weren't up to it," he said. "There's nothing to say - we don't deserve to qualify for the last 16.

Denmark now play England in the second round, after a defensive display crowned by a goal in each half from Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl-Tomasson.

Zidane, playing his first match but with heavy strapping on his injured left thigh, could not lift hs side but the real blame is shouldered by the strikeforce, who include two of the most prolific forwards in Europe in Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, but who failed to deliver a single goal in three games.

Senegal's unlikely Odyssey continued as they raced into a 3-0 half-time lead over the Uruguayans thanks to a dubious penalty award, a blatantly offside goal and one moment of pure magic from Pape Bouba Diop, only for the robust South Americans to roar back to level the scores.

But it was not enough to dampen the celebrations in the Senegalese camp after that famous victory over France, already talked about as one of the greatest World Cup upsets ever, and a 1-1 draw with Denmark.

The Uruguayans were left to contemplate what might have been had they not succumbed so easily in their opening fixture with Denmark.

Jubilant Senegalese coach Bruno Metsu said: "To make it into the group of the 16 best teams in the world is extraordinary."

And he paid tribute to his energetic side of players, who mostly ply their trade with modest and unfashionable French league clubs. "The players showed they are capable of doing great things," he said.

Bouba Diop, scorer of that momentuous goal against France, said: "It's a great feeling for us and a great achievement."

The Senegalese must now play Sweden. It will be a dream come true for many of the players, and it has all happened in a hurry as 48-year-old Metsu only took over just 20 months ago, but under his tutelage Senegal have risen from being African also-rans to one of the world's best teams.

"This is a wonderful thing for African football," said Metsu, who trawled France to build his side and saw them qualify at the expense of the more experienced Algeria, Egypt and Morocco.

There were contrasting emotions in the four capitals, with long faces and general gloom prevailing in Paris and Montevideo, while in Copenhagen, the normally-reserved Danes allowed themselves a modest celebration.

Many decked out in Viking horns and daubed in red and white, spilled on to the streets, cheering, sounding car horns and waving Danish flags.

In Dakar, meanwhile, the joy was less confined as the Senegalese capital erupted in joy, with jubilant supporters partying on the streets with music and a cacophony of car horns in the midst of a sea of green, yellow and red national flags.