New-look France held by jinx team Israel

French midfielder Robert Pires (top) is tackled by Israeli midfielder Omri Afek (L) during the World Cup 2006 qualifying football match between France and Israel at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

New-look France lacked ideas as they were held to a 0-0 draw by jinx team Israel in their first World Cup qualifier for more than 10 years at the Stade de France.

France's last qualifier was in 1993 when they lost to Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes which denied them a place in the USA finals the following year.

Ironically in their previous qualifier, it had been Israel who had beaten them, also at the Parc des Princes, when a point would have earned France their ticket to the USA.

From the ashes of those setbacks came a generation of players which won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European championship but new coach Raymond Domenech, in only his second match in charge, is involved in rebuilding the French side once again.

Domenech promised better things from his side as times goes on.

"The more matches we play, the more we'll get stuck in," he said.

Arsenal's Patrick Vieira was playing his first game as captain in a match where Domenech was having to do without the retired Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane, Bixente Lizarazu and Lilian Thuram.

He fielded Louis Saha, who stepped in in place of the injured David Trezeguet, up front with Thierry Henry. Monaco defenders Gael Givet, Sebastien Squillaci and Patrice Evra, with just one cap each, all made it into the starting 11.

Israeli midfielder Omri Afek (R) vies with French midfielder Jerome Rothen (L) during the World Cup 2006 qualifying football match between France and Israel at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

Behind the defence, keeper Gregory Coupet was between the posts in place of Fabien Barthez whose foot injury will also force him out of Wednesday's qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Vieira had a great chance from a Jerome Rothen corner early on but his header was saved off the line by Ben Haim though keeper Nir Davidovitch had been well beaten.

Moments later William Gallas only had Davidovitch to beat but failed to find the target.

France were finding it hard to break through against a side which had packed its defence and looked content to soak up any pressure not unlike the tactics of Euro 2004 champions Greece.

Claude Makalele however, fed by Vieira, had a great chance as he ran into the box but his shot was pushed away to the left by Davidovitch and just before the half time whistle, a Saha header just went wide of the post.

France were desperately missing the creativity of Zidane in the middle of the park and no doubt Domenech brought on Barcelona midfielder Ludovic Giuly and Robert Pires during the second half to try and create some variety.

With little over 10 minutes left, Henry turned in the box and and shot left-footed, forcing Davidovitch to palm the ball away with his right hand, and Henry also saw a headed opportunity sail over.

Giuly's long-range effort, which soared above Israel's crossbar in the closing minutes, summed up France's frustration on a fruitless evening.