As France and Denmark played out a mutually 0-0 at the Luzhniki Stadium, 80,000 fans jeered the two teams. By the end of the day, it did not matter for the two sides – they both qualified for the round of 16 from Group C while Peru, who played heroically to beat Australia 2-0, finished third.
Before the rather mundane game in Moscow on Tuesday, 36 games had failed to result in a goalless stalemate, but neither France nor Denmark ever looked like scoring in a tedious affair.
France were already assured qualification but wanted to go through in top spot and will face Argentina, who beat Nigeria in Group D, in the last 16.
Denmark could have only been denied qualification had they lost to France and had Australia beaten Peru in the match being simultaneously played in Sochi.
But with the Peruvians leading 2-0 before the hour in that game, the Moscow clash settled down to little more than a canter.
While not in the same category as the infamous 1982 “Nichtangriffspakt von Gijon” – the non-aggression pact of Gijon – when West Germany and Austria both settled for a 1-0 German win which put them both through, neither side at the Luzhniki looked to be going all out for victory.
Apart from the jeers reserved for France and Denmark at the stadium, there was furore on social media. Fans and experts blasted the two teams for their drab football in a World Cup which has otherwise produced some classics.
Croatia, Belgium and England have shown the willingness to play some dazzling football but the French were particularly bland on a day many felt was an opportunity for them to stamp their authority.
A fan branded the match a shameless and lame fiasco while others longed for the final whistle.
