Les Bleus failed to win their opening World Cup game for the third successive tournament last night as they could only draw 1-1 with Uruguay at Cape Town'sGreen Point Stadium.

While the fixture could be seen as the toughest they will face in Group A, with matches against Mexico and hosts South Africa to come, the performance did little to appease the doubters who predicted Raymond Domenech's side would fail to perform in the finals.

Evra has been handed the captain's armband for the tournament after Thierry Henry's move to the substitutes' bench. That decision by Domenech sparked talk of disunity in the camp, with the more experienced Gallas apparently unhappy at being overlooked and consequently deciding to boycott the media in protest.

Despite failing to get off to a winning start, though, Manchester United left-back Evra remains defiant.

Asked about rumours of discontent, the skipper told Press Association Sport: "That's bull. That's not true.

"The mood is good. William is a professional and he wants to play at the World Cup.

"Everything is okay. I guarantee the atmosphere is very good. It's not a problem."

The French meet Mexico in their second match hopeful that the Central Americans will prove less conservative in their approach than Oscar Tabarez'sUruguay.

"Against Mexico we need to win now," said Evra. "And then we'll see after that against South Africa."

At this stage, the 29-year-old is just happy to be at the tournament and, more importantly, wearing the armband.

"To captain the team at the World Cup is an honour, I'm very proud," he said.

"I said thanks to everyone and my team-mates, because they're very happy I am the captain and this has given me more power for leading the team.

"It's just a privilege. I said to me team-mates to just go and enjoy it. Lots of players dream of being there so you have to enjoy your football, and I think that's what we did against Uruguay."

While France undoubtedly had the chance of the match - Sidney Govou somehow missed from point-blank range from Franck Ribery's delightful cross - Uruguay carried a threat throughout in striker Diego Forlan.

The Atletico Madrid forward was his own harshest critic, however.

"It was the same for both teams. There weren't many clear chances," he said.

"We had some chances better than them and I didn't take them, so the game was 0-0."

Strike partner Luis Suarez added: "It was difficult, because France are France. They have many players that are good.

"We are very proud of ourselves and 0-0 is a great result because South Africa and Mexico had the same result (a draw).

"We had chances in the second half but didn't take them."

Les Bleus appealed for a late penalty for handball but saw their claims ignored, while even the 81st-minute dismissal of Uruguay substitute Nicolas Lodeiro did not provide the impetus for a France breakthrough.