PARIS, June 6: French soccer fans stamped their feet and cried in disbelief Thursday as all but the most optimistic said it would take a miracle to rescue the country’s World Cup hopes after a goalless draw against Uruguay.

“After a match like that we can only be pessimistic,” said Nicolas Rieux, who joined thousands of fans to watch Thursday’s match on a giant screen in front of Paris City Hall.

“It’s a real shame because if Zidane had been there we would definitely have won.”

“There is still a small glimmer of hope. If Zidane is back for the next match, he will change everything,” said Aude Vanheeswyck, whose face was painted in the national colours of red, white and blue.

Zidane, who was absent from both the Uruguay game and France’s 1-0 defeat by Senegal last week because of a torn left thigh muscle, is said to be progressing. France meet Denmark next Tuesday.

Even stock market investors were pessimistic about France’s chances now, sending shares in French World Cup broadcaster TF1 down 3.3 percent after the game as they fretted that the channel would take a loss as advertising revenues fall away.

With anxious faces and knitted brows, businessmen, tourists and shoppers stood rooted to the spot in central Paris and grew ever more tense with each passing minute and missed opportunity.

“I beg you, I beg you,” fans shouted in anguish at the screen as France made attempt after attempt on the Uruguay goal in the final minutes of the game.

The bad-tempered match was reflected in the mood of the fans, who gasped at missed chance and booed and hissed the referee’s decision to send off French striker Thierry Henry for a two-footed tackle after 25 minutes.

Some even left at half time, unable to bear the agony of a possible French defeat and humiliating elimination.

Jean-Michel Bocet, a computer programmer, said: “I am going back to the office. I can’t stand it any more, I am too nervous. It’s no longer a pleasure to watch, it’s a torment.”

When the final whistle blew, French fans were disappointed but not as shocked as they had been by the Senegal defeat.

But amid all the pessimism, one small voice of optimism for France came from an unlikely source — Uruguay supporter Cesar Fernandez, who was draped in his nation’s flag, lost in a sea of blue French shirts.

“I’m not satisfied with our result. We could have done better, but I think both France and Uruguay can still qualify.”—Reuters