STUTTGART, Germany -- France couldn't find a single goal half a world away as it crashed out of the last World Cup in Korea.

And it hasn't found one next door in Germany.

The team with one of the world's deadliest strikers and an arsenal of other talent last scored a goal on soccer's biggest stage in its championship game victory eight years ago.

Four games without a goal to show is nothing to brag about.

Before the 2002 debacle in Korea, France had been shut out six times in 41 World Cup games. Make that 10 times in 45 games following Tuesday's 0-0 game against Switzerland.

Following the game, star striker Thierry Henry blamed bad refereeing for the loss of one scoring chance.

Henry, who led Arsenal with 33 goals during the season, said Russian referee Valentin Ivanov should have awarded a penalty when his shot hit the left hand of charging Switzerland defender Patrick Mueller in the first half.

"The referee didn't see it and it came at a moment in the match when we were really on top," Henry said. "I know that the rule is hand-to-ball, but if the ball hits the hand and it stops it going in, that should be a penalty."

Switzerland goalie Pascal Zuberbuehler had to make only one difficult save.

"I regret that we did not score when we had the chance, but we are always at the mercy of these things," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "The refereeing was not always understandable, even though it is top-level refereeing."

Not that Switzerland was a polished scoring machine.

Its best chance came in the 23rd minute when Tranquillo Barnetta sent a free kick into the area. Teammates Philippe Senderos and Alexander Frei both had clear opportunities to send the ball past France goalie Fabien Barthez, but both failed to get a touch and the ball banged off the post.

Frei had another opportunity when he leaped to meet a free kick from Ludovic Magnin. Instead of heading the ball, the striker tried to punch it home from barely 3 yards and was shown a yellow card for cheating.

Still, Switzerland was satisfied with the result in a group that includes Togo and South Korea, which took the top spot with a 2-1 victory Tuesday.

"If you look at the team of our opponent, France, it's a squad with lots of fantastic players," said Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn. "And I can only say, once again, they didn't beat us."