Ivory Coast and Portugal play out goalless draw in Group G opener.

Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal
FIFA World Cup 2010
Group G
3pm, Tuesday 15 June
Port Elizabeth Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay

Ivory Coast and Portugal failed to spark the World Cup into life as the teams in the tournament's 'Group of Death' settled for a goalless draw.

The match between two teams eager to compete with Brazil in Group G was billed as the game to get the World Cup back on track, but both Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo were left frustrated as the match failed to live up to expectations.

Thousands flocked to Port Elizabeth in hope as Ronaldo took his 2010 World Cup bow for Portugal. But the dangerous Ivory Coast were also in town, with Drogba fit for a place on the bench after FIFA allowed him to wear a cast on his broken arm.

It only took ten minutes for Ronaldo to excite the watching millions around the world - the Real Madrid star showed everyone how to deal with the troublesome Jabulani ball as he smashed an unstoppable shot past Boubacar Copa, only to see his effort come back off the post.

It set the tone for an intriguing opening half hour in Port Elizabeth and Cheik Tiote was next to test the ball from distance, although his shot flew over.

In a group that includes five-time winners Brazil and the unpredictable North Korea, both teams looked cagey and more interested in preserving an unbeaten start to the campaign than risking it all in their opening game.

Salomon Kalou tested Eduardo just after the break as Sven Goran-Eriksson resisted the temptation to put Drogba on - but he couldn't wait much longer after the hour mark.

The African icon entered the fray to rapturous applause but even the Chelsea forward could not breathe life into the match.

Drogba thought his moment had arrived in the 90th minute but he screwed his short harmlessly wide as the World Cup, once again, failed to provoke much excitement.