If this is the best France have got to offer then England, Brazil, Germany and the like have nothing to fear from the former World Champions who can expect a serious lambasting from an unforgiving French media.
Switzerland fully deserved their draw, and possbly more, because France looked anything but a team capable of repeating previous triumphs and BBC pundit Mick McCarthy got it just about right when he said: "This has been a very poor performance from such a quality group of players." And that was putting it mildly.
Zidane, Henry, Vieira and the like just didn't gel and the best chances of the game fell to the Swiss who looked hungrier, more disciplined and more capable than their French opponents who have some serious re-thinking today after a disastrous opening game.
The only positive to come from the game for France was that they didn't lose and that, surely, things can only get better. But, in the short term, there's bound to be a huge post mortem after a match which the Swiss could have won right at the death.
French coach Raymond Domenech caused a surprise as he bowed to public and media pressure by giving a first international start to fans' favourite Franck Ribery but, after a bright start, the 23-year-old midfielder showed a lack of composure and confidence at crucial moments.
Thierry Henry, predictably, was given the task of leading the line with captain Zinedine Zidane and former Arsenal colleague Sylvain Wiltford providing the back-up. The first chance of the game fell to Henry but he was unable to climb high enough to keep down his header from Wiltord's cross.
Ricardo Cabanas snatched at a shot from a promising position after 12 minutes, as the Swiss began to settle against their illustrious opponents. A chance then went begging at the othe end when Patrick Vieira hammered an inviting volley into the ground and over the bar before Barthez saved from Barnetta.
Switzerland, who haven't kept a clean sheet in 20-odd World Cup games, were unlucky not to take the lead midway through the first half when a free kick deceived Barthez and came back off the post, but Alex Frei wasted the rebound.
The Swiss were almost made to pay when Ribery fired over after half an hour, and the newcomer then passed up an opportunity to shoot and his cut back to Henry made it difficult for the Arsenal striker to take advantage of a wonderful situation.
Henry had other chances to make his mark, but whilst he rarely fails to deliver in an Arsenal shirt, it's not always the same when he's wearing the colours of Les Bleus. Former club colleague Patrick Vieira was also unable to have an influence on the game and two attempted shots on goal are best forgotten.
France continued to huff and puff but there were few examples of the quality we have come to expect ftom them, and they just couldn't find a way through the Swiss defence which was marshalled superbly by Henry's Arsenal teammate Senderos.
The more clear cut opportunities fell to the Swiss and after Barthez had made two telling saves, sub Gigax squandered a great chance to be a national hero. A couple of substitutions late on did lift the French, albeit briefly, but the sight of a frustrated Zidane arguing with teammates William Gallas and Liliam Thuram told the whole story.
