Giancarlo Abete blamed Europe’s big clubs, awash with money from lucrative broadcast contracts, for failing to develop young players good enough for international football.

he match at the sellout 64,100 Green Point Stadium had few of the thrills and drama of the 1-1 opener between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City, but the result left all four teams tied with one point.

Tuesday’s resolution, sponsored by President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative party, had been widely expected to win approval in the National Assembly with rival Socialists backing it despite concerns about the wording of an eventual law. Lawmakers in the 577-seat house who opposed the resolution abstained.

France even missed playing an uncomfortable opening game against the host nation. While millions of South African fans will be focusing on their team’s game against Mexico, France’s first game against Uruguay in Cape Town later in the day will be out of the spotlight.

Forget Euro horror stories and the Massachusetts election—restore the public option and give the people the help they need.