SHANGHAI - Stubborn robots that refused to dance were an ironic reminder of the scandal that has enveloped the French soccer team in South Africa as France celebrated its national pavilion day at the Expo on Monday with typical Gallic panache and the occasional hiccup.

France orchestrated one of the Expo's biggest and boldest national pavilion days by introducing cutting-edge humanoid robots. It also included Music Day, its annual music festival, in the event.

But things got off to an awkward start when the bots wouldn't budge.