And on Tuesday les Bleus are counting on having enough breath left in their ageing frames to extinguish Spain's World Cup dream when they meet in a tantalising last 16 clash in Hanover.

Spain are already 1-0 up judged by the pre-match hype billowing out from the Iberian camp over the weekend but France aim to have the last word where it matters, on the pitch.

Spanish coach Luis Aragones reckons he's got a seriously talented team under his wing, and certainly results so far haven't done anything to disprove the wise man of Hortaleza, as the 67-year-old is affectionately known.

In stark contrast ever since their woeful showing in Asia four years ago the French have had to adopt what some might argue is a wholly unfamiliar trait - namely humility.

Zidane and company swaggered into the last World Cup buoyant after adding the European championships in 2000 to their 1998 World Cup triumph.

But a fortnight after their arrival they were on the plane back to Charles de Gaulle airport, setting an unwelcome new record as the only country in the history of the competition to come away from their title defence campaign without mustering even one goal.

The soul searching was long and painful with France's lacklustre showing at Euro 2004 only serving to ram home further the realisation that la belle epoque of '98 and 2000 was, like Fabian Barthez' golden locks, a distant memory.

So under the guidance of Raymond Domenech France's very presence in the last 16 is an accomplishment in itself with the ghosts of 2002 if not totally vanquished then at least locked away in a cupboard.

And after showing flashes of quality football in Friday's 2-0 win over already eliminated Togo which saw them into the second round through the back door as Group G runners-up the Gallic juggernaut appears to be gathering pace just in time.

Patrick Vieira, who scored the first goal and set up the second in Cologne, for one believes France is only now beginning to show her true face and still has a shelf life in the tournament.

"The Juventus midfielder, who kissed goodbye to his 20s on Friday, commented: "I'm getting stronger just like the team. We're getting better and better in each match.

"I hope the result against Togo will prove a trigger and that it's going to free us because when we're liberated we're capable of beautiful things.

"We've got a great French team here."

Defender Eric Abidal says one of the side's perceived weaknesses, its ageing squad of mostly thirtysomethings, comes hand in hand with one of their strengths.

"We're older for sure but we've got more experience," said the Lyon star, adding: "And they don't have Zidane"

Domenech, who didn't take at all kindly to the suggestion at the post match press conference in Cologne that Vieira had saved his job, has an intriguing dilemma to contend with on the selection front.

Does he, with captain Zidane back marshalling the midfield in what could be if things go sour his last appearance for France, revert to using Thierry Henry as a solo striker or team him up again with David Trezeguet?

This meeting is a repeat of the 1984 European championship final.

Then France under Michel Platini kicked sand in Spain's face and Zidane and co have their buckets and spades ready to dish out the same treatment on Tuesday.