France's World Cup soccer coach Raymond Domenech answers questions from journalists in Hameln near Hanover June 28, 2006. [Reuters]

"We're old but we're still smart," coach Raymond Dom-enech said after Les Bleus used shrewd tactics and a couple of clever moves on their way to a 3-1 win over Spain on Tuesday for a place in the last eight.

Relying on several players past their prime but still exceptionally talented, France patiently waited for its chances and downed the Spaniards with two late goals.

Now it faces Brazil, whom it beat 3-0 in the 1998 final at Stade de France, and will have to accept being underdogs in Saturday's game in Frankfurt.

"We will have to play even better to stand a chance but I believe we can because that team can adapt to the opposition and raise the level of their game," Domenech said.

France was indeed a lot more convincing against Spain than it had been in dismal draws with Switzerland and South Korea and then in a 2-0 win over modest Togo in its Group G decider.

Brazil will be a tougher proposition with the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano and Kaka but that does not mean France has no chance.

"All the teams in the quarterfinals are capable of going all the way and every match now will be a small final," Domenech said.

"We're getting closer to our goal, which is to be in the final on July 9. We feel that something's happening."

Maybe not as fast as when it ruled the world, France nevertheless produced one of its most convincing performances in the last six years.

"The France team had not been as good as that for a long time," acknowledged striker Thierry Henry. "We were a great team tonight (Tuesday). We believed in ourselves and fought like lions. That's what made the difference."

France, which had looked sluggish in its previous outings, stepped up a gear with perfect timing, Franck Ribery canceling out a David Villa penalty before late goals from Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane saw them through.

Zidane, who will retire after the finals and realizes any match now could be in last, looked nervous at times before showing his class with a superb goal in added time.

Whether France can trouble a Brazil side blessed with such talent remains doubtful but at least Tuesday's burst of pride provided Zidane with a chance of making a decent farewell.

Not only Zidane, now 34, but also Lilian Thuram, Fabien Barthez and a few others might bow out when France eventually leaves the World Cup. When that will be remains unclear. Soon enough, however, the curtain will fall on the finest generation ever to wear the French colors. They have done enough already to suggest they would leave the stage in style.