Brazilians will be driven on by memories of '98 says Jacquet

France's former national soccer coach Aime Jacquet, seen here in Stuttgart 13 June 2006, said that Brazil will be even more motivated to beat France in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday because of the 3-0 humbling they received at the hands of the French in the 1998 final.

Brazil will be even more motivated to beat France in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday because of the 3-0 humbling they received at the hands of the French in the 1998 final claimed the winners then manager Aime Jacquet.

Jacquet like present coach Raymond Domenech suffered a barrage of criticism prior to the 1998 World Cup finals but he said that while Brazil would be extra motivated Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira would not let them be obssessed with avenging that result.

"I know Parreira well and I can assure you that he knows Brazil must be at its peak to beat France," said Jacquet.

"The 1998 final killed them.

"But that will only serve to motivate them more, which will make the match even more difficult.

"I am sure that they are not going to let it show, it isn't their style."

Jacquet, who said that he didn't see any similarities between the 1998 campaign and this one, admitted to being pleased that his veterans of '98 were stepping up to the plate after being criticised at the outset.

"One can't always play well in every match.

"But the coach (Domenech) defended them with conviction and stuck by them in their roles.

"Vieira kept in their because he had the total confidence of his coach and look what happened.

"Suddenly he became the pivotal figure, especially in the third match against Togo (a 2-0 victory in which he scored) and in the second round (scoring again in the 3-1 win against Spain).

"It was the same for Zizou (Zinedine Zidane) who against Spain played like he hadn't done for a long while (he also scored).

"He hadn't really shone in a game or dictated it for a long time.

"It is true that he came out of a disappointing season with Real Madrid and that he wasn't happy with it."

Jacquet nevertheless accepted that the same qualities must apply to their approach to the match as he had taken for the 1998 final.

"Obviously they are different matches, a final and a quarter-final.

"A quarter-final is simply another step on the way.

"But on the preparation we have the same ingredients and the same ambitions.

"The challenge is to beat the best and that is where we are the same.

"If one does not play like that, then one cannot get over this hurdle."

Jacquet said that France should not have any inferiority complex about taking on the five-time champions.

"We have no reason for self doubt.

"There is everything to hope for.

"Above all we must bide our time, have a lot of sang-froid and think clearly."