Brazil v France - Preview

Brazil look for missing spark against France

Brazil have been far from the consummate defending champions at the Germany World Cup but should they rediscover their missing spark against France here Saturday their chase for a record sixth world crown will be on in earnest.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is demanding more consistency from his exotically-talented team as Brazil face up to Zinedine Zidane's recharged Les Bleus for a place in the last four against England or Portugal.

Also underscoring Brazil's quest for the 'Hexa' or sixth world title is that no South American team has won the World Cup in Europe, stretching back to young Pele's Brazil in Sweden in 1958.

Parreira, who once vowed never to coach Brazil again after the 1994 title victory over Italy after the personal abuse he received for the way the team played, wants a more patient buildup rather than throwing away possession.

"We lack consistency with our moves. It's one thing to have speed. It's another thing to be in a hurry. We confused speed with hurry. We have been in a hurry too often and we have made a lot of mistakes," Parreira said ahead of the Frankfurt quarter-final.

"What we have to do is work the ball around the pitch more before we make the move."

Brazil face a recharged France coming off their 3-1 spanking of Spain in the round of 16 in Hanover and memories of their 1998 final humbling in Paris when Zidane scored twice in a 3-0 World Cup boilover.

Gilberto Silva, likely to play in the midfield in place of Emerson who has a knee problem, rates France highly.

"France are a spectacular team full of great players and we will have to be at our best to get a result against them," he said.

"I really believe that we are not playing to the best of our ability right now," the Arsenal player said.

"We can play much, much better than this and we will need to if we want to go to the final."

France played their best football for years to beat Spain, but defender Lilian Thuram believes they will have to improve further if they are to have any chance of derailing Brazil's title defence.

French forward Thierry Henry (R) and teammate forward Franck Ribery celebrate at the end of the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football game Spain vs. France, 27 June 2006 at Hanover stadium. An inspired France marshalled by Zinedine Zidane swept to a 3-1 win over Spain to set up a dream World Cup quarter-final date with Brazil. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ

The Juventus defender, who passed Marcel Desailly's record as France's most capped player last week against Togo, said: "It was good to come up against a talented team in Spain in the second round, we had to raise our game.

"Now we have to raise it again for Brazil, not only in terms of quality of play but also our level of concentration."

Thuram, who will be winning his 119th cap having passed Desailly's benchmark of 116 appearances, knows what lies ahead of his team in Frankfurt.

"When you look at Brazil's players it's extraordinary the talent they've got, two Footballers of the Year in Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano, Cafu and a very good keeper.

"They're favourites but the beauty about football is that favourites don't always win."

Thuram, along with Zidane, are playing in their last major tournament for France after being coaxed out of retirement during last year's qualifiers to help get the team to Germany.

Saturday's winner tackles England or Portugal in the Munich semi-final on July 5.

Teams

Brazil

Dida; Cafu (capt), Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva, Ze Roberto, Juninho, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo: Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira (BRA)

France

Fabien Barthez; Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Franck Ribery, Zinedine Zidane (capt), Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry: Coach: Raymond Domenech (FRA)

Referee

Luis Medina Cantalejo (ESP)