Aragones convinced Spain will oust France

KAMEN, Germany, June 24 (Reuters) Spain coach Luis Aragones said he was convinced that his side would beat former world champions France and book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

''I've got massive confidence in my team, firstly because that's my job and secondly because I honestly believe we are going to get through,'' Aragones told a news conference.

The 67-year-old was in upbeat mood despite the fact that his second string side did not play well in their 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in their final group match yesterday.

''If we want to carry on in the World Cup we have to beat the good teams and there is no doubt that France are a very good side,'' he said.

''But if we want to get close to the teams that win World Cups then we have to beat France ... They are good but they are not invincible.

Spain, who won all three matches to top Group H, play 1998 champions France in Hanover on Tuesday. France went through after beating Togo 2-0 on Friday, having earlier been held to draws by Switzerland and South Korea.

Aragones said he was more concerned about the form of his own team than that of his opponents.

''My main worry is that we fulfil our potential and play as well as we can,'' he said. ''Our opponents might be very good, but if we play to our strengths then in the end we will beat them.

He said that his side tended to play the ball more rapidly and were more creative than France, but added that the former world champions were more direct and had more destructive players in midfield.

''It will be more difficult for us to keep the ball than in previous matches,'' he said.

Spain have one of the youngest sides in the tournament and France one of the most experienced.

Aragones said that although players like Zinedine Zidane, now 34, might not be able to produce their top form over a whole season they still had the quality to decide big games.

''He's still very dangerous in one-off matches,'' he said.

''Now is when you will really see the quality of the teams, the players and the coaches. Up until now our opponents have been inferior to us, now everyone is more or less at the same level.

The last time France and Spain met in a tournament was in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000. Les Bleus won through 2-1 after Raul missed a penalty at the death and went on to add the European crown to their world title.

REUTERS DH RK1935