France coach Raymond Domenech said he was wary of the threat Portugal will in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final.
“They have players of talent, who are organised well, who can defend and cause you problems,” he said.
“Portugal are a quality side who have proved capable of imposing their style of play on their rivals.
“I don’t know copach Luiz Felipe Scolari but I think he was a world champion with Brazil wasn’t he?”
France defender Lilian Thuram believes that Portugal will provide a sterner test than the Brazil side they beat in the quarter-finals.
“They have been very good in defence and have hardly conceded any goals,” said Thuram.
“It will be very difficult and harder than Brazil.
“It will be a close match because a place in the World Cup final is at stake and no-one will want to take unnecessary risks but I think the game will be played in good spirit.
“Since we started the World Cup the team has continued to get better as the tournament has progressed match after match and we must hope that trend continues against Portugal.”
