A discussion on how to beat France turns into a discussion of Who can beat France? Not a curse, not a virus, not the destiny of Messi or the ghost of Maradona can deny this French team, who have been so good at winning even when being outplayed.

Says Benoit "Football is a simple game and in the end the French always win. We used to say that about the Germans but now it is true of the French. We don't need to play well to win, we believe we can win and we do, no matter which players are on the field."