France meet Portugal on Wednesday in the second semi-final of the World Cup Finals 2006, with Portugal hoping to erase the memory of the semi-final’s in EURO 2000, when Les Bleus beat Portugal on the way to claiming the title.

France head coach Raymond Domenech is expected to stick to the team who beat Spain 3-1 before knocking out Brazil 1-0 in the quarter-finals, with Les Bleus captain Zinedine Zidane in a playmaking role and Thierry Henry in a solo striking role up front.

The match against Brazil was the first time that Domenech has fielded the same team in successive matches since he took charge of Les Bleus two years ago, suggesting that the Les Bleus coach has finally found the right formula.

Zidane, who came out of international retirement for the tournament and will retire from football completely after Germany 2006, believes it is his destiny to end his career with another World Cup winner’s medal and has been on exceptional form, especially in the match against Brazil.

Domenech agrees, saying: "I think it's precisely because he is retiring, because he is ending his career, that he's fully focused on the game.

"Now he doesn't have to calculate anything. He can play with freedom and expression, because he knows every game could be his last. That is the reason why he's able to play so well."

The French side, and nation, are suddenly full of confidence after they defeated World Champions Brazil in the quarter finals to put them with two victories of a second World Cup title in eight years.

However coach Raymond Domenech, who was receiving heavy criticism from both the press and the fans in the run-up to, and during the early part of the tournament, knows there is still plenty of work to do.

"The danger for us now is to think we've done it by beating Brazil, we've got to get the players back to where they were before that win," said Domenech.

"We've achieved something super... but our work is not finished, we can't let up. For me success at this World Cup only comes if we win."

Discipline will be a key factor in the game for France, with six of players: Zidane, Willy Sagnol, Louis Saha, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira and Franck Ribery all starting the match with a yellow card and facing suspension if they receive another.

Portugal head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will have both Barcelona playmaker Deco and midfield anchorman Costinha available for the crucial match, after both players missed the quarter-final against England through suspension.

Deco replaces Tiago and Costinha will come in for Armando Petit who is suspended for the match.

Scolari has urged his team to go forward and take away the memories of their 2-1 defeat to France in the EURO 2000 semi-final, and their defeat to Greece on home-soil in the EURO 2004 tournament

"We had the chance to create a piece of history at the 2004 European Championship and we didn't take it," said Scolari.

"Now we have got another chance to make history at the World Cup."

The Brazilian has been hailing his side’s new found spirit as they look to make their first World Cup final.

"The spirit of this team is remarkable," Scolari said.

"This is a new Portugal team and it's a new spirit. It's a warrior spirit. This is what we were missing in the past.

"We had great technical players but now we have added a warrior spirit."

The winner will face Italy's Azzurri in the final, in Berlin, on Sunday July 9.

The loser will face Germany in the third-place play-off on Saturday July 8 in Stüttgart.