France may have been one of the biggest disappointments of the World Cup to date but Spain defender Pablo Ibanez has warned his team-mates against underestimating their second-round opponents.

While the Spanish were sweeping through the group phase with relative ease, winning all three of their matches against Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, France have looked anything but assured in their start to the tournament.

The 1998 winners were in danger of being eliminated at the first hurdle for the second successive World Cup after being held to draws in their opening two matches against Switzerland and South Korea.

However, a 2-0 win over Togo in their final group match saved French blushes and enabled them to finish as runners-up in Group G, booking a second-round meeting with Spain.

France's trials and tribulations in Germany have been well-documented but Ibanez insists Les Bleus coach Raymond Domenech still has a wealth of quality at his disposal.

"(France) are a great team, with several players who have been together many years," Ibanez told Marca.

"They won the World Cup in '98, they play at great clubs and are very experienced."

The Atletico Madrid ace also dismissed suggestions that the match in Hannover would be decided by the battle between France striker Thierry Henry and Spain defender Carles Puyol.

"I do not believe that it is a Puyol-Henry duel," he said.

"Henry is not going to try to win the game single-handedly. He is going to need the help of his team-mates, and it is the same for Puyol."