Brazil have major injury doubts over midfield pair Kaka and Emerson ahead of Saturday night's World Cup quarter-final with France in Frankfurt.

Both players, key members of the starting line-up for the world champions, picked up knee injuries against Ghana in the last 16 match won 3-0 by Carlos Alberto Parreira's side.

Team doctor Jose Luiz Runco admitted the pair were in a race against time to face the French in a match that will be the first World Cup meeting between the sides since the 1998 final, won 3-0 by France in Paris.

Runco, speaking at the Brazil base camp in Bergisch Gladbach, said on Wednesday: "If the game was tomorrow, Kaka and Emerson would not be able to play."

Kaka, along with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Adriano a member of Parreira's so-called "magic square", is one of Brazil's creative players, while Emerson is the midfield hardman who was originally named captain for the 2002 tournament only to be forced to withdraw before the start through injury.

There was better news with Robinho back in training following the thigh problem that kept him out of contention for the Ghana match.

Robinho had looked set to start that game before injuring his thigh on Saturday at Bergisch Gladbach but the man he was set to replace, Adriano, scored against the Black Stars and may now keep his place.

Runco also revealed that central defender Lucio was fit for the France match.

Meanwhile, technical co-ordinator Mario Zagallo hopes Brazil can end the career of France playmaker Zinedine Zidane, the man whose two first-half goals sunk the Brazil team Zagallo coached in the 1998 final and who will retire when the tournament is over.

Zagallo, who uniquely has had some kind of role whether as player, coach or technical co-ordinator with all five Brazil teams to win a World Cup, said: "I hope Saturday will be Zidane's last game, even if he is a marvellous player."

Zagallo, known as 'o profesor' (the teacher) in Brazil, believes the match in Frankfurt can not be compared to the Paris final of eight years ago when Brazil star Ronaldo collapsed on the day of the final and seemed to play the match in a haze.

"In 1998, we had a big problem with Ronaldo but in this World Cup we have a good Ronaldo," said Zagallo in remarks reported by Portuguese daily Record.

Ronaldo's goal in the 3-0 win over Ghana saw him eclipse West Germany legend Gerd Muller as the most prolific scorer in the history of World Cup tournaments with 15 goals.