Brazil midfielder Juninho believes the holders' World Cup quarter-final with France will be their most difficult match of the tournament.

Juninho, who looks likely to start against France with Kaka and Emerson both racing to be fit for Saturday's Frankfurt showdown between the 1998 and 2002 world champions, plays for French champions Lyon.

"This will be our hardest match at the World Cup," said Juninho, who has scored with 29 free-kicks for Lyon - impressive even by Brazilian standards.

"They play excellent football and are a good team who are dangerous - and they stick together as a unit and fight together."

France beat Spain 3-1 in the last 16, after the opposition media had labelled Les Bleus too old.

Juninho believes the age factor will count for little.

"Old or new - it does not matter," said the midfielder.

"France will field the best players they have, and their age is irrelevant. We will have to try to play the game the way we want to."

Team doctor Jose Luiz Runco admits it is touch and go whether Kaka or Emerson can play against a French team who beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup final in Paris but saw the Latin Americans reclaim the trophy in Japan four years ago.

But there's better news of Lucio and Robinho, with both available to play against the French if selected.

Robinho injured a thigh in training two days before Brazil's last-16 win over Ghana.

Adriano, the man he was set to replace, scored the second goal against the Black Stars and may now keep his place in the team.

Saturday night's winners in Frankfurt will play England or Portugal in the semi-finals.