France was beaten, 1-0 at Hampden Park the last time these two teams met and it was only the second time in 46 games that Les Bleus were beaten in qualifying matches. Today, they meet Scotland for the pole position in Group B.
So the Gaullists are puffing up the Scots with their fanciful pronouncements.
"Scotland - more difficult than Italy", proclaims the official website of the French Football Federation, a sentiment, it turns out, which emanates from one Nicolas Anelka of Bolton, but which is tame beside the declaration of the France coach, Raymond Domenech, that the Scots are now favourites to win Group B.
Of course, that was promptly slapped down by the Scots, noted stoics and purveyors of hard nosed reality.
Darren Fletcher, who captained the side's 3-1 win over Lithuania at Hampden Park on Saturday, encapsulated Scotland's reaction. "I've heard a lot of quotes coming from the French camp and that Scotland are favourites, which is just ludicrous," Fletcher said. "These are mind games.
The key match up will be the Scottish attack which has managed to find scoring from unexpected sources against the French defence which is probably the best in the world today and has not conceded a single goal in the Euro campaign, till the Gary Caldwell goal in Hampden Park on October 7, 2006.
I suport France and I'm nervous. Domenech is quite capable of screwing up this game. I'm actually glad Henry is suspended because his form is not good right now but as much a I like Anelka, when he and Trez have started together in front, France have drawn or lost). And the Scots are plucky and determined.