Marquez issues French warning

Veteran Mexico defender Rafa Marquez yesterday warned his team-mates to beware of a French renaissance in their Group A meeting in Polokwane tomorrow as both sides look to build on opening draws.

Marquez, who is at his third World Cup finals, notched a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw with host South Africa while the French and Uruguay finished goalless.

But the 31-year-old Barcelona centre-back knows the French can do much better than that and says his men must beware.

"We know the potential they have and the quality they can display in attack. They could really get it together at any moment and change everything as they are great players," said Marquez, who had a spell with Monaco before joining Barca.

"We are going up against a fine side and must go for the win," Marquez added, while suggesting it would help both nations to play their game a day after the Uruguayans take on the South Africans so they will know what to make of that result.

"Knowing their result might make us perhaps go for the win. But it will be good to be armed with the knowledge of the outcome of that game.

"Even so we must prepare as well as possible to face the French. At any rate, I am really confident in this team's chances after the work we have put in."