Spain see their match on Tuesday against France as the chance to put one over their neighbours with a World Cup quarter-final place at stake and believe they are the favourites.
"We are going to draw out their weakpoints," insisted defender Pablo Ibanez on Sunday while team-mate Luis Garcia said that "while France are a powerful team they are not the favourites."
Says Atletico Madrid star Ibanez, who made his debut two years ago in a friendly win over England, "the bulk of their squad were around when they won the trophy" in 1998.
"They have great players who play for big clubs - and they have played alongside each other for a long time.
"We will have to keep a close eye on Thierry Henry," he warned, with the striker on target against both South Korea and Togo.
Henry, starting to transfer his club form to the international stage, has a bone to pick with Spanish defender Carles Puyol, who denied him Champions League glory in May as Barcelona came back from a goal down to defeat the French striker's Arsenal in the final in Paris.
"It won't be a Henry-Puyol duel. Carles will call on the help of all his colleagues - this is a team effort," says Ibanez.
"It's going to be a really important match for us," said the defender, whose side are bidding to reach a potential quarter-final match-up with Brazil before they can dream of a first appearance in the semis for 56 years.
"We will look to play our own game. France have an ageing midfield and we will have to make them run."
France have the edge in competitive meetings, most notably their Euro 84 win inspired by Michel Platini.
But Ibanez says he believes that "La Furia", coached by the irrepressible Luis Aragones, can now turn the tables.
"We have a good feeling about this one. We are very confident in our abilities. Confidence is on a high after our three group wins."
For Liverpool's Garcia, "I think at this level there's no real favourite, It's really about not making mistakes.
"France were not at their best in the group stage but they are one of the top sides. They have some wonderful players and I think it will be a great game," he forecast.