Here's an interesting one. The French, aged and riven by argument, face the Spanish who have yet to find a way of making their traditional surprise exit.
On form to date there is no way that France could expect to beat any half decent team but Spain traditionally are so flakey at big tournaments that they could yet hand the French a life support mechanism postponing the inevitable end of the golden era for another few days.
Which Spain will show up tonight, the fluent, confident group which dismantled the Ukraine in their first game of the tournament or the rather more hesitant bunch who went a goal down against Tunisia the next time out.
Spanish coach Luis Aragones has tried some shock treatment this time and is talking his side up in a way that would make any GAA manager shiver.
" I haven't packed my bags and I have left my wash stuff in the bathroom at our base in Kamen. We are better than the opposition, we are going to win."
Aragones is either a genius or will be eating plates of humble paella for the rest of his days.
What he does have going for him is that wins in the two opening games gave him the opportunity to play a completely different side against Saudi Arabia in the final group game. His players are well rested and practically all the panel have been blooded at the World Cup.
Aragones announced yesterday that he would definitely be including Raul tonight for his 99th cap and that Cesc Fabregas would also start. The Spanish have no absentees and from the second string side which faced the Saudi's winger Joaquin seems the most likely to force his way in but Aragones is conservative and he may have to be content with a subs role.
French coach Raymond Domenech has a permanent frown on his face these days and all of France is waiting to see what he does now that he has Zinedine Zidane at his disposal again after a one-match ban. Eric Abidal also returns.
Will Domenech leave Thierry Henry up front on his own or try again to harness him with the out of sorts Trezeguet.
This is the first World Cup finals encounter between the two sides but they met in the 2000 European championship quarter-finals with France, then in their pomp going on to win the tournament. Since then the balance of power has shifted.
Spain are unbeaten in 25 matches since their 1-0 defeat to Portugal at Euro 2004. The run is exactly the length of Aragones tenure as manager. By contrast the French hobbled to victory over Togo in Cologne last Friday to end a wretched sequence of five World Cup games without a win. That victory was the first time the French had won a World Cup game outside France since 1986.
The French have been stuttery and divided all through this tournament. The Spaniards are a side who believe that if they don't advance far into this particular tournament they may as well abandon football. Spain to win.
Probable line-ups
Spain (4-3-3)
Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Pablo, Pernia, Xavi, Alonso, Fabregas, Raul, Torres, Villa
France (4-5-1)
Barthez; Gallas, Abidal, Thuram, Sagnol, Malouda, Makelele, Vieira, Zidane, Ribery, Henry
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
Kick-off: 8.0pm.
Venue: Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover.
On TV: RTÉ 2 and UTV
