<!--Article Start--> <h2 style="text-align: justify"><strong><em>France coach Philippe Bergeroo could be preparing his side for a military campaign as they take on top-ranked Germany in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup on Friday.</em></strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify">"They need to be ready for physical combat, they need to be focussed on detail and to have no regrets at the end," said Bergeroo at the team's pre-match press conference.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"A steamroller, it's true Germany will exert huge physical pressure. We have other qualities but in the first 20 minutes we'll have to be very present in the duels," he continued.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We're playing against the team that is classed first in FIFA so we are the outsiders but we have a lot of ambition for that game."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">France will be bidding to pull off the greatest exploits in their history in Montreal's domed Olympic Stadium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">If the French want to lift their first title on July 5 in Vancouver they have to beat the best and Germany are the best.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Champions in 2003 and 2007, eight-time European champions, Silvia Neid's side have what it takes to scare 'les Bleues' and have for a long time.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I remember when I was 17 years old. You lost 3-0, didn't get a touch on the ball and returned home. They were really physically a class above the rest," recalled forward Eugenie Le Sommer.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But today, despite having never won an official match against their "best enemies," as defender Griedge Mbock Bathy terms the Germans, France believe they are equals.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Germany doesn't scare us any more," said Le Sommer.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi goes even further: "There is no feeling of inferiority. Very sincerely I think that we are better."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Germany have scored 19 goals in four games -- albeit 10 of those came against African minnows Ivory Coast -- and have not lost a game so far although they were pushed to a 1-1 draw by former champions Norway.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">France by contrast have won three games but were shocked 2-0 by Colombia in their second group match.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">And Bouhaddi will have her work cut out faced with a strike force duo of Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag, who have scored five each so far.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"They have a cabinet full of trophies and we've nothing. The balance of power is quickly summed up. As it stands we have two draws and a win," said Mbock Bathy.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But captain Wendie Renard was quick to point out a 2-0 friendly win in Offenbach does not compare to the world stage.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We're off to a good start but we have to make it gel now, it's one thing to win friendly games but this is a different context."</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>'Who says Germany's better?'</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Who says Germany are better than France?" said a surprised Neid when asked about her side's status as favourites.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I did not say that, it will on depend how the team is on the given day whether we are better than France."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">And Neid admitted that the German side that beat Brazil in the 2007 final would not win the title in 2015.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Women's soccer has made quite a development since, the team from 2007 would not win today and even second or third place wouldn't get that place today.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Players play harder, are more skilled and better trained, games are faster. We have followed this trend in women's soccer and now have these skills."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">France have the advantage of having played their last 16 victory over South Korea in Montreal while for the Germans it will their first time in the roofed Olympic Stadium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The French can also count on support from the crowd in the largely French-speaking city.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"It's a different feeling, we don't have this in Germany that you play inside in the summer," said Neid.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I'm surprised a roof like this can't be opened in the summer. It will be different for us.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We also know the French fans will be there in force, they will be singing, they will be very loud, we cannot be distracted by that.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We just have to play our game hoping we manage to score an early goal."</p> . <strong>By AFP</strong> <p style="text-align: justify"></p>