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Switzerland striker Alexander Frei has revealed that France were the last team he wanted to be drawn against in next summer's World Cup.
The two countries were also rivals in qualification, as well as meeting at Euro 2004, and the Rennes ace says he was hoping for something a little bit different for his first appearance in the competition.
"I was slightly disappointed," he declared. "We've played Les Bleus a bit too much recently. Qualifying for a World Cup then playing France again doesn't really interest me.
"I wanted to discover something new. I would have liked a South American team but that's the way it is and I have to accept it.
"Otherwise, I'm happy we got Togo and South Korea. Those are exotic teams."
The 26-year-old has never scored against France, but he is determined that he and his teammates give a good account of themselves once on German soil.
"We want to show off our football and prove that we're not there by mistake," he explained. "We want to get into the second round and after that, we'll see.
"One thing's for sure, though. We can mix it with the best in Europe and [next year] we get to play our toughest opponent in our first match. That's good; it forces us to be ready right from the start."
His own memories of the World Cup stretch back to Mexico '86 and Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' against England, but it was not until 1994 that he began to dream of featuring on the world stage himself.
"Switzerland were taking part for the first time in years (since 1966) and that's all me and my friends were talking about.
"We got up at 4am to watch the matches and I said to myself, 'there's what you have to do one day: play in a World Cup match.' I'm not there yet, but I'm getting closer."
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