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Auckland - France wing Vincent Clerc insisted his side were still ambitious after struggling through to a Rugby World Cup quarter-final against old rivals England on Saturday.
No team has ever won the World Cup after losing a pool match, but France were beaten in two of their first round encounters at this edition, going down 37-17 to New Zealand and, in one of the great World Cup upsets, being defeated by 19-14 Tonga last weekend.
But France usually have at least one great match per World Cup as New Zealand, knocked out of the 1999 and 2007 tournaments by 'Les Bleus,' know only too well.
The worry for England is that France haven't yet had that game at this tournament and Clerc said recent form counted for little in the knockout stages.
"Everything's up in the air and the true World Cup starts now," Clerc said.
And he added the pressure of knowing a defeat this weekend would end France's hopes of winning a first World Cup title would inspire the squad.
"We know we are going home on Monday if well. It will be the end of an adventure that will have finished in very average fashion."
"If we can overcome the English, we know we can continue the adventure and have the chance to do something fabulous.
"Since the start of the week, we've been putting the pieces of our gameplan together and trying to keep everything simple and coherent, which we hope will end in a good game for us."
France players and coaching staff have been stressing all week the need to uphold good rugby basics against England, a team that have beaten them in the semi-finals of the past two World Cups.
"I think all matches are like this," said the 30-year-old Clerc, who has scored 30 tries in his 54 Tests.
"If you look at the rugby played since the start of this World Cup, it's been very simple but with a lot of physicality.
"Teams that have dominated their opponents, like Ireland, Wales and South Africa, who have been very good in the rucks, have forced them backwards and created space.
"They've played simply but they've done it very well."
"That's where we went wrong against Tonga, whereas it's something we did very well (the physical engagement) against the All Blacks. This is the way we have to go - secure the basics and the game will look after itself.
"Our discipline and the physical battle will be the keys to the match," the Toulouse flyer added.
England have in the past been able to rile France, causing a loss of discipline which has led to the concession of points through penalties.
"We must remain calm and never give up." stressed Clerc.
