Followers of the French national team have long given up trying to predict how they will fare having seen them gravitate wildly and though the players are sounding upbeat, there is an underlying nervousness about their Cape Town opener.
After lifting the trophy in 1998 and following up with the European Championship two years later, they suffered ignominious defeat by Senegal in their first match of the 2002 World Cup and went out in the group stage.
However, an unimpressive warm-up campaign culminating in a 1-0 defeat by China, combined with signs of upward development from their three rivals, has left the country torn about the team's prospects.
"The good thing in a way is that we are used to doing it the hard way because that's what we did in qualifying," said midfielder Jeremy Toulalan. "We know it will not be easy but we're used to that and ready for it."
While the new approach has succeeded in shaking off some of his side's reputation for dull play it has also exposed them defensively.
"We can't really say we have improved during the warm-up games," said midfielder Alou Diarra. "We still need time to adapt and don't have much left."
While France can afford to leave captain and former talisman Henry on the bench, Uruguay's hopes sit squarely on the shoulders of their key front man Diego Forlan.
"Everything is good, no injuries, and everything is ok with Forlan," he said.
