© Reuters 2002

MADRID, Jan 25 (Reuters) - World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane believes that Spain will be one of the main threats to France's bid to retain the trophy they won on home territory in 1998.

"For me Spain have always been very dangerous opponents," Zidane told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser in an interview on Thursday night.

"They can have their bad days, but they are also capable of beating any other team in the world. For me they are one of the favourites to win the World Cup."

Zidane, who joined Real Madrid from Juventus for a world record fee of $66 million in the close season, masterminded France's victory over Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000.

The Frenchman scored a brilliant free kick to secure France's 2-1 victory, while Spain's Raul - now his team mate at Real - missed a penalty in the dying seconds that could have sent the game into extra-time.

France went on to beat Portugal in the semis before taking a golden goal victory over Italy in the final. But Spain were the team that ended France's 10-match unbeaten run that stretched back to Euro 2000 in a friendly international last year and the former World Player of the Year reiterated that he is a fan of the Spanish style of football.

"I enjoy myself more here because in Italy you are more concerned about stopping the other team from scoring and if you score just one goal that is enough. In Spain there is more freedom and there are more goals."