Brazil midfielder Juninho has warned his team-mates not to under-estimate the threat posed by France veteran Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup quarter-final in Frankfurt.

Zidane will retire from the game when Les Bleus are eliminated from the competition and Lyon schemer Juninho says that the 1998 World Cup hero must be given total respect.

He told reporters: "Zidane is a player who we must never lose sight of.

"We will have to mark him tightly when he has the ball, because he is the sort of player who can make the difference on his own or find a forward in a good position."

However, Juninho does not feel that the game will be a showdown between Zidane and Brazil ace Ronaldo, who may also be playing in his last World Cup.

He added: "This is not a match between Zidane and Ronaldo, but a game between France and Brazil.

"Zidane's generation are playing in their last World Cup which is not a surprise because it's the third time for them.

"Ronaldo still has time to play in one more World Cup as he is younger while Zidane has announced he will quit.

"That's a pity because I think he could still play on if he wanted to because he has the ability."