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PARIS, Wednesday (Reuters) - France captain Marcel Desailly admitted the world champions have not been at their best this year but said they would be better than ever in time for next year's World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.

"I think France have not shown what they are really worth yet. This team has skills you can hardly imagine," Desailly told France Football magazine on Tuesday.

"The side that won the Euro 2000 was much stronger than the one that won the World Cup. People said you can only fade after winning a trophy and we proved they were wrong."

Desailly's message to the doubters was: "If all the guys go there (to Japan and South Korea) in the right state of mind, with the same will, I'm certain that we will surprise many as we have outstanding players.

"I played in many clubs like AC Milan and I know what I'm talking about. I can spot an outstanding team when I see one."

As world champions, France qualified automatically for next year's finals and have relied on friendlies as preparation for the them.

But they lost three of the 13 games they played in 2001, against Spain, Australia and Chile. The latter two have failed to qualify for the finals.

Too shy

"It's true that we don't display all our skills. We could have played much better this year. There are some unconscious reasons. Sometimes we are a little bit too shy," Desailly said.

Turning his mind to next year's World Cup, he said he was relieved France would not have to face the Netherlands, who have not qualified.

"I don't know our opponents very well. I'm just pleased the Netherlands are not there. In 1998 we were happy to take on Brazil in the final as the Dutch (whom Brazil beat in the semifinals) were much stronger," he said.

"It was the same situation during Euro 2000. We were afraid of facing the Netherlands in front of their home crowd and it's much easier to play Italy."

France beat Italy in the final of the tournament, which was hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.

Desailly said Germany and Brazil, who both scraped through to the finals after poor qualification campaigns, remained a threat despite their recent problems.

"I would have been really pleased if they had stayed home," he said. "They are potential contenders. But the Germans and the Brazilians will have to improve a lot if they want to be in the last four." 

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