Zinedine Zidane is the man to stop if Spain are to beat France in Sunday's Euro 2000 quarter-final, says Spain defender Michel Salgado.

Real Madrid full-back Salgado is part of a defence assigned with the task of stopping Arsenal's Thierry Henry, flying in France's early group games, and his own Madrid clubmate,Nicolas Anelka.

And the full-back says that Spain's ability to cut out the Zidane supply-line to these two pacey forwards will be crucial when the two sides clash in Bruges on Sunday.

'France's strength is in their team as a whole, their unit, but Zidane is the player I like most,' said Salgado.

'He has real invention, great control and a wonderful pass.

He has everything. The whole team is very strong but Zidane has that little bit of magic that others don't have.

'He always looks for the quick ball through to the two front players, Anelka and Henry, and we have to be able to stop that. They depend a lot on him.'

Spain will have to be wary of the quick break from midfield, but Salgado insists they would not be forced into changing their entire style of play.

'We'll respect them but we have hope and desire to win on Sunday. I'll be proud if we manage to do it and as long as we're brave, and give everything we can, I'm sure it's possible.'

Salgado is himself well known for his pace, well-used in Real's run to the Champions' League title, yet he believes that guile is the key to stopping France's twin strikers.

'Both Anelka and Henry are very quick but the important thing will be to make sure they don't manage to get in just behind us.'

France may be overriding favourites to win the game but if Salgado and his team-mates were to cut off Zidane's suppy to the Parisian pair then it could go a long way to making Spain victorious in Bruges.