The world champions must beat Les Bleus on Tuesday to progress to the quarter-finals but must also hope the score in the showdown in Bern between Romania and Holland goes their way.

The Azzurri stand in third position, one point behind second-placed Romania and level on one point with France heading into their final group game.

"We just have to focus on our game against France," said Buffon. "We cannot start doing maths, we just have to forget about the Dutch.

"On Tuesday, we face a final and we just have to concentrate on ourselves."

Juventus star Buffon is confident that, despite having already qualified as winners of the group, Marco van Basten'sHolland will not ease up in their third game - anything but a win for Romania would benefit Italy provided they clinch three points in Zurich.

"I believe the game between Romania and Holland will be a true game," said Buffon. "I don't see why Van Basten would want to knock France and Italy out of the tournament.

"Considering the recent results, perhaps Van Basten would like to face one of us in the semi-finals."

Italy are familiar with the current scenario, as four years ago they beat Bulgaria in their final group game in Portugal only for a 2-2 draw between Denmark and Sweden to see the Scandinavian sides through to the quarter-finals.

Buffon, whose stunning penalty save from Adrian Mutu's spot-kick in Friday's 1-1 draw kept the Azzurri's tournament hopes alive, is nevertheless optimistic.

"The fighting spirit and the willingness is there," said Buffon.

"I think we are in better shape than France.

"We reacted from the opening 3-0 loss to Holland in our game against Romania and we will have to wait and see if France have recovered from their hammer-blow result against Holland."