EURO 2004 favourites France are set to arrange a prestigious European Championship warm-up with Wales early next year.

Welsh boss Mark Hughes and the Football Association of Wales are poised to open negotiations with their French counterparts for a mouth-watering friendly international as Jacques Santini's men prepare to defend their European crown at next summer's finals in Portugal.

France, winners of the World Cup in 1998, were yesterday paired with England in Group B of the Euro 2004 finals and Les Bleus coach Santini is particularly keen for his all-conquering XI to meet Wales to test his squad of world stars against British opposition before their Championship opener with David Beckham and company in Lisbon on June 13.

The FA of Wales are eager for France, second behind World Cup holders Brazil in the world rankings, to stop by the Millennium Stadium as a visit by Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane and David Trezeguet, to name but a few, would surely pack the 72,500-capacity arena and secure the FAW a bumper pay-day.

But, in order to get the friendly on, Hughes and the Association would have no qualms of making the short trip to Paris for a date at the magnificent Stade de France.

In FIFA's calendar for 2004, the three friendly international slots prior to the European Championship finals are on February 17/18, March 30/31 and April 27/28.

An FAW insider told the Argus today: "France would be a very attractive friendly for us and we hope a game can be arranged."

France enjoyed a 100 percent record on the road to Portugal, sweeping aside all opponents in qualifying Group One. Wales, however, are still coming to terms with their Euro 2004 qualifying heartache as they were beaten by Russia in a two-legged play-off last month.

Wales' only success in four friendlies against the French came in their last meeting, when they won 1-0 in Toulouse back in June 1982.

As well as France, Sven-Goran Eriksson's England will also clash with Switzerland and Croatia in the group stages in the finals of Euro 2004.

The FAW is also interested in friendlies with those other two nations.

Hughes, though, will also want to use the allocated friendly dates to play teams of similar style to those Wales will be drawn alongside in their World Cup 2006 qualification group.

The draw for those groups will be made in Frankfurt on Friday.