Sigmund Freud once said of dreams “Everyone has wishes which he would not like to tell to others, which he does not want to admit even to himself.”

The major task for France is to surplant the wonderful talent their squad possesses on to the field of play with courage and confidence whilst leaving the fear of failure firmly in the subconscious.

France’s dream of World Cup glory on home soil is a glorious and noble one, but at the other end of the nocturnal activity spectrum is the spectre of failure, a constant haunting presence that can inhibit and paralyse the rugby soul.

This land of philosophers can conjure up a million quotes at the drop of a chapeau to explain and illustrate their Gallic strengths and frailties.

Yesterday Fabian Galthie named the thirty-three players that he and the nation hope will turn their dream into reality.

Fabian’s famous spectacles are not rose tinted, and he is well aware that the dream can turn into a nightmare with just one dodgy refereeing decision, one bounce of the ball or injuries to key personnel, which he has already suffered with the loss of Emile Ntamack and the short term injury to Cyril Baille.

Control the controllable is one of the stock sporting clichés and France are attempting to do just that.

The long wait is nearly over, here are the 33 who will carry a nation’s hopes and dreams.