"I am raring to go. I know a few of the lads said they were tired after the match against Japan a week ago but personally I felt fine. I've had a decent break and I'm raring to go, I can't wait."
While Cole admits that the France match will be a massive challenge, he doesn't appear overawed by the occasion.
He added: "Meeting France in the opening game is a tough challenge, we know that, but if you want to win Euro 2004 you have to beat the best.
"To qualify from our group we have to do well over three matches, not just the first one against France. Croatia won't be easy and don't forget about Switzerland.
"Of course it would be brilliant to beat France because that would set us up for the rest of the tournament but we're very positive in the squad - we'll play anyone."
The left-side of midfield, the position directly in front of Cole, has been a perennial problem for Sven-Goran Eriksson but the Swede may have found the answer following Paul Scholes' performance there against Iceland.
Cole especially appreciated the Manchester United man's contribution in a more conventional 4-4-2 shape, rather than the diamond formation which the England players struggled with against Japan. "The 4-4-2 sometimes makes it easier," said Cole. "That's because the opposition normally leave someone out wide and he attacks the full-back.
"Against Iceland, Paul did a great job in the first half of protecting me and David Beckham did likewise on the other side. We do seem happier with that system but I'm not the manager and I will never complain.
"When we play a diamond, I have to be careful. If I attack at the wrong time and I lose the ball then we could be in trouble because the player I should be marking is on his own.
"That's happened in a few games for England and the opposing team have found that man and scored. That's exposed me but I have learned from that.
"I definitely defend more these days and against Iceland, I thought Scholes helped me out brilliantly at times."
Cole would also not rule out the possibility of linking up with Chelsea's Wayne Bridge down the left-hand side.
He said: "We played once against Macedonia and I thought we did okay. Obviously, I just want to start, whatever the team and the system but I would say that when Wayne and I played down the left, it did work well."
