ROME : Tears And Cheers In Italy

Fully half the people on Earth are expected to witness the final on Sunday of this year’s World Cup, the monthlong soccer orgy that is the globe’s most popular sporting event. The total TV audience for the 52-match spectacular may reach 26 billion.

Of the original 24 hopefuls in a quadrennial tournament, that will be played in the United States for the first time in 1994, four now remain. Host Italy meets defending champion Argentina in Naples tonight, and on Wednesday in Turin, West Germany meets England.

Oddsmakers predict an Italy--West Germany cup final in Rome.