WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FINAL : Spotlight : FRIENDS REMEMBERED

Brazilian soccer players have long memories, which is why the World Cup victory tour will begin in Recife, a town 1,800 miles northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

Last year, when Brazil suffered its first qualifying-round defeat--to Bolivia in La Paz--the team was besieged by criticism from throughout the country, where the loss was viewed as nothing short of a national disaster.

Except in Recife.

There, people remained true, and the players were received so warmly that the federation decided to hold the rematch in Recife, where Brazil routed Bolivia, 6-0.

Today, the new world champions will stop in Recife first. After that, they are scheduled to visit Rio, Sao Paulo and President Itamar Franco in Brasilia. In that order.