CHAMPIONSHIP AT SAINT-DENIS
BRAZIL
* World Cup History: Brazil is bidding to become the first country to win five World Cups--and the first to repeat since the Pele-led Brazilian squads of 1958 and 1962. Pele helped account for each of Brazil’s first three championships, also keying the 1970 triumph. But after that, Brazil went 20 years without reaching so much as the semifinals before outlasting Italy in the penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl that decided the 1994 championship.
* Route to the Final: Won Group A, but not without a struggle. Brazil needed an own goal by Scotland to win its opener, 2-1; dispatched Morocco fairly easily, 3-0; and surrendered two goals in the last seven minutes against Norway to turn a 1-0 lead into a stunning 2-1 defeat. The Brazilians were most grateful Chile tried to run with them in the second round; Brazil led, 3-0, at halftime en route to a 4-1 romp. Advancement through the quarterfinals and semifinals was problematic; Brazil was tied with Denmark late before pulling out a 3-2 victory and needed penalty kicks to dispatch the Netherlands in the semifinals.
* Key player: Ronaldo, as always. Has had a subpar tournament by his standards--only four goals in six games--but his head-on burst and strike to open the second half against the Netherlands is indicative of the threat he brings to any game.
* Pressing question: Will Coach Mario Zagallo finally open a few vest buttons, start Denilson and give Sunday’s final a chance to glow in the history books? Along with millions of Brazilians, Pele has been calling for Denilson in the lineup all tournament; the eye-popping dribbling clinic he put on against the Dutch after coming on as a substitute will only crank up the clamor that much more.
* Outlook: Should complete its quest for the penta on Sunday. That will be history, but to make it memorable, France--and Zagallo--will have to let the Brazilians play.
FRANCE
* World Cup History: Anguished, mostly. Three failed appearances in the semifinals in 1958, 1982 and 1986 before finally breaking through Wednesday night. Included among them is the excruciating collapse against West Germany in 1982, in which France blew a 3-1 overtime lead and went out on penalties. Failed to qualify for the 1990 and 1994 tournaments, which made hosting in 1998--with the automatic berth that goes with it--so appealing.
* Route to the Final: Won Group C in deceptively easy fashion. Rolled up seven quick goals against South Africa, 3-0, and Saudi Arabia, 4-0, then edged Denmark, 2-1, on a penalty kick. Since then, no forward or midfielder has scored for France. Sweeper Laurent Blanc’s goal in the 114th minute lifted France past Paraguay, 1-0, in the second round before 120 minutes against Italy produced a quarterfinal shootout won by France, 4-3. Wednesday, France trailed Croatia before securing a 2-1 victory on two goals by defender Lilian Thuram.
* Key player: Midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who is so much of France’s offense that the attack all but withered and blew away while he served a two-game suspension, missing the Denmark and Paraguay games. The best playmaker in the tournament, yet wasted in an offense glutted by nondescript, nonproductive strikers.
* Pressing question: How much will the French defense miss sweeper Laurent Blanc, suspended for the final because of a red card? Frank LeBoeuf is Blanc’s likely replacement--and he’s not chipped beef, having helped the English club Chelsea to the 1998 Cup Winners Cup. But he will be rusty, never recommended when Ronaldo is on the evening’s marquee.
* Outlook: Up against it. France can no longer look to its defense to bail out its offense, not with all the problems Brazil poses for the depleted French back line. Will win the Battle of the National Anthems--the French have the best in the tournament--but it looks like a rough go from the final note onward.
