DEJA VU, SI?; ITALY FALLS TO FRANCE : FRANCE 0, ITALY 0.

Byline: Scott French Long Beach Press-Telegram 

Roberto Baggio didn't miss this time. That fell to someone else. But the result differed not in the least.

Italy, damned to relive its nightmare once more, exited the World Cup on Friday in the cruelest manner imaginable.

Another scoreless draw, another bout of penalty kicks, another heartbreaking defeat - this one to the hosts, who in everyone's eyes except Italian coach Cesare Maldini's thoroughly deserved the push into next week's semifinals.

Luigi di Biagio assumed the role that teammate Baggio played last time in the 1994 final, drilling the decisive kick into the crossbar, then collapsing in disbelief as the French celebrated around him.

``It hardly seems fair to lose the World Cup in this way,'' he said, choking back tears. ``It's a dreadful feeling.''

It was a just finish to a dreadful match played before an adoring audience of perhaps 77,000 at the Stade de France. Zinedine Zidane, brilliant as always, guided the French to near-complete domination of the quarterfinal showdown, but that counted for little - a few blown opportunities and some of the prettiest play seen in this tournament - as Maldini's destructive tactics, using Italy's unbending defense, kept highlights to a minimum.

That's what the Italian tactician had in mind.

``If you look at the score,'' he said, ``you can see that nothing went wrong. It was nil-nil. My team had a faultless performance.''

Karma arrived after 120 minutes of the stuff, a 4-3 shootout victory for France, which advances to face the winner of today's Germany-Croatia match on Wednesday night at the Stade de France.

``I feel as if I've been put through the wringer,'' said France coach Aime Jacquet. ``In the end, the best team won, even if penalties are always a bit of a lottery.''

It was the third successive World Cup the Italians have been eliminated in a shootout. Argentina did the trick in the 1990 semifinals, and then there was Brazil's triumph in '94, when Baggio smashed the ball well over the crossbar, which left them pondering fate.

``It leaves a very bitter taste,'' Baggio moaned. ``I would have preferred to lose in open play or, failing that, on a `golden goal.' Penalties are the worst way to lose.''

Said Maldini: ``It seems like we're cursed or something like that.''

If not for the tremendous performance of their back line, particularly right back Fabio Cannavaro, the Italians would have lost much earlier.

Zidane, one of seven French starters who played last season in Italy's Serie A, did pretty much as he pleased wherever he chose to go; that his forwards could do little with the service was testament to the manner with which the Azzurri shut off access to their goal and the frightful mess the French made of the few chances that fell to them.

France got off 24 shots in all to just seven for Italy. But aside from an early flurry, in which Zidane fired wide and Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca knocked a stunning back flick by Emmanuel Petit over the bar, and a couple blown chances by Youri Djorkaeff one an open net just missed before halftime the French found the Italians impossible to break down.

``There were a couple times during the first half where we were in danger, but that was it,'' noted Maldini, whose son, Paolo, teamed with Cannavaro, Giuseppe Bergomi and Alessandro Costacurta in the back. ``The French strikers (Stephane) Guivarc'h, (David) Trezeguet, (Thierry) Henry, Djorkaeff didn't really create any problems for us. I don't think our goalkeeper had much to do.

``The French tried to attack, but basically they were never all that threatening.''

Italy, it often seemed, didn't even try to attack. Christian Vieri, who entered the match with a Cup-leading five goals, was outmuscled by Marcel Desailly, and midfielders Petit, Didier Deschamps and Christian Karembeu closed off space so that the Italians rarely strung more than a couple passes together before surrendering possession.

Too negative? Not according to the elder Maldini.

``You have to, obviously, gauge the strengths and threats posed by the opposition . . .,'' he said. ``I had my strategy, I stuck to my guns, and I think I was right.''

Italy's game picked up once Baggio was brought on for disappointing Alessandro Del Piero in the 67th minute. He sparked the Italians, who came close twice to scoring - a hard shot by Gianluca Pessotto in the 89th that was directed it at French netminder Fabien Barthez, and a Baggio volley from just right of the goal that sailed inches wide of the far post almost halfway through the 30-minute overtime.

That was it for Italy until the shootout.

Baggio made his try on Italy's first kick, answering a Zidane conversion.

Pagliuca then halted a poorly placed drive by France's Bixente Lizarazu. That left Demetrio Albertini the opportunity to give Italy control, but he was stopped by Barthez.

The next five shooters - Trezeguet, Henry and Laurent Blanc for France, Costacurta and Vieri for Italy - connected. Then di Biagio booted the ball he'll never forget.

``I don't know what to say,'' he murmured later. ``It's really hard to accept. . . . I'm very sorry.''

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, right, celebrates with teammate Thierry Henry (12) after the decisive penalty shot is missed by Italy's Luigi di Biagio, on the ground at left.

Luca Bruno/Associated Press

(2--Color) Brazil's Rivaldo, front, celebrates his game-winning goal with teammates after defeating Denmark on Friday.

Remy de Lamauviniere/Associated Press

(3) Italy's Francesco Moriero passes the ball in front of France's Bixente Lizarazu during their match.

Michel Lipchitz/Associated Press