FRENCH TOAST TEAM; HOME SQUAD NEARS HISTORY.

Byline: Jere Longman The New York Times

Never has France played a soccer match as eagerly anticipated or as important as the one it will play tonight against Croatia in the semifinals of the World Cup.

Three times previously France has advanced to the semifinals, but each time it has gone away unfulfilled. There is more at stake now.

France, once an indifferent host of the 1998 World Cup, has united its screaming, horn-honking, flag-waving passion behind Les Bleus. Anything less than a victory would cause national heartbreak.

As the home team, France has all the pressure but also many of the advantages. It will play Croatia before loyal fans at the 80,000-seat Stade de France in Saint-Denis. And if they win, Les Bleus will return to the stadium for Sunday's championship game. The home team has not won the World Cup since Argentina in 1978, but as French captain Didier Deschamps said Tuesday at the national training center, ``I feel the opportunity to do something historic.''

But he cautioned against looking too far ahead, because the semifinals have always been a blind curve for France. In 1958, 17-year-old Pele scored a hat trick as Brazil ousted France 5-2.

Then there was the throbbing 1982 semifinal when France lost Patrick Battiston, and a couple of Battiston's teeth, on a vicious body block by German goalie Toni Schumacher, who was somehow not ejected. Michel Platini's French team managed a 3-1 lead in overtime but lost its composure and the match as Germany tied the score, then won on penalty kicks. The teams met again in the 1986 semifinals and again France lost 2-0.

A third semifinal meeting with Germany was averted when Croatia stunned the three-time world champions 3-0 in the quarterfinals. A French nation that hardly seemed to care about the World Cup is now draped in the flag. Soccer is chic. Didier called the fan support unexpected and inspiring.

Aime Jacquet, the French coach, is letting his bitterness seep out like air from a tire. Heavily criticized by fans and media for the team's emphasis on defense, his perceived weaknesses are now considered strengths. But he seems to feel that the newfound praise is both overdue and hypocritical.

``I'm so happy, because the people were misinformed about the team,'' Jacquet said Tuesday, barely hiding his contempt for French reporters. ``They thought we had no French team, no system in place. They wondered if there was a coach. Now the public is happily surprised and we are happily surprised at the public support.''

There seems to be more expectation than anxiety among French fans and players about this match, and the home team can find great security in its defensive wall of Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu, Laurent Blanc and Marcel Desailly, which has not been breached, except by penalty kicks, in five matches. But there is concern among the French about tired legs and imprecise feet.

France has extended itself into overtime and into penalty kicks, respectively, in its last two matches. The team doctor has said he is concerned about fatigue. And scoring goals has become rare and troublesome. After nine goals its first three games, all the French have to show in the last two matches are a goal by Blanc in overtime against Paraguay and a penalty-kick escape after a scoreless afternoon against Italy.

The players and coaches have fumbled for reasons to explain the drought. Perhaps they are trying too hard to be perfect. Perhaps it is the reticent French mentality. Perhaps it is a lack of confidence.

Midfielder Youri Djorkaeff has vowed, like Babe Ruth pointing to the home run fence, to put the ball in the net against Croatia.

``We shouldn't get blocked on this issue,'' Deschamps said Tuesday. ``We have been creating opportunities. We should be concerned if the opportunities weren't there.''

SEMIFINALS

TODAY`S GAME

France vs. Croatia

Noon, ESPN & Ch. 34

CROATIA`S ROAD TO THE SEMIS

Pool Play

Croatia 3, Jamaica 1

Croatia 1, Japan 0

Argentina 1, Croatia 0

Second Round

Croatia 1, Romania 0

Quarterfinals

Croatia 3, Germany 0

FRANCE`S ROAD TO THE SEMIS

Pool Play

France 3, South Africa 0

France 4, Saudi Arabia 0

France 2, Denmark 1

Second Round

France 1, Paraguay 0 (OT)

Quarterfinals

France 0, Italy 0

(France advances 4-3 on PK)

CAPTION(S):

2 Boxes

BOX: (1) CROATIA`S ROAD TO THE SEMIS (see text)

(2) FRANCE`S ROAD TO THE SEMIS (see text)