WHO WILL HOIST THE CUP? : BRAZIL HAS FIREPOWER, BUT FRANCE IS DEFENDING THE HOMELAND.

Byline: Scott French Long Beach Press-Telegram 

A chance to make history drives both combatants in tonight's World Cup final at the Stade de France, although the aims, the means, even the dreams that guide the masters from Brazil and the upstarts from France remain vastly different.

The final World Cup match of the century, and the 64th game of this 33-day tournament, could provide the Brazilians, reigning champions and the world's most admired side, with an unparalleled fifth title. Or it could include France among the nations - just six - which have won the title since its inception 68 years ago.

It's a crown the Brazilians expect to claim. But the French squad will at least have home-country advantage - its run to the title game has enveloped France in euphoria.

``We have the chance to go down in history,'' says Zinedine Zidane, the brilliant midfielder who dictates every aspect of France's attack. ``We must grasp this chance.''

Some 80,000 at the futuristic stadium in this Paris suburb and a television audience estimated at 1.7 billion will see the French try to do so - a difficult assignment given Brazil's abilities, experience and confidence.

With Ronaldo and Rivaldo, two of the world's finest attackers, running things up front, and the rugged Dunga orchestrating from deep in midfield, the Brazilians are a dream team, capable of striking from anywhere at any time.

The championship may well hinge on how well France's defense, which has surrendered only one goal from the run of play during six World Cup matches, can contend with Brazil's multipronged attack. France's strength in this regard is Marcel Desailly, who has been flawless in the Cup. France's Achilles' heel, is the absence of Laurent Blanc, who will watch from the bench after receiving a controversial red card in a semifinal win over Croatia.

``Ronaldo is public enemy No. 1,'' said French captain Didier Deschamps. ``Even if we mark him man-to-man, that might not be enough to stop him because he is genius. . . . He will cause us a lot of problems if we let him play his own game. I think we can stop him, but to do it we need to show real intelligence.''

If France halts Ronaldo, 21, acknowledged the world's greatest player, there are plenty of other weapons Brazil can call upon. The team has the veteran Bebeto, plus Rivaldo, the best Brazilian player in this tournament. There are also wingbacks Roberto Carlos and Cafu, with Denilson coming off the bench.

France coach Aime Jacquet, who built a superb team from the remnants of an ailing side that had failed to qualify for the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, calls Brazil the ``masters of world (soccer)'' and the ``world's best team.'' It isn't just rhetoric. The French are aware they will be, for the first time this tournament, huge underdogs.

``We are not expected to win,'' admits Deschamps. ``A victory would be a bonus. . . . Brazil doesn't have to possess the ball to be dangerous; tactically, we can't match up with them. We'll have to focus on our strong points, namely defense, and I hope our defense wins the battle, because they have the best attack in this World Cup.''

The Brazilians have scored 13 goals, four by Ronaldo and three each by Rivaldo, Bebeto and Cesar Sampaio. Their defense is suspect, but the French attack has been dormant since the knockout phase began, scoring just three goals in three games, all by defenders.

None of that may matter come kickoff. France will have the majority of the fans, Brazil will have its history, its four championships ('58, '62, '70 and '94) and the confidence that success has instilled in the team.

``It will be a disaster for us if we do not win, but we will win,'' says Brazil coach Mario Zagallo, who as a player (in '58 and '62), head coach (in '70) or assistant coach (in '94) has been a part of the country's previous titles. ``We have reached the final of the World Cup, but all this counts for nothing if we don't win the final.

``I'm not overconfident. I'm just confident, and this is what I want to pass on to everyone. We all have our feet on the ground.''

ROSTERS

BRAZIL

1 Taffarel 13 Ze Roberto

2 Cafu 14 Goncalves

3 Aldair 15 Alves Cruz

4 Junior Baiano 16 Ze Roberto

5 Cesar Sampaio 17 Doriva

6 Roberto Carlos 18 Leonardo

7 Giovanni 19 Denilson

8 Dunga 20 Bebeto

9 Ronaldo 21 Edmundo

10 Rivaldo 22 Dida

11 Emerson Coach: Mario Zagallo

12 Carlos Germano 

FRANCE

1 Bernard Lama  13 Bernard Diomede

2 Vincent Candela  14 Alain Boghossian

3 Bixente Lizarazu 15 Lilian Thurman

4 Patrick Vieira 16 Fabien Barthez

6 Youri Djorkaeff 17 Emmanuel Petit

7 Didier Deschamps 18 Frank Lebouf

8 Marcel Desailly 19 Christian Karembeu

9 Stephane Guivarc'h 20 David Trezeguet

10 Zinedine Zidane 21 Christophe Dugarry

11 Robert Pires 22 Lionel Charbonnier

12 Thierry Henry Coach: Aime Jacquet

HOSPITABLE HOSTS

France is the eighth host nation to reach the World Cup final and has an opportunity to become the sixth team to win it. Here's a list of host nations that have accomplished the feat:

Year Host team Result

1930 Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2

1934 Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 (OT)

1950 Brazil lost to Uruguay 2-1

1958 Sweden lost to Brazil 5-2

1966 England beat West Germany 4-2 (OT)

1974 West Germany beat Netherlands 2-1

1978 Argentina beat Netherlands 3-1 (OT)

1998 France ???????

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) The Netherlands' Boudewijn Zenden, right, tumbles to celebrate a goal.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

(2) Brazil's Ronaldo is likely to be a key figure in today's final.

Ricardo Mazalan/Associated Press