France vs. Croatia

SITE: Saint-Denis.

TIME: Noon. TV: ESPN, Channel 34.

* ABOUT CROATIA: “Croatia [is] technically very strong,” said Aime Jacquet, France’s coach. “[The Croats] are hard to break down and dangerous in counterattacking. Don’t expect an exciting game. We’re going to have to break down an eight-man defense. It’s going to be tough and a severe test of our resilience. We are going to have to take the game to them. They will try to hit us on the break and we will have to beware of [Robert] Jarni and [Mario] Stanic, who are quick to join in counterattacks. It will be tight and perhaps not very pretty, but we will just have to toil away, waiting for the openings.”

* ABOUT FRANCE: The French have been scored upon only once in the tournament, but Croatia’s coach is not impressed. “They might have only conceded a penalty, but I don’t think anyone has really attacked them down the flanks, which is where they leave themselves open when [Lilian] Thuram and [Bixente] Lizarazu push forward,” Miroslav Blazevic said. “[Zinedine] Zidane is one of the greatest players in the world,” said defender Slaven Bilic. “We realize that he and [Youri] Djorkaeff are going to cause us plenty of problems. But it is no use giving them too much respect.”

* OUTLOOK: France has a somewhat suspect goalkeeper but an outstanding defense; a superb playmaker in Zidane but a strike force that keeps misfiring. Croatia has a fine attack led by Davor Suker, and an adequate midfield and defense. If the French can score two or more goals, they win. If not, Croatia’s in the final.