It helps to be crazy to be a World Cup goalkeeper. Just take a look at the behavior of some of the custodians who will be in action during France 98. What a weird bunch they are. There's South American extroverts like Jorge Campos and Jose-Luis Chilavert and then there's Denmark's Peter Schmeichel -- known as the Terminator -- a man who thinks nothing of roundly abusing his teammates.

Then there's France's Bernard Lama, a goalkeeper with a ponytail who was once banned for smoking marijuana, and South Africa's Bernard Baloyi, who looks more like a reggae star than a professional sportsman.

Add in, too, the hard men who rarely smile on the pitch, like Germany's Andreas Kopke and Spanish veteran Andoni Zubizaretta. Forget, though, hard-drinking, womanising Scot Andy Goram -- he walked out on the squad just two weeks before the kick-off.

While the World Cup goalkeepers may seem to be a widely disparate bunch, they have one thing in common: They do thingstheir own way.

Mexican Campos and Paraguay's Chilavert are among the most flamboyant. The eccentric Campos, notably for his colourful outfits, is a paid-up member of the Rene Higuita school of acrobatic goalkeeping.

Campos, though, has been an international regular for seven years and his colourful personality can sometimes overshadow his undoubted talent.

Chilavert, who likes nothing more than the limelight, is even more eccentric. The Velez Sarsfield player has grabbed the limelight for exploits on and off the pitch, particularly his knack for scoring goals and making pre-match prognostications. He often takes penalties and freekicks, and scored two vital goals in Paraguay's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Chilavert has scored more than 30 goals at club level and during 1997 scored four goals in 35 internationals -- a prolific strike rate for a goalkeeper.

Schmeichel, the Great Dane, is a Jekyll and Hyde character who works himself intO a frenzy during matches. On the field, Schmeichel is anabrasive, prickly character, quick with a harsh word for teammates and rivals alike. Off the field, the Manchester United captain is a quiet, reflective man who is savouring every moment of his continued success at 34.

France's Lama is simply grateful to have another chance at glory. He was suspended for six months last year after he tested positive for marijuana and his career took a nosedive. His club, Paris St Germain, washed their hands of him and he spent several months in limbo -- ignored by French coach Aime Jacquet -- until English Premier League club West Ham gave him the chance to reignite his career.

Like many goalies, Lama is a player who thrives in the limelight and he recently launched his own Internet site (www.bernardlama.com) to keep fans up to date with his activities and those of the French team in the lead-up to the finals. Lama's love of the spotlight is in direct contrast to Kopke, the undisputed German No.1. Kopke rarely has a word to say, preferring others to do the post-matchtalking.

It used to be said that South Africa's Baloyi was monosyllabic and colourless. He had his hair died blond and teased in a short dreadlocks. He has been dubbed "the human dishmop". "People said I was shy," he explained.

None of the World Cup goalkeepers are likely to gain as much exposure as Albert Camus, Pope John Paul II or Julio Iglesias -- three former goalkeepers who went on to greater fame -- but they look certain to enjoy themselves on the biggest football stage of them all.

Tommorrow: A look at the defenders

President's man who would be king
Alan Hubbard In London

The fact that he was once president of the World Society of Friends of Suspenders, which regretted the replacing of suspender belts by pantyhose, suggests that Sepp Blatter is one of the chaps. A leg man, no less, who in Paris in a week is poised to get a leg up. The former secretary-general and chief executive of Fifa, the ruling body of world football, is now clear favourite to succeed hiserstwhile boss, Joao Havelange, as president, a position which, begging the pardon of the Olympian grandee Juan Antonio Samaranch, will make him the most important single figure on Planet Sport.

Supporters of his only rival, the Swede Lennart Johansson, will argue that this will be simply a case of Robin taking over from Batman, but Blatter says if he gets the nod it will be because he is his own man, not Havelange's.

"JSB for President," urges the front cover of his glossy 14-page campaign manifesto, which promises the "dream ticket" of a virtual duopoly with Michel Platini, the former French star who is running the imminent World Cup, as Fifa's first director of football.

Last week, as he prepared to fly off on a final vote-gathering mission to Asia and Africa, the man who would be king of football declared to me that he was feeling "confident and comfortable" about being elected at the Fifa congress which precedes the World Cup.

He has the endorsement of the old boy from Brazil, who, at 82, isstepping down after 24 years, and the knowledge that Johansson, president of the European football body Uefa, is losing friends and no longer influencing the right people.

Footballers past and present are rallying around Blatter. Beckenbauer has switched his allegiance to him and Africa's best-known player, George Weah of Liberia, says: "Africa's future lies in Blatter's leadership. He is the man Africa can rely on." Portugal's Eusebio was waiting to offer his support.

Blatter, more than anyone, knows how politically important the game has become, and why it is such a dominant influence on our lives. "Football is the one game which is based on the instinctive movement of of the human being. Everybody kicks, beginning in their mother's belly." Everyone can play football: tall, small, fat or thin. All races, all religions. The game is simple. Put the ball in a net. You know when you start, you know when you finish. "Football is emotion. Football is passion, based on combat between villages, regions, citiesand nations. It is the world's most popular game." "Football," argues Blatter, is "the biggest political party in the world". It is also now one of the world's richest industries. "I don't think we can ever speak about too much money coming into football, but we must ensure it remains in football, and does not go into the pockets of the entrepreneurs."

Observer News Service

Warm-Up Games

Italy stunned

GOTHENBERG: Italy were given a nightmare send-off to the World Cup finals here on Tuesday evening when they crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat to Sweden. Roberto Baggio was Italy's most promising player on the field but it was his Bologna teammate Kennet Andersson who finally stole the show, nodding home the winner in the 90th minute. Italy's midfield were to blame for a flat first-half performance: they failed to drive through the supply routes for Baggio and Fabrizio Ravanelli, who were given little real chance to cause trouble.

Sixer For Austria: Warmed-up Austriawamred up for France 98 with a 6-0 walloping of football minnows Liechtenstein at the Ernst Happel Stadium on Tuesday night, while South Africa did their morale a world of good with a 5-0 win over VfB Stuttgart, a German club side.

The French Cuppa Quick Sips

Don't take your country hostage

Michel Platini, co-President of France's World Cup committee, has made an impassioned plea to Air France pilots, urging them not to strike during the World Cup finals. The former French star said here on Tuesday: "We can all have a moan at our bosses but when it comes to transport strikes, we shouldn't take a country hostage." Germany is taking no chances with its football federation putting contingency plans in place to combat strike action. Bern Pfaff, the DFB director, revealed: "We think the difficulties with Air France will be resolved before June 10 but have still taken precautions."

Peruzzi gets the brush-off

It used to happen to members of the former Soviet Communist Party who came toa sticky end, now it's the fate of Italy's injured goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, ruled out of the World Cup by a torn calf muscle. Italian officials have decided against a new official squad photograph -- the technical wizards are simply going to airbrush Peruzzi off the page and insert substitute goalkeeper Fiorentina Francesco Toldo. The results should be interesting: Toldo is a good 15 cm taller than Peruzzi.

Ronaldo on an anti-AIDS campaign

Brazilian star Ronaldo has joined forces with World Aids Campaign, an organisation set up to promote the involvement of young people in community action on HIV and AIDS. The 21-year-old, who will act as a special representative, said: "As a young person I am very aware of this virus and I believe I can play an important role in standing up to this threat. When I play to win I play safe."

Djorkaeff: France can't do without me

Striker Youri Djorkaeff, whose 73rd minute goal saved France's blues against Morocco in the Hassan II tournament on Friday,says he is indispensable to French coach Aime Jacquet's World Cup final plans. Brought on as a substitute in the Casablanca game which ended in a 2-2 draw withMorocco winning on penalties, he said: "The French team can't do without Djorkaeff and Djorkaeff can't do without them."

"The trainer and me, we have spoken the same language for the past four years. There are things that we don't need to explain to each other. I know that I have his confidence."

Huge Dutch support forecast

Over 30,00 Dutch supporters are expected to turn up for each of Holland's opening round matches, according to the Dutch football federation. "The Dutch have been imaginative and succeeded in getting extra tickets after the telephone sale," said Will van Rhee, responsible for ticket allocation in Holland.

Great Expectations: Group F

Germany head a group that is bound to have a lot of political tension, what with the presence of United States and Iran. Yugoslavia, once a major force, have been hit hard by thepartition and there may be some connoisseurs who would wonder what it would be like if Croatia too had been part of this side. Germany should sail along with the fight for the second placebeing between Yugoslavia and US. But Iran with a nothing-to-lose attitude could cause a problem or two.

GERMANY

Coach: Berti Vogts
Key Players: Klinsmann, Kirsten, Bierhoff, Zeige, Haeseller, Moller
Past Appearances: (13): 34, 38, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94
Glory Times: 1954, winners in 1974 and 1990
Points In Their Favour