PARIS, DEC 9: France will join an elite band of only three countries when they host the World Cup for the second time next year.

Whether they can join the elite band of six countries who have actually won the World Cup remains to be seen.

Only Mexico (1970 and 1986) and Italy (1934 and 1990) have staged the World Cup twice -- but of those four tournaments only Italy, in 1934, both hosted it and won it.

France will be looking to do just that -- do better than when they held the tournament at home in 1938 and were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Italy.

On current form, it is possible that is about as far as they might go again next summer. However, no one should be fooled by their current form.

With the expectation of millions of home fans urging them on, and a team which contains some outstanding talent, France could well make a very strong challenge for the title and should get through their first round group quite easily.

They meet South Africa in their opening match in front of the passionate fans of Marseile on June 12, then face Saudi Arabia in Paris on June 18 and finish their first round games against Denmark on June 24 in Lyons.

Coach Aime Jacquet has worked relentlessly on improving the team since he took over from fired coach Gerard Houllier in December 1993. France have no real weaknesses in defence or midfield, but the attack continues to cause concern.

With Parisian Patrice Loko sidelined because of psychological problems, and Barcelona's Christophe Dugarry nursing a foot injury, Jacquet has had to bet on experienced Stephane Guivarc and on youthful PSG striker Florian Naurice.

Ironically, France's current top scorer remains Yourj Djorkaeff with 15 goals in 31 games but the talented Inter Milan number 10 is more of a playmaker than a striker.

Maldini's struggle

ROME: Cesare Maldini, 65, took over from Arrigo Sacchi last December and, after reverting to old-style ``Catennacio'' counter-attacking tactics, guided his side to their momentous 1-0 win over England in his first competitive match.

His World Cup qualifying campaign jumped the rails over the summer and he was critisised for being unduly cautious when his side drew 0-0 with Poland, Georgia and England.

After Italy squeezed past Russia in the resulting play-offs, Maldini, an excitable character who can seldom contain himself on the bench, vowed to make chances before France '98. As a player, he won four league titles with Milan and Torino in the 1950s and 1960s after starting from home side Trieste. Born on February 5, 1932, his son Paolo is Italy's captain.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.