As the World Cup kicks off in France, the opening matches indicate that the competition will be tight

By BILL SAPORITO /PARIS

he first three days of competition in the World Cup produced only three winners, Brazil, Denmark and France, but chances are even if Les Bleus had lost, the host nation would still be happy. At last, sheer football has replaced ticketing scandals, terrorist roundups and Air France's strike in the world's headlines. Not even a brief scuffle between kids from Paris' deprived suburbs and French police after the opening parade could detract from the moment.

And the World Cup started just as it had finished four years ago in Pasadena: with a Brazilian victory. Brazil looked to make short work of Scotland, when Cesar Sampaio nodded home a short corner from Bebeto. The goal put a temporary halt to the non-stop party the traveling Tartan Army had been enjoying since their arrival.

But Sampaio put the Scots back in the game in the 38th minute by taking down Kevin Gallacher in the box, and John Collins rammed in the equalizing penalty. But then, midway through the second half the team which has never advanced beyond the first round in a World Cup showed why. Although the brilliant Ronaldo had shown some flashes of his genius amid tight marking, it was the insertion of Denilson at the 70th minute that restored Brazil's tempo. Denilson found Dunga at the top of the box, and his cross met Cafu running at full gallop. Cafu flicked the ball onto the Scotland goalkeeper's chest, from where it cruelly rebounded against defender Tommy Boyd into the back of the net, a cursed and crushing own goal that brought the final score to 2-1 in favor of the favorites. Indeed, defenders everywhere were having problems with directions, as four own goals were recorded before the first weekend of the tournament.

The Scots are famously good losers--"Win or lose, we're on the booze," read one Scottish T-shirt. But if the first game ended miserably (for the Scots) or gloriously (for the Brazilians) predictable, the rest of the matches played on the opening days of the tournament were not. The concern that the ban on tackles from behind would result in many red cards and lopsided results was disproved. But maybe it was just the fear of dismissals that led to games played at a brisk pace, with many goal scoring opportunities. And if the Chile-Italy or Morocco-Norway matches are anything to go by, this year's competition is going to full of surprises.

Italy, runners-up four years ago, and carrying an enormous weight of national expectation, got off to their usual inauspicious start. Goal scorer Alessandro Del Piero is still recovering from a thigh strain and Fabrizio Ravanelli, another prolific scorer, was sent home with flu. But Roberto Baggio demonstrated that his inclusion in the team was merited, his deft flick on to Christian Vieri leading to a goal against Chile in the 10th minute.

But Marcelo Salas, Chile's star striker, contracted to play in Italy next year, showed his future colleagues what they'll be in for with two stunning goals. The first came with help from Ivan Zamorano, another Italian league player--the second a powerful header over a hapless defender that took Chile unbelievably (or so it seemed to the Chilean players) into the lead. Only a penalty created and converted by Baggio, exorcising the humiliation from his penalty miss in Pasadena, leveled the score and spared his teammates vitriol from the Italian press.

It had been a similar story the previous evening. Norway had entered the tournament with glowing notices. But the Atlas Lions of Morocco must not have read the newspapers, and were busy blowing past the Norwegian defense all evening. Forward Moustafa Hadji slammed home a terrific strike. Only appalling defending by Morocco and what one English commentator called dodge pot goalkeeping allowed Norway back into the game twice. Again the score line ended 2-2. Elsewhere the story was similar deadlock. Austria equalized in the last minute against everyone's favourite team Cameroon for another draw and neither Paraguay nor Bulgaria could manage a goal in their closely fought contest.

Denmark emerged as the second winner, beating a game Saudi Arabia 1-0, but Friday belonged to France. Behind the incomparable midfield passing of Zinedine Zidane, France powered to a 3-0 win--helped by two own goals by Pierre Issa--over a South African team that had talked bravely about upsetting some of the favorites. It will be an uphill battle for them to overturn an in-form Denmark to qualify from their group.

Even Scotland still has everything to play for. "We were not humiliated by the world champions," said their coach Craig Brown, after the opening match. And it was true. Scotland made the Brazilians look beatable. It's early days, but at the moment it looks like the Cup is very much up for grabs.