By Scott French, Senior Editor
in Carson, Calif.

Germany or Sweden will capture its first Women's World Cup crown on Sunday when the European giants renew their rivalry in a morning clash at the Home Depot Center.

It will be a historic clash, with either Tina Theune-Meyer, Germany's coach, or Sweden's Marika Domanski Lyfors becoming the first woman to guide a World Cup champion. The previous winners — the United States in 1991 (Anson Dorrance) and 1999 (Tony DiCicco) and Norway in 1995 (Even Pellerud) — were coached by men.

''I don't think it's important,'' Theune-Meyer said earlier this week. ''It's not a matter of sex,'' Domanski Lyfors added. ''It's a matter of personality and coaching style and what kind of team you have.''

Germany, co-favorite with the United States entering the Cup, has been an offensive juggernaut, scoring 23 goals — on top of 30 during qualifying — with Birgit Prinz set to win the Golden Boot with seven strikes. Midfielder Maren Meinert, the 2003 WUSA MVP with the Boston Breakers, is the creative center along with all-time German caps leader Bettina Wiegmann, a deep-lying midfielder.

Germany also has been outstanding defensively, and its semifinal victory over the United States was built on sublime performances by goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg and defenders Ariane Hingst and Kerstin Stegemann.

Sweden has gone through more peaks and valleys during the World Cup than has the Germans, improving through a rough schedule following a horrid first half that doomed its opener against the United States. Forwards Victoria Svensson and Hanna Ljungberg are an agile attacking combination supported by midfielders Malin Mostrom and Malin Andersson. Karolina Westberg marshals a solid, experienced backline.

Germany has won six of 11 meetings, with a 19-18 edge in goals, and it topped the Swedes in overtime in the title game of the 2001 European Championship.

''Germany looks very strong, but I'm looking forward to meeting them and beating them,'' Ljungberg said after Sweden's semifinal win over Canada. ''I know we can do it.''

U.S. players, who have faced both teams in this Cup, give the edge to Germany.

''There's no doubt in my mind [Germany] is going to win the championship,'' Abby Wambach said.

Added Julie Foudy: ''Sweden's very good, but I think Germany is going to be able to handle them physically.''

Germany reached the 1995 final and lost to Norway.

GERMANY vs. SWEDEN (Oct. 12 at Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.)

Women's World Cup final
Kickoff: 10 a.m. PT.
TV: ABC, TeleFutura (live).
Referee: Floarea Cristina Ionescu (Romania)

Projected Starting Lineups:
Germany — Rottenberg, Stegemann, Hingst, Minnert, Gottschlich, Wiegmann, Lingor, Garefrekes, Meinert, Wunderlich, Prinz. Sweden — Jonsson, Marklund, Westberg, Tornqvist, Bengtsson, Ostberg, Sjostrom, Mostrom, Andersson, Svensson, Ljungberg.

GERMANY
1 ROTTENBERG Silke, 2 STEGEMANN Kerstin, 3 BRESONIK Linda (injured), 4 KUENZER Nia, 5 JONES Steffi (injured), 6 LINGOR Renate, 7 WUNDERLICH Pia, 8 SMISEK Sandra, 9 PRINZ Birgit, 10 WIEGMANN Bettina, 11 MUELLER Martina, 12 FUSS Sonja, 13 MINNERT Sandra, 14 MEINERT Maren, 15 ANGERER Nadine, 16 ODEBRECHT Viola, 17 HINGST Ariane, 18 GAREFREKES Kerstin, 19 GOTTSCHLICH Stefanie, 20 POHLERS Conny.

SWEDEN
1 JONSSON Caroline, 2 WESTBERG Karolina, 3 TORNQVIST Jane, 4 MARKLUND Hanna, 5 BENGTSSON Kristin, 6 MOSTROM Malin, 7 LARSSON Sara, 8 NORDIN Frida, 9 ANDERSSON Malin, 10 LJUNGBERG Hanna, 11 SVENSSON Victoria, 12 LUNDGREN Sofia, 13 JOHANSSON Sara, 14 FAGERSTROM Linda, 15 SJOGRAN Therese, 16 OLSSON Salina, 17 SJOSTROM Anna, 18 OSTBERG Frida, 19 CALL Sara, 20 OQVIST Josefine.