Classic Games – France v Argentina ‘78

France’s second group game of the 1978 World Cup was against the hosts Argentina in the River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires, and it turned into a great game.

France were coming off a close opening game 2-1 lose to Italy and Argentina a 2-1 win over Hungary and the pressure was on France because Italy had won their second match earlier in the day, meaning defeat in this game and France couldn’t qualify.

Both teams came to attack and at the end of an even first half Argentina went 1-0 up through a Passarella penalty that the ref generously gave for a handball. France went for it in the second half and scored after a shot hit the bar and rebounded for Platini to fire in from about six yards. He then went on a run and set up Didier Six, who drew the goalkeeper but rolled the ball just past the left hand post, I can still remember that miss.

With about fifteen minutes to go the ball dropped to Leopoldo Luque, Argentina’s striker, around 25-30 yards out. The defence hesitated and Luque just smashed a volley into the top of the net with Baratelli in goal diving a second too late like he knew he had no chance.

Luque, who scored the winner

At the end of this game, Bobby Charlton, who was working for the BBC in Argentina said it was ‘the finest international match I’ve ever seen’.