Classic Games – France v Brazil ‘86

France have been involved in some of the best World Cup games over the last thirty years, and the Brazil-France quarterfinal in Guadalajara in 1986 is one such game.

This was the last tournament for the generation of Platini, Rocheteau, Tigana etc and also for the Brazil of Zico, Socrates and Junior and both teams came out and attacked each other from the the start.

Careca put Brazil 1-0 up after 17 minutes, scoring from the edge of the box to round off a quick passing move and Platini equalised when a deflected cross reached him at the far post for a tap in just before halftime.
The game went back and forth in the second half until Brazil won a penalty with just over ten minutes to go. Zico, who’d only come on as a sub just before the penalty award, took a weak kick that Joel Bats easily saved.

Into extratime and the Brazil keeper Carlos should have been sentoff for a blatant bodycheck on a French forward who was clear through on goal, the referee played on and while the French players protested Brazil went down the other end and almost scored which would have been completely unjust.
1-1 at the end of extratime and a penalty shootout.

This game is incredible for the great players who missed penalties. Zico missed in normal time, Socrates took the first in the shootout, hardly took a step back and gave Bats a comfortable save. It got to 3-3 and Michel Platini, on his birthday, gave the ball a big kiss and blasted it over the bar.
Fortunately for him Julio Cesar smashed his against the post and Luis Fernandez was able to win the game and go on a long celebration run down the sidelines.

Platini misses his penalty