Classic games: France v Bulgaria 1993

Well infamous is more the correct word for this game, played on 17th November 1993, France’s last qualifying game for the 1994 finals in the USA.

Sweden had already secured top spot in France’s group and with the top two going to the US, France needed only a draw with third place Bulgaria to clinch their ticket.

The game was played in the Parc des Princes and its interesting looking back on the French lineup which included future World Cup winners Desailly, Petit, Deschamps and Laurent Blanc but also Jean-Pierre Papin, Eric Cantona, new Rangers manager Paul Le Guen and on the bench David Ginola. Gerard Houllier was the manager.

France scored first through a close range Cantona shot but Bulgaria managed a quick reply and it was 1-1 at halftime. Bulgaria’s defence kept them in it as the game got down towards 90 minutes and France won a freekick near the Bulgarian corner flag as time was running out.

Ginola, on as a sub, hit a cross into the Bulgarian box when he could have killed time with it, and as no French players were in the area Bulgaria got the ball, broke down field and in a quick move got the ball to Emil Kostadinov who ran past the French defenders and smashed the ball into the top of the net.

Disaster for France, missing its second World Cup in a row and for some of the players involved. Ginola was made the scapegoat by Gerard Houllier and his successor, Aime Jacquet, never picked Ginola.
Cantona also never went on to have a long international career despite being the king on Old Trafford and Papin would have to settle for Mexico 86 as his only World Cup experience.

Houllier and Ginola