Classic Games – France v West Germany ‘82

Two teams probably missed their destiny in 1982, a fabulous Brazil side who somehow managed to lose to Italy in the second phase and France who got to the semifinals against a workman like West Germany and must still be wondering how they didn’t reach the final.

France started the competition with a 3-1 defeat to England but then found their form and the net and by the time they got to the semifinals were a lot of people’s choice to go through because of the quality of their play.
They had a balanced team where most of the players were aged 26-29, nearing their peak.

The Germans scored first in the semifinal in Seville through a Littbarski shot from just outside the box and France equalised a few minutes later with a Platini penalty, 1-1 at halftime.
The second half produced one of the most infamous plays in the World Cup. Patrick Battiston had only been on as a sub for about ten minutes when he was played through on goal. Harald Schumacher, the German keeper came racing out of his area and jumped into the on running Battiston catching him with his full weight in the face.

Battiston was poleaxed, out cold and lost two teeth. Schumacher should have been sentoff but the Dutch referee somehow award a goalkick and the French players were understandably pissed.

The game went to extratime and France got two early goals a great volley from Tresor and shot from Giresse and I remember the commentor saying the Germans won’t come back from that, but somehow they did with Rummenigge and Fischer scoring from close range.
I can still see Michel Hidalgo, the French coach, blowing out his cheeks in disbelief when the Germans equalised.

The game went to penalties, Stielike missed at 2-2 but Didier Six also missed for France and at 4-4 Maxime Bossis had his kick saved by Scumacher. Bossis squated down near the penalty spot and slowly looked back to his teammates on the halfway line with a face that said ’sorry guys, I fucked up’.
Hrubesch scored the next kick and West Germany were through.

Can’t help wondering what a France v Brazil final would have been like that year