FRANCE98 – Mexico 1986

Unable to decide between Brazil and Colombia as the host nation for the 13th World Cup, FIFA eventually plumped for…Mexico. The former’s financial difficulties and Colombia’s technological constraints meant that the Mexicans were finally given the nod. A decision no doubt strongly influenced by the fact that the 1970 World Cup had been such an overriding success for them. A crushing blow in the form of a violent earthquake killing 20,000 people almost deprived the Mexicans of their long-awaited celebration. Eventually, however, they decided to push ahead.

Twenty four teams took part in the finals, just as had been the case four years earlier in Spain. This World Cup was different, however, in that all the second round games were played on a knock-out basis. With only 8 teams not making it through, the first round threw up very few surprises. A first, however, was Morocco becoming the first African nation to qualify for the second round in a World Cup finals competition.

The French, just as they had in 1982, won many fans due to their dazzling football, and the legendary and universally admired midfield foursome of Platini, Giresse, Tigana and Fernandez wrought havoc among even the best-organised defences.

The World Champions go down to the “Blues”

The “Blues” showed their class in ousting Italy, the world champion, in their last sixteen game, 2-0, before overcoming Brazil in Guadalajara—rather fortuitously but with a great deal of flair—in arguably the greatest match of all time. Tele Santana’s Brazilians twice hit the woodwork and frequently overran Michel Platini and his French side, who eventually won the day largely due to the performance of their goalkeeper Joël Bats—amongst other feats, he managed to save a Zico penalty 12 minutes from time. After winning a nailbiting penalty shoot-out (1-1 at full time, then 4 penalties to 3), the French reached the semis. But here, just like in Spain four years earlier, their dreams of World Cup glory were foiled by a fresher German eleven.

The Germans, ever-present in the final, once again stumbled at the last step. Beaten by Italy and Paolo Rossi in 1982, this time they were pipped at the post (3-2) by the Argentinians, led by Diego Maradona, fresh from their 2-0 victory over a plucky Belgian side in the semis. Argentina’s victory was as deserved as it was unexpected. The team was solid but uninspired, and it was a masterful Maradona that virtually won the World Cup for his country single-handed. His brilliance and goalscoring prowess (5 goals) made him, quite naturally, the Player of the Tournament. The only cloud over the proceedings came in the quarter-finals when he scored with his hand against England. This didn’t, however, spoil the party in Argentina, where 30 million people celebrated in the streets after the final victory.

Alain GIRESSE “All out-attack!” “I have special memories of the 1986 World Cup because I knew I was playing my last games for my country. And when you know you’ll be stepping down from the national team, you tend to want every moment to count.

But that World Cup, my second, is also wonderful to look back on because of the magnificent football we played. Our group in the first round was tough (USSR, Hungary and Canada), but we got through. In the second round we put out Italy and then Brazil in an incredible game. When you think of the quality of the opposition you realise the extent of our achievement. In the semi-final, however, once again we didn’t quite have what it took to beat the Germans.

As the 1984 European Champions we were considered to be among the favourites. We weren’t the surprise team anymore, like in 1982. We did, though, give a good account of ourselves and I get a certain satisfaction from remembering that. What I do regret is the playing conditions. The altitude and heat went against us in our semi-final against Germany.

France-Brazil remains one of the all-time great World Cup games. It was end-to-end football where both teams played instinctively and threw caution to the wind. It was all-out attack! “