RFA – France 1982: Amoros, a tavern on “Seville Night”
Like the penalty shootout defeat against Argentina (3-3, 4-2 in tab), Sunday in the World Cup final, the Habs lost to FRG, in Seville, during the 1982 World Cup (3-3 ab, 5-4 on Pens), remains one of the greatest psychological dramas in the history of French football. If the four goals scored in overtime allowed this meeting to become a legend, it could well have ended in regulation time.
With penalties, Michel Platini (28) responds to Pierre Littbarski’s opener (17). Despite Harald Schumacher’s massive mistake on Patrick Battiston, the Blues did not lose and stayed in the match. A symbol of the rise of the French during the past half hour, the side, Manuel Amoros, fired a powerful long shot that hit the German crossbar (89). The sequel is known. Two absolutely insane 15-minute periods in which the Blues led 3-1 before being eclipsed, and a penalty shootout defeat that shocked an entire generation.
Italy-France 2006: Zidane header before header
The 2006 World Cup, more specifically the final between France and Italy (1-1 ab, 3-5 on pens), marked the end of an era. After announcing that this competition will be his last, Zinedine Zidane, top scorer in the Round of 16 against Spain (3-1) and author of the ceremony against Brazil in the quarter-finals (1-0), is considered one of the craftsmen of the tournament. From the blues to the final. As in the match against Portugal in the semi-finals (1-0), “ZZ” boldly opened the scoring against Transalpins (7).
And Zidane had failed to give the advantage to the Blues, in the 103rd minute he stumbled upon the huge Gianluigi Buffon. (S Manti / Team)
Marco Materazzi responded with a header after 12 minutes, and the meeting soon became breathless. The Berlin Olympics are the scene of a tense stretch as Franck Ribéry gets his first chance to turn the game around (99th). Then, in a position applied by Willy Sagnol, Zidane presses his head in order to put the ball under the crossbar. But on his way he found Gianluigi Buffon, his former Juventus team-mate in Turin, composing a decisive tap-in in the 103rd minute. About ten minutes later, Zidane hit Materazzi’s header in the chest and the Italians beat the French on penalties, leaving Berlin with their fourth world title.
Portugal-France 2016: Gignac, the unlikely semi-champion
After Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup, the French team had the opportunity to win its third trophy on home soil. In the Euro 2016 final, the Blues, despite being dominant for 90 minutes, succumbed to Portugal (0-1 a.m.). The opposite hero is not Cristiano Ronaldo, who was injured in the first period after a tackle from Dimitri Payet, but the former Lille resident Eder. With a long shot near the post (109′), the striker donned hero’s robes and allowed Portugal to win their first title.
For a few centimeters, Gignac stumbles on the sum of Rui Patricio, in extra time of the Euro 2016 final (F. Seguin / L’Équipe)
But Eder may never have had such an opportunity. In second-half stoppage time, Pepe, flawless until then, was hit cold by Andre-Pierre Gignac with a hook. The Blues striker, positioned 6 meters from Rui Patricio, fired a shot from the right side that closed. For the first time in the evening, the Portuguese goalkeeper gets hit, but the ball hits the post (90 + 1) and escapes in front of Antoine Griezmann. Having left for Tigres a few months ago, a “superersub” who never scored in the finals, Gignac is very close to knowing his hour of glory. Instead, eternal regret.
France-Switzerland 2021: Koeman, the forgotten hemisphere
The early exclusion of the French national team against Switzerland, in the 16th round of the Euro last year (3-3 after, 4-5 on the pens), is considered a serious disaster. He advanced 3-1 a quarter of an hour from the end after a double from Karim Benzema and a wonderful shot from Paul Pogba, and Didier Deschamps’ men joined at the end of the match, after a header from Seferovic (81), and a. A cross from Javranovic (90).
Koeman sends his recovery on Sumer’s tape in stoppage time (90 + 4). (Fougier / Team)
Before extra time, followed by a penalty shootout that would again prove fatal for the Blues, Kingsley Coman gets a match point, which will take a back seat to the post-defeat turmoil. After running past Moussa Sissoko, the Munich winger attempted a right-footed half-volley. Yann Sommer can do nothing, but he is saved by the crossbar (90 + 4). For the second time in a row, Didier Deschamps’ quest for the Euro was thwarted by an amount.
Argentina-France 2022: Kolo Moani and Martinez’s legendary saves
The story was like a fairy tale. Randall Kolo Mane entered the match in the 40th minute in Olivier Giroud’s transparent relay, upsetting the meeting of Argentina (3-3 ab, 4-2 on pens). Insightful in dribbling and omnipresent in duels, the former Nantes player almost surrendered his team in one last act that could have gone down as legendary in the history of French football. Extra time is drawing to a close, the French and the Argentines succumb to a heavy blow, and come back in the 120th minute, as the penalty shootout dawns. But football is at its most dramatic.
In an over from Ibrahima Konate, the Frankfurt striker took advantage of an error in judgment by the Argentine defense to appear alone in front of the opposing goalkeeper. At this moment, time stops. The moment when Kolo Mwani lets loose a rebound, takes the ball in a half ball, and stumbles with the left foot of Martinez who will end up being the protagonist of the story. As a testament to his strength of character, the former Nantes still deflected his shot on goal against the Argentine goalkeeper. Even if he could not blame himself for this action, this game would undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on his memory and the memory of millions of French people.
