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'86 Cup revisited?
If history repeats, final should be one for the ages
Posted: Friday July 10, 1998 01:19 AM
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France's Michel Platini scored the only goal Brazil allowed in the 1986 World Cup (Allsport UK/Allsport) |
PARIS (AP) -- If Sunday's World Cup final is anything like the last
time Brazil
and France
met in the tournament, well, bring it on. A dozen years ago in
the quarterfinals at Guadalajara, Mexico, an
entertaining, aggressive France met the usually creative, sometimes
brilliant squad from Brazil. Unlike this year's final, in which
the four-time champion Brazilians are favored, that game was considered a
tossup. France featured possibly the best midfielder in the world in Michel
Platini -- the organizer of France 98. It had such other stalwarts as Luis
Hernandez, Jean Tigana, Jean-Pierre Papin and Dominique Rocheteau. The
French could score with anyone. Brazil featured Careca, Zico,
Socrates, Julio Cesar and Jnior, all considered among its greatest
players. "It'll be a battle for control of the midfield and
we'll have to close up the lanes and block the space," Junior said, echoing
the exact task the French will have on Sunday in Stade de France.
"We have the belief we can compete with Brazil," coach Henri Michel said.
"We are a strong team, also." The two strong teams pushed for a
goal early and never stopped. Brazil's Muller hit the goalpost
and the crossbar. Rocheteau missed a wide open net. In the 17th
minute, Careca, one of Brazil's greatest finishers, completed a three-way
move with Muller and Junior, sending a one-touch shot past goalkeeper Joel
Bats. The French didn't back down to merely try to keep it
close. It simply was not their style, and they got the tying goal as
Platini ended a scramle in the penalty area with a short shot. On his 31st
birthday, no less. That was the only goal Brazil allowed all
tournament. Brazil looked like it was in charge when Bats was
forced to tackle Branco in the box with 16 minutes to go. Awarded a penalty
kick, up stepped Zico - now the team's coordinator, but the one of its
veteran players.
Zico (right) missed a penalty kick in regulation against France, but drilled his penalty kick in OT to give Brazil the advantage (David Cannon/Allsport) | |
He missed, with Bats making a diving save.
In overtime, both teams had excellent scoring opportunities, but
couldn't find the net. That led to the shootout. Brazil was
magnificent in its semifinal shootout against the Netherlands
on Tuesday in Marseille, knocking in all four penalty kicks to win. But
back in Mexico, it hardly was as sharp. Socrates, another
veteran, shot to Bats' right and the goalie got there to block it. Yannick
Stopyra scored for France. Alemao was successful for Brazil and
Manuel Amoros hit for France. Zico, getting another chance, drilled in his
shot, but Bruno Bellone connected. It was 3-2 for France. Branco
evened matters, but Platini certainly would give the French the lead. Sorry
-- he shot well over the crossbar. That rought on Julio Cesar
with a chance to give Brazil the lead and force Hernandez to score to keep
France in the shootout. But he hit the goalpost, putting Hernandez in
position to win it. No problem. That began wild
celebrations on the field and in Paris - the kind expected Sunday if France
wins. And it began some deep soul-searching in Brazil, where the
world title is considered a birthright. "It's time now to form a
new selection that has possibilities for winning the next World Cup,"
midfielder Elzo said. "This can't afford to wait four years."
Tele Santana, who resigned as Brazilian coach after the loss, looked for
consolation in the quality and high drama of the match, callig it "the best
I've ever seen in a World Cup . . . it should have been the final."
This time, it is.
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