France Wins a Match for the Ages : Brazil Is Ousted on Penalty Kicks, 4-3, in Dramatic Game
GUADALAJARA — In years to come, when soccer fans gather on rainy afternoons in the sidewalk cafes of the Champs Elysees or on the sun-baked sands of Copacabana beach, this is most likely to be the game they will talk about.
From Paris to Rio de Janeiro, in cities big and small throughout France and Brazil, this match will be remembered.
What took place here on a sticky-warm afternoon in Jalisco Stadium will reverberate through the decades as one of those rare sporting events that leave the spectators as emotionally drained as the players, that cause those who missed it to forever claim that they were there.
The record books will show that in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, France defeated Brazil, 4-3, on penalty kicks after the teams had played to a 1-1 tie in 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of overtime.
But no matter how detailed the official records are, they will never be able to re-create the nail-biting drama of the match itself, in which fortunes swung first one way, then another.
That the French won on penalty kicks after the teams had battled on even terms for two hours in 86-degree heat, is, in the long run, incidental. The real winner was the sport itself.
What memories the sellout crowd of 66,000 took home with it!
There was, for instance, the goal by Careca in the 29th minute that gave Brazil a 1-0 lead and set thousands of blue, yellow and green flags and banners in the stands waving furiously.
It stemmed from an attack begun on the right wing when Brazil’s Muller beat his defender and slipped the ball inside to Junior, who passed it along to Careca directly in front of the net.
Joel Bats, the French goalkeeper, had no hope of stopping the shot, but Bats’ moment in the sun would come later.
Then there was Michel Platini’s magnificent equalizer for France less than three minutes before halftime.
Like Brazil’s, this move, too, began on the right, with France’s Alain Giresse sending the ball out to overlapping defender Manuel Amoros, and Amoros crossing it sharply into the goal area.
Brazilian goalkeeper Carlos and French forward Yannick Stopyra each went after it and ended up in a tangle on the ground. The ball escaped both of them but did not escape Platini, sprinting in at the far post. The French captain, celebrating his 31st birthday, calmly re-directed it into the unguarded net, then wheeled away, his arms raised in triumph.
Given the way the first 45 minutes had gone, with first the Brazilians and then the French carrying the game to the enemy camp, 1-1 was a fair score at the half.
With both teams committed to a brand of attacking soccer, there were chances aplenty created at both ends and it seemed just a matter of time before more goals would come.
It was not to be. Each team’s defense seemed determined not to be outshone by its offense. For Brazil, central defender Julio Cesar was outstanding, time and again thwarting French forwards Stopyra and Dominique Rocheteau. For France, it was Amaros who was largely responsible for holding Careca, Muller and the rest of the Brazilians at bay.
And when the Brazilians did break through, Bats was there to see them off.
Back and forth the drama moved. In the 70th minute, Carlos brought off a magnificent save on a shot by French midfielder Jean Tigana. Six minutes later, it was Brazil’s turn to groan as a sharp header from Muller skipped off the top of the French crossbar.
With time running out, Brazil’s fans called upon Coach Tele Santana to send in Zico, a star who has been slowed by injuries. And, with 18:22 to play, Santana did. Zico’s contribution was immediate--and ultimately dooming for his team.
With Brazil once more on the attack, Alemao sprang Branco free, and, as Branco cut into the goal area one-on-one with Bats, the French goalkeeper tripped him. Romanian referee Ioan Igla did not hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot, and Zico stepped up to take the kick with only Bats in front of him.
The drumbeats that had provided a constant backdrop to the game rose another notch in volume as Brazil’s fans sensed victory just a 12-yard penalty-kick away.
They had forgotten about Bats, who dived to his right and punched clear Zico’s effort, to the unbridled delight of Bats’ teammates.
The remarkable save seemed to inspire the French, who subsequently were able to hold on for the remainder of regulation time.
In extra time, Bats again lifted his team, saving a point-blank header from Socrates and smothering a shot from Branco seconds afterward, and then later denying Alemao by tipping his fierce shot around the post.
The French, meanwhile, were relying on the quick counterattack and were unlucky not to be rewarded with just four minutes left in overtime.
When Bruno Bellone broke in one-on-one against Carlos, the Brazilian goalie rushed out of his net and appeared to grab Bellone’s arm or jersey, preventing him from reaching the ball.
Despite vigorous protests from the French players and their bench, the referee waved play on, either not having seen the incident or choosing to ignore it.
That set the stage for the best-of-five penalty kick decider and still more drama.
This was the sequence:
--Socrates directed a poorly struck shot at the lower right corner of the net that Bats, flinging himself to his left, managed to turn away.
--Stopyra fired a shot into the upper right corner that gave Carlos no chance and France a 1-0 lead.
--Alemao beat Bats with a strong shot into the lower right corner to tie it at 1-1.
--Amoros fired over Carlos’ dive to put France ahead, 2-1.
--Zico, taking no chances this time, blasted a low shot into the back of the net with Bats diving the wrong way. That made it 2-2.
--Maxime Bossis watched first in horror and then delight as his effort slammed into the right goalpost, rebounded out, struck Carlos in the back and wound up in the net. France now led, 3-2.
--Branco directed his shot into the center of the net, with Bats diving to his right and the score was tied, 3-3.
--Platini, inexplicably, lifted his shot high over the bar and then turned away, clutching his head in despair. The vast Brazilian crowd erupted. Brazil was back in the hunt.
--Julio Cesar fired a low shot that hammered into the base of the left post and caromed away. With it went Brazil’s newly reborn hopes.
--Fernandez lifted a shot over the diving Carlos and was immediately swamped by teammates.
Incredibly, France had won, earning a place in Wednesday’s semifinal against West Germany.
As for Brazil, there would be an emptiness. After the game, Santana resigned as coach of the Brazilians, saying his last game was the best he’d ever seen in the World Cup.
