Michel Platini, France's inspiration in the
1984 European Championship.
Hosts France won their first European Championship in some
style, scoring goals for fun and delighting the watching football world
with their free-flowing serenity.
Captain Michel Platini of Juventus was France's inspiration and heartbeat
throughout the fortnight of competition.
He scored nine goals from his forward midfield position and created numerous
others for the players around him. He, along with the rest of that magical
French midfield - Giresse, Tigana and Fernandez - was simply a joy to
behold.
In their opening match against Denmark, France were fortunate to survive
a few first-half scares before they took the lead 13 minutes into the
second period. Platini, the European Footballer of the Year, blasted a
shot past Qvist to send the Parc des Princes crowd into raptures.
The Danes threw on Jesper Olsen and it was he who was involved in an unsavoury
incident with the French defender Amoros which resulted in the defender
being sent off. France, though, held on to their one-goal advantage.
Against Belgium Platini showed his style by scoring a excellent hat-trick
as France won 5-0, the same scoreline as the other Group A fixture that
day between Yugoslavia and Denmark, with the Scandanavians coming through
as winners.
In their final group match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, France trailed
1-0 to a Sestic goal for Yugoslavia but, keeping calm, they came back
with Platini turning on the style to score a hat-trick in a 17-minute
spell after half-time.
The man from Joeuf scored with his left foot, his right foot and his head
to take France through to the semi-finals as group winners.
Denmark needed only a draw in their final group game to qualify for the
last four with France but rather than close the match to try to ensure
the solitary point, they approached the game in their usual open and attacking
manner.
After Belgium took a 25th minute lead through Ceulemans, Vercauteren made
it two seven minutes later and the Danes' place in the semis looked to
be in severe doubt.
However, ninety seconds later they were back in the game when Arnesen
converted a penalty following a foul onPreben Elkjaer and, on the hour,
equalised through substitute Brylle.
Belgium came close to scoring several times before Elkjaer scored a goal
of his own in the 83rd minute when he spooned a strange-looking shot over
Pfaff's head, giving Denmark all three points.
Group 2 was a slightly tamer affair which started with World Cup finalists
West Germany against Portugal. The Germans, missing the injured Bernd
Schuster, dropped Karl-Heinz Rumminigge into midfield. The result was
a dull 0-0 draw which the Portuguese took heart from.
After Spain and Romania drew 1-1 in their match, West Germany took on
the Romanians and scored an early goal through Rudi Voller. After Romania
scored an equaliser, it was the Werder Bremen man who scored again midway
through the second half to gift the Germans both points.
later that same day Spain and Portugal met in Marseille and though Sousa
gave the Portuguese the lead six minutes after half-time, Spain grabbed
a deserved point thanks to Santillana's goal.
On the final day, Portugal secured a narrow 1-0 win over Romania through
Nene but were still reliant on the result from the West Germany-Spain
match. The Germans battered the Spanish goal but Maceda scored an amazing
breakaway goal to send both Iberian sides into the semis.
In the final four the hosts met Portugal in what is considered one the
greatest matches in the history of European football. France started things
off by taking the lead through Domergue and they managed to hold that
1-0 advantage until deep into the second half.
Then, with a few minutes remaining, Jordao rose high to head Portugal
level and take the game into extra time.
The ceaseless, end-to-end football was a privilege to watch as both teams
sensed their chance to win was at hand. Then a right-wing cross was sent
into the French penalty area, fell for Jordao who mishit it, but it bounced
high into the French net: 2-1 Portugal.
Then, with Platini desperatly trying to inspire his team-mates, Jean Tigana
went on a solo run through midfield. After a scramble, the ball fell to
Domergue who scored again and France had renewed hope.
Finally and inevitably, a chance fell late on to Platini who took his
time before dispatching a right-footed drive into the Portuguese net to
send the Marseille crowd wild and record a famous 3-2 win for his team.
In the other semi-final, Spain and Denmark went to penalties after a dull
match in which Lerby scored for the Danes and Maceda for the Spanish.
With neither team wanting to risk the chance of getting caught on the
counter-attack, the match slowed and it was something of a relief when
penalties finally arrived. There, Spain prevailed 5-4 and progressed to
the Paris Final.
France took the lead in the Final after a somewhat dubious free-kick was
awarded to them just outside the Spanish penalty area to the left of the
'D'.
The Spanish lined up to defend the kick which was taken by Michel Platini.
Somehow, the Spanish 'keeper Luis Arconada fumbled Platini's weak effort
and the ball rolled agonisingly over the line.
Then, with France reduced to ten men late in the game after Le Roux was
sent off for a second bookable offence, Spain came anxiously forward,
looking to try to haul themselves back into the match.
In the final moments the French wrapped things up with a decisive second
goal, scored on the break through Bruno Bellone. Jean Tigana cleared the
ball from out of defence, Belllone ran clear of the demoralised Spaniards
and chipped the ball over Arconada for a grandstand finish.
1984 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
QUALIFYING
France qualified as hosts. Group winners qualified for finals.
