SkipNavigation
France - West Germany

France - West Germany

Date: 8 July 1982
Stadium: Sanchez Pizjuan
The history of the FIFA World Cup TM is punctuated with extraordinary matches that linger in the memory decades later. The semi-final of Spain 82 between West Germany and France is one such match - indeed it must go down as one of the most exciting games of football ever.
More »

I Was There…

Michel Hidalgo (France coach)
There was a kind of injustice. Maybe it was all in the lap of the gods because there are some forces you can't fight against.

Did You Know?

<<>>
1 2 3 4 5 
  • Six goals thrilled the fans at Mexico 86 though the teams shared nine when they met each other in the 1958 finals as France won 6-3.
  • France were to suffer again four years later when Germany FR recorded a 2-0 victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals in Mexico.
  • Michel Platini said of coach Michel Hidalgo: “We understood each other, spoke the same language. We knew the football we needed to play.”
  • Michel Hidalgo recalled the France players were “inconsolable” afterwards, adding: “They were crying like children in the dressing room.”
  • Zinedine Zidane remembers Frenchman Alain Giresse’s goal well: “He had an anger and a desire when he scored, with his little arms shaking.”

Related Classic Items

Classic Matches