VII EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (FRANCE 1984)

FINAL STAGE — GAME DETAILS

(From 12-06-1984 to 27-06-1984)

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Parc des Princes (Paris) DATE: 12-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 47.570 REFEREE: Volker Roth (FRG) GOALS: 1-0 (Platini 78') [Incidents: Amorós was sent off (min. 87).]
		France - Denmark
		1-0 (0-0)
FRANCE Bats Battiston, Le Roux (Domergue 60'), Bossis, Amorós (c) Tigana, Giresse, Platini, Fernández Lacombe, Bellone COACH: Michel Hidalgo			DENMARK Qvist Busk, M. Olsen (c), Nielsen, Lerby Arnesen (J. Olsen 80'), Berggreen, Bertelsen, Elkjær Larsen Laudrup, Simonsen (Lauridsen 46') COACH: Sepp Piontek
GAME SUMMARY Unlike previous editions of the tournament, the opening game of the European Championship finals was a really thrilling match as both sides played a delightful blend of open attacking football. The first half provided an exciting mixture of bustling attack and over-enthusiastic tackling (which should have been stopped by the German referee Herr Roth) and, in minute 43, this culminated in an unfortunate incident. Le Roux lunged at Simonsen in the midfield and the Danish attacker went down and lay frantically signalling for assistance. For over a minute Simonsen’s pleas for help were ignored by the referee, and it was only when the Danes had kicked the ball out that he was able to receive attention for a badly broken leg. In the second half the French gained the upperhand and, after missing a number of chances, went ahead twelve minutes from the end when Platini, the European Footballer of the Year, blasted the ball past Qvist. Jesper Olsen was immediately brought on as substitute to add fire to the Danish attack and, three minutes from the end, he was involved in an unsavory incident with Amorós: when he fouled the French defender, Amorós responded first by throwing the ball at him and, when this missed, by head-butting Jesper Olsen to the ground. Needless to say, Amorós was sent off and subsequently suspended for the next three games, but France held on to their one goal advantage to ensure their first win.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Félix Bollaert (Lens) DATE: 13-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 41.525 REFEREE: Erik Fredriksson (SWE) GOALS: 1-0 (Vandenbergh 28'); 2-0 (Grün 45')
		Belgium - Yugoslavia
		2-0 (2-0)
BELGIUM Pfaff Grün, Clijsters (Lambrichts 34'), De Greef, De Wolf Scifo, Vandereycken, Vercauteren, Ceulemans (c) Claesen, Vandenbergh COACH: Guy Thys			YUGOSLAVIA Simović N. Stojković, Zajec (c), Hadžibegić, Baždarević (D. Stojković 60') Gudelj, Katanec, Halilović, Šestić Sušić, Vujović (Cvetković 79') COACH: Todor Veselinović
GAME SUMMARY Belgium, without no fewer than four of their regular defenders, were fortunate to have 18-year-old Enzo Scifo in their team, as his delightful midfield artistry won them the game against Yugoslavia. Vandenbergh scored Belgium’s first goal midway the first half, and just on the stroke of halftime Grün (who was making his international debut) headed a second. After the break, Yugoslavia struggled in vain to get back into the game, and the score remained 2-0.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Stade de la Meinau (Strasbourg) DATE: 14-06-1984 (17:15 h) ATTENDANCE: 44.707 REFEREE: Romualdas Juška (USSR) GOALS: -
		FRG - Portugal
		0-0 (0-0)
FRG Schumacher Briegel, K. Förster, Stielike, B. Förster Rolff (Bommer 67'), Brehme, Buchwald (Matth. 67'), Rummenigge (c) Völler, Allofs COACH: Jupp Derwall			PORTUGAL Bento (c) João Pinto, Eurico, Lima Pereira, Álvaro Chalana, Carlos Manuel, Frasco (Veloso 79'), Jaime Pacheco Jordão (Fernando Gomes 85'), António Sousa COACH: Fernando Cabrita
GAME SUMMARY Portugal clearly signalled their intention of playing defensively when they lined up with just one recognized striker, Jordão. Because of the absence of Bernd Schuster (injured) and Hansi Müller (mired in a long-standing feud with the German Football Federation), West Germany pulled Rummenigge back into midfield with very negative effects, and it was only in the second half, when he returned to his natural position as attacker, that they began to threat Portugal. The Portuguese, however, managed to hold firm and West Germany had to settle for a goalless draw.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Geoffroy Guichard (Saint-Étienne) DATE: 14-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 16.972 REFEREE: Alexis Ponnet (BEL) GOALS: 1-0 (Carrasco [p.] 22'); 1-1 (Bölöni 35')
		Spain - Romania
		1-1 (1-1)
SPAIN Arconada (c) Urquiaga, Maceda, Goicoechea, Camacho Señor, Víctor, Gallego (Julio Alberto 73'), Gordillo Santillana, Carrasco COACH: Miguel Muñoz			ROMANIA Lung Rednic, Ştefănescu (c), Iorgulescu, Ungureanu Dragnea (Ţicleanu 57'), Coraş, Bölöni, Klein Gabor (Hagi 76'), Cămătaru COACH: Mircea Lucescu
GAME SUMMARY In front of the smallest crowd of the finals, Spain and Romania played the least entertaining of all the games in the French tournament. The Romanians showed their usual blend of rugged unimaginative football and Spain were little better than them. The resulting score of 1-1 was a fair reflection of a very boring play which inspired no one, and the crowd whistled at the players at the end of the game. After the initial draw between West Germany and Portugal, Spain and Romania knew that a win would increase their chances to qualify for semifinals. The Romanians couldn’t convert the higher number of chances they had, whereas the Spaniards always looked apathetic and nervous and were lucky to take the lead in the score after a great play between Señor and Gallego wich ended up in a penalty converted by Carrasco. The Spanish nervousness produced some defensive mistakes, and after one of them came the Romanian goal, when Coraş (the secret weapon of Mircea Lucescu instead of the 19-year-old Hagi) started the play and Bölöni finished it. The Romanians had the ball much more time than the Spaniards, and had golden opportunities in minutes 45 (an excessively crossed shot by Rednic) and 61 (a Coraş shot saved by Arconada), when they realized the disarrangement of the Spanish midfield and decided to move up a gear in the attack. Coraş was being the man of the hour, as the Spanish defenders failed to stop him, but the Romanians were off target in the final meters. The Spanish fans, who started singing “¡así, así, así se va a París!” after the penalty converted by Carrasco, trusted that Spain could maintain their 1-0 lead, but were soon disappointed at the lack of ambition shown by their team. Neither Urquiaga nor Camacho won their sides, Señor and Gordillo were not offensive at all and, although Santillana and Carrasco tried their best attacking skills (clash and dribbling, respectively), Spain were lucky in the end to salvage a draw which could have easily been a defeat.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: La Beaujoire (Nantes) DATE: 16-06-1984 (17:15 h) ATTENDANCE: 51.359 REFEREE: Robert Valentine (SCO) GOALS: 1-0 (Platini 4'); 2-0 (Giresse 33'); 3-0 (Fernández 43'); 4-0 (Platini [p.] 74'); 5-0 (Platini 89')
		France - Belgium
		5-0 (3-0)
FRANCE Bats Battiston, Bossis, Domergue Fernández, Tigana, Giresse, Genghini (Tusseau 79') Lacombe (Rocheteau 65'), Platini (c), Six COACH: Michel Hidalgo			BELGIUM Pfaff Grün, Lambrichts, De Greef, De Wolf Scifo (Verheyen 51'), Vandereycken (Coeck 46'), Vercauteren Claesen, Vandenbergh, Ceulemans (c) COACH: Guy Thys
GAME SUMMARY France fielded a more attacking line-up than in their previous game, hoping to pressure the precarious Belgian defense, and their tactic worked out when they took an early lead after Battiston shot against the bar and Platini (who was himself reinforcing the attacking line) picked up the deflected ball to score with a precision shot from just outside the area. Two new goals by Giresse and Fernández gave France a comfortable 3-0 advantage by halftime. In the second half, France threatened to run riot as they completely overwhelmed Belgium, but it was not until minute 74 that Platini scored his second goal with a well struck penalty. One minute from the end, Platini completed his hat-trick with a header and secured qualification for France.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Stade de Gerland (Lyon) DATE: 16-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 34.745 REFEREE: Augusto Lamo Castillo (SPA) GOALS: 1-0 (Arnesen 8'); 2-0 (Berggreen 16'); 3-0 (Arnesen [p.] 69'); 4-0 (Elkjær Larsen 82'); 5-0 (Lauridsen 84') [Incidents: Although the first goal is officially credited to Arnesen, it should actually be assigned as an own goal by the Yugoslavian goalkeeper Ivković, who pushed Arnesen’s cross into his own net (the ball never going in a goal direction).]
		Denmark - Yugoslavia
		5-0 (2-0)
DENMARK Qvist O. Rasmussen (Sivebæk 61'), Busk, M. Olsen (c), Nielsen Arnesen (Lauridsen 78'), Bertelsen, Berggreen, Lerby Laudrup, Elkjær Larsen COACH: Sepp Piontek			YUGOSLAVIA Ivković Radanović, N. Stojković, Zajec (c), Miljuš Katanec (Halilović 55'), Gudelj, Baždarević (D. Stojković 27'), Sušić Cvetković, Vujović COACH: Todor Veselinović
GAME SUMMARY Denmark and Yugoslavia were invoved in one of the most thrilling internationals ever seen. The final score, 5-0 for the Danes, belies the splendid performance put up by the Yugoslavians, and a 12-7 final result would have been a fairer reflection on the play. Arnesen opened the scoring in minute 8 with a cross from the right of the area which the Yugoslav goalkeeper pushed into his own net, and the Danish stopper Berggreen made it 2-0 a few minutes later after pushing on the goalline Laudrup’s lobbed ball over the keeper. But Yugoslavia refused to give up. Sušić in particular could have scored several times in the first half, and a number of his teammates also threw away good chances as play swung from end to end. After the break, Yugoslavia kept up the pressure on the Danish goal, but it was Denmark who got the goals and hoisted the scoreline to 5-0. A controversial penalty after a seemingly innocuous foul of Gudelj on Elkjær Larsen allowed Arnesen to make the third. The Danes were warmed into their task, and the brave Yugoslavian team was broken appart. Eight minutes from the end, it was Laudrup who provided the ball for Elkjær Larsen to score. Two minutes later, Lauridsen scored a superb individual goal and the rout was complete.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Félix Bollaert (Lens) DATE: 17-06-1984 (17:15 h) ATTENDANCE: 31.787 REFEREE: Jan Keizer (NED) GOALS: 1-0 (Völler 25'); 1-1 (Coraş 46'); 2-1 (Völler 66')
		FRG - Romania
		2-1 (1-0)
FRG Schumacher B. Förster, Briegel, K. Förster (Buchwald 80'), Brehme Stielike, Meier (Littbarski 65'), Matthäus, Völler Allofs, Rummenigge (c) COACH: Jupp Derwall			ROMANIA Lung Rednic, Ungureanu, Dragnea (Ţicleanu 62'), Andone Ştefănescu (c), Coraş, Klein, Bölöni Cămătaru, Hagi (Zare 46') COACH: Mircea Lucescu
GAME SUMMARY West Germany, with a reputation for timing their performances in important competitions, certainly improved against Romania upon their showing in the previous game. After Völler opened the score midway the first half, the Germans could have had a bagful of goals by halftime but, at the start of the second half, conceded an equalizer against the run of play courtesy of Coraş. Then they stepped up a gear and regained the lead twenty minutes later, again through Völler. When the final whistle sounded, West Germany seemed to be en route to the semifinals.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Vélodrome (Marseille) DATE: 17-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 24.364 REFEREE: Michel Vautrot (FRA) GOALS: 0-1 (António Sousa 52'); 1-1 (Santillana 73')
		Spain - Portugal
		1-1 (0-0)
SPAIN Arconada (c) Urquiaga (Señor 79'), Goicoechea, Maceda, Camacho Víctor, Gallego, Julio Alberto (Sarabia 70'), Gordillo Carrasco, Santillana COACH: Miguel Muñoz			PORTUGAL Bento (c) João Pinto, Lima Pereira, Eurico, Álvaro Frasco (Diamantino 76'), Jaime Pacheco, Carlos Manuel, A. Sousa Chalana, Jordão COACH: Fernando Cabrita
GAME SUMMARY After a goalless first half, Portugal took the lead soon after the restart through António Sousa. Santillana scored the equalizer twenty minutes later and salvaged a draw for Spain, who went into the last group game with a chance of a semifinal place.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Geoffroy Guichard (Saint-Étienne) DATE: 19-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 47.510 REFEREE: André Daina (SWI) GOALS: 0-1 (Šestić 32'); 1-1 (Platini 59'); 2-1 (Platini 62'); 3-1 (Platini 77'); 3-2 (D. Stojković [p.] 84') [Incidents: In minute 53, the doctor of the Yugoslavian squad, Bojeda Milenović (56), suffered a heart attack while entering the pitch to treat an injured player. He didn't recover from the stroke and died in a hospital of Saint-Étienne that night.]
		France - Yugoslavia
		3-2 (0-1)
FRANCE Bats Fernández, Battiston, Bossis, Domergue Ferreri (Bravo 77'), Giresse, Platini (c), Tigana Rocheteau (Tusseau 46'), Six COACH: Michel Hidalgo			YUGOSLAVIA Simović Radanović, N. Stojković, Zajec (c), Miljuš Šestić, Gudelj, Baždarević (Katanec 85'), D. Stojković Sušić, Vujović (Deverić 60') COACH: Todor Veselinović
GAME SUMMARY Michel Platini returned to his former home ground, Geoffroy Guichard Stadium at Saint-Étienne, for an irrelevant group game, as France were already assured of a semifinal place and Yugoslavia were certain of elimination. The match was played in a rather more relaxed atmosphere than previous ties, but this probably added to the standard of football on display. Yugoslavia took the lead on the half-hour when Šestić smashed a superb shot into the top corner, but France seemed to sense that they would eventually pull back out of their quality and did not panic by the deficit. A quarter of an hour into the second half, Platini moved up a gear and, in an 18 minute spell, scored another brilliant hat-trick to give France the lead. His first goal was a brave finish in which he collided with the keeper and seemed to get injured, his second a glorious glancing header to a right-wing cross from Battiston, and his third a trademark free kick into the top corner. Yugoslavia pulled one back with a late penalty converted by Dragan Stojković, but were unable to level the scores. The game was marred by the death of the Yugoslavian team doctor, who collapsed on the touch-line early in the second half.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Stade de la Meinau (Strasbourg) DATE: 19-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 36.911 REFEREE: Adolf Prokop (GDR) GOALS: 0-1 (Ceulemans 26'); 0-2 (Vercauteren 39'); 1-2 (Arnesen [p.] 41'); 2-2 (Brylle Larsen 60'); 3-2 (Elkjær Larsen 84')
		Denmark - Belgium
		3-2 (1-2)
DENMARK Qvist O. Rasmussen (Brylle Larsen 56'), Busk, M. Olsen (c), Nielsen Lerby, Bertelsen, Elkjær Larsen, Berggreen Laudrup, Arnesen (Sivebæk 78') COACH: Sepp Piontek			BELGIUM Pfaff Grün, Clijsters, De Wolf, De Greef Vercauteren (Voordeckers 63'), Vandereycken, Claesen (Coeck 46') Scifo, Vandenbergh, Ceulemans (c) COACH: Guy Thys
GAME SUMMARY With France already qualified, Denmark and Belgium played for the remaining semifinal place. Once again, the game provided just the right combination of high quality football and nail-biting drama. Denmark needed only a draw to clinch the semifinal spot, but instead of pulling onto the defensive, they thrilled the crowd with a display of their usual open attacking football. However, it was Belgium who took the lead midway the first half through Ceulemans, and went further ahead before halftime thanks to a magnificent volley by Vercauteren. But just when Denmark began to look vulnerable, ninety seconds later they were back in the game when Arnesen converted a penalty following a foul on Elkjær Larsen. On the hour, the Danes equalized through substitute Brylle Larsen’s close-range header. It was Belgium who needed to score then, and they came close to do it several times before Elkjær Larsen wrapped up the game for Denmark with a late goal after he spooned a remarkable angled shot over Pfaff’s head.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: Parc des Princes (Paris) DATE: 20-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 47.691 REFEREE: Vojtěch Christov (CZE) GOALS: 1-0 (Maceda 90') [Incidents: Carrasco missed a penalty shot (min. 43), saved by Schumacher.]
		Spain - FRG
		1-0 (0-0)
SPAIN Arconada (c) Señor, Goicoechea (Salva 26'), Maceda Víctor, Gallego, Camacho, Julio Alberto (Francisco 76'), Gordillo Carrasco, Santillana COACH: Miguel Muñoz			FRG Schumacher B. Förster, K. Förster, Stielike, Briegel Matthäus, Brehme (Rolff 74'), Meier (Littbarski 60'), Allofs Rummenigge (c), Völler COACH: Jupp Derwall
GAME SUMMARY Spain qualified for the semifinals in a dramatic fashion, when a last-minute header by Maceda broke the deadlock, just when West Germany seemed to be cruising to qualification. Right up to the last half hour, the Germans had the edge over Spain and seemed likely to score, but the Spaniards held on stubbornly and, against the run of play, had a golden opportunity to take the lead before halftime, but Schumacher saved a penalty kick from Carrasco. In the last period of the game, Spain began to harass West Germany and, by the closing stages, had them back on the defensive. As the game was about to enter injury time, Spain launched one last desperate attack and Maceda headed into the German net Señor’s cross from the right, to the indescribable joy of the Spanish and the sheer desperation of the Germans.

GROUP STAGE
STADIUM: La Beaujoire (Nantes) DATE: 20-06-1984 (20:30 h) ATTENDANCE: 24.464 REFEREE: Heinz Fahnler (AUT) GOALS: 1-0 (Nené 81')
		Portugal - Romania
		1-0 (0-0)
PORTUGAL Bento (c) João Pinto, Eurico, Lima Pereira, Álvaro A. Sousa, Frasco, C. Manuel (Nené 63'), Chalana (Diamantino 15') Jordão, Fernando Gomes COACH: Fernando Cabrita			ROMANIA Moraru Rednic, Ştefănescu (c), Ungureanu, Iorgulescu Coraş, Klein, Cămătaru (Augustin 34'), Bölöni Irimescu (Gabor 59'), Negrilă COACH: Mircea Lucescu
GAME SUMMARY Portugal suffered a serious blow a quarter of an hour into the game when their star player Chalana was stretchered off the field after a vicious tackle by Irimescu, but this did not deter the Portuguese, who mounted attack after attack. Midway the second half, Romania started to gain the upper hand and Portugal, in response, brought on their veteran striker Nené for his record-breaking 65th international appearance. Romania came close to scoring in minute 76 but, five minutes later, Nené produced the winner, an unstoppable volley from the penalty spot, to give his country a semifinal place.

1/2 FINAL
STADIUM: Vélodrome (Marseille) DATE: 23-06-1984 (20:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 54.848 REFEREE: Paolo Bergamo (ITA) GOALS: 1-0 (Domergue 24'); 1-1 (Jordão 74'); 1-2 (Jordão 98'); 2-2 (Domergue 114'); 3-2 (Platini 119') BOOKED: Lacombe (45') / Lima Pereira (26'), Eurico (90'), Fernando Gomes (105')
		France - Portugal
		3-2 (1-0;1-1)
FRANCE Bats Battiston, Bossis, Le Roux, Domergue Tigana, Giresse, Platini (c), Fernández Lacombe (Ferreri 66'), Six (Bellone 104') COACH: Michel Hidalgo			PORTUGAL Bento (c) João Pinto, Eurico, Lima Pereira, Álvaro Frasco, António Sousa (Nené 62'), Jaime Pacheco, Chalana Diamantino (Fernando Gomes 46'), Jordão COACH: Fernando Cabrita
GAME SUMMARY The first semifinal between France and Portugal was an outstanding game of football, ranking alongside the World Cup classics (semifinals of Mexico 1970 and Spain 1982) for sheer excitement, skill and enthusiasm. As Platini started to dominate the game, France took a 24th minute lead when Domergue smashed a free kick in the top corner, but Jordão equalized in the 74th minute with a header to a Chalana’s cross and the game went into extra-time (after a late effort by Six which Bento deflected onto the top of the bar). Despite the efforts of the previous 90 minutes, the extended period began at an even more frantic pace and Jordão grabbed a second goal from another Chalana’s cross to give Portugal the lead for the first time. But the French were not finished, and with only six minutes remaining Domergue scored his second after an area scramble and the hosts were level again. In the final minute, just as a penalty shoot-out seemed inevitable, superstar Platini struck a Tigana cross firmly into the Portuguese net to give France a place in the final.

1/2 FINAL
STADIUM: Stade de Gerland (Lyon) DATE: 24-06-1984 (20:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 47.483 REFEREE: George Courtney (ENG) GOALS: 0-1 (Lerby 7'); 1-1 (Maceda 67') BOOKED: Gordillo (20'), Salva (21'), Víctor (29'), Maceda (86'), Arconada (during penalty #5 of pk) / Berggreen (70’), J. Olsen (74'), Berggreen (107' > RC), Elkjær Larsen (119') PK: 0-1 (Brylle Larsen); 1-1 (Santillana) / 1-2 (J. Olsen); 2-2 (Señor) / 2-3 (Laudrup); 3-3 (Urquiaga) / 3-4 (Lerby); 4-4 (Víctor) / 4-4 (Elkjær Larsen [out]); 5-4 (Sarabia) [Incidents: Berggreen was sent off after a second bookable offense (min. 107). During the penalty shoot-out, Laudrup’s shot was saved by Arconada, but the referee considered that the Spanish goalkeeper moved before and the shot had to be repeated. Maceda and Gordillo will both miss the final on accumulated yellow cards.]
		Spain - Denmark
		1-1 (0-1;1-1) (pk: 5-4)
SPAIN Arconada (c) Señor, Salva (Urquiaga 102'), Maceda, Camacho Víctor, Gallego, Julio Alberto (Sarabia 60'), Gordillo Carrasco, Santillana COACH: Miguel Muñoz			DENMARK Qvist Sivebæk, M. Olsen (c) (Brylle Larsen 113'), Nielsen, Busk Arnesen (J. Olsen 68'), Bertelsen, Berggreen, Lerby Laudrup, Elkjær Larsen COACH: Sepp Piontek
GAME SUMMARY Although the second semifinal was not able to match the first one for skill and sheer excitement, it came pretty close. Denmark took an early lead when Lerby scored in the 7th minute, after Arnesen crossed from the right wing and Elkjær Larsen’s header was saved by Arconada, and for much of the first half the Danes seemed likely to add to their tally. Six minutes into the second half, Spain came close to equalize when the Danish defense hesitated, waiting for an offside whistle, and thereafter piled the pressure on Denmark. Maceda (the hero against West Germany) eventually levelled the scores in the 67th minute with a firm shot from just inside the area, and from that moment on the game became harder and harder. Extra-time was required to break the deadlock and, although neither side scored further, Denmark suffered a serious blow to their confidence when Berggreen was sent off for an innocuous challenge on Camacho early in the second half of the additional period. Denmark almost scored minutes later, but Arconada saved a free kick by Nielsen and then the rebounded ball from Arnesen. The tie went into a penalty shoot-out, with all players on target until Elkjær Larsen blasted his shot over the bar and Manolo Sarabia ensured a place in the final for Spain.

FINAL
STADIUM: Parc des Princes (Paris) DATE: 27-06-1984 (20:00 h) ATTENDANCE: 47.368 REFEREE: Vojtěch Christov (CZE) GOALS: 1-0 (Platini 57’); 2-0 (Bellone 90+’) BOOKED: Fernández (27'), Le Roux (53'), Le Roux (85' > RC) / Gallego (27'), Carrasco (30') [Incidents: Le Roux was sent off after a second bookable offense (min. 85). At the end of the game, the Spanish players complained bitterly against the partial refereeing of Mr. Christov.]
		France - Spain
		2-0 (0-0)
FRANCE Bats Battiston (Amorós 73’), Le Roux, Bossis, Domergue Tigana, Giresse, Platini (c), Fernández Lacombe (Genghini 80’), Bellone COACH: Michel Hidalgo			SPAIN Arconada (c) Urquiaga, Gallego, Salva (Roberto 85’), Julio Alberto (Sarabia 77’) Señor, Francisco, Camacho, Víctor Carrasco, Santillana COACH: Miguel Muñoz
GAME SUMMARY France and Spain took many precautions early in the game. Although Giresse rifled in a shot within the first minute, play flowed from end to end as Spain started to take the initiative. Urquiaga caused problems with his crosses from the right and Santillana outjumped the French defenders to head the ball square for Víctor, who headed just wide of the far post. But Spain were soon taking desperate measures to stop the French inspiration, Víctor fouling Luis Fernández, Julio Alberto bringing down Tigana, Gallego and Carrasco booked in quick succession. Santillana had his header headed off the line by Battiston, then shot just wide. Meanwhile, France didn’t make a single really good chance in all the first half. Early in the second half, the French grew increasingly anxious as they struggled to break down the Spanish defense, and Le Roux was booked for a foul on Santillana. Up to this point in the game, neither team had showed enough dominance and the final was still open, but in minute 57 disaster struck for Spain. France were awarded a dubious free kick when Salva was judged to have fouled Lacombe just outside the penalty area. As usual, Platini took the kick and curled his shot around the wall almost into Arconada’s hands. The Spanish goalkeeper, who had been saving better shots during the tournament, saw the ball early and met it perfectly, but seemed to take it too deep and the ball squeezed out of his grip under his body, as he desperately tried to claw it back beyond the goalline. From then on Spain were completely out of it as their morale collapsed. After Arconada saved from Lacombe, Giresse shot just wide and Platini went close with a header. Le Roux’s sending-off for a foul on Sarabia came too late for Spain, who nevertheless moved onto the offensive for the first time since conceding the goal. In injury time, Tigana cleared the ball as practically the whole of the Spanish team had moved into the French half, and Bellone ran onto it and chipped the ball over the advancing Arconada to ensure France’s victory.

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