They were the pioneers. Those who put France, for the first time in its history, at the top. Before this crazy summer on the French lawns, and this Euro 1984 brilliantly won, the Blues had never triumphed. No international trophies in the cupboard and an inglorious nickname which is starting to stick to the skin of French players: “the world champions of friendly matches”.
At the time, another maxim prevailed: “football is a sport that is played 11 against 11 and in the end, it is the Germans who win”. Reigning European champions, finalist of the last world championship two years ago, the Nationalmannschaft once again inherits the status of big favorite. And yet, it was the men of the late Michel Hidalgo who captured the trophy on June 27, 1984 in a drunken Parc des Princes. As the Blues begin their Euro 2024 this Monday evening against Austria, three of the European champions of the time have agreed to reshoot the victory film.
The turning point of 1982
A success whose genesis actually dates back to 1982. That year, France reached the semi-finals of the World Cup held in Spain. A nice journey which will end suddenly against the RFA at the Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium in Seville. A defeat on penalties, but above all this head-on clash of incredible brutality between Harald Schumacher and Patrick Battiston. The German goalkeeper comes out to meet the French defender whose jaw will break at the same time as the French dreams.
“This event increased our motivation, our desire, our desire tenfold,” confides to Europe 1 Alain Giresse, 47 selections under the clock and member of the typical Euro team that year. “We said to ourselves that in 82, we had achieved something. It was unexpected, even for us. So we realized that we had the capacity to do more and we wanted to build on that- above”, continues the Europe 1 football consultant. A state of mind that Michel Platini also described to us in November 2022 in the podcast Giants. “When we went to the World Cup in 1978, we were happy to be there. In 1982, we were happy to get through the first round. But in 1984, we played to win this Euro,” he explained at the microphone of Jacques Vendroux for Europe 1.
Platini in the highest heavens
The French team is therefore embarking on this Euro at home with the desire to “win all the matches”. And the Blues will take up the challenge. Firstly, a flawless performance in the group stage and victories against Denmark (1-0), Belgium (5-0) and Yugoslavia (3-2). Successes which also bear the name of Michel Platini, author of two hat-tricks against the Red Devils and the Yugoslavs and a goal against the Scandinavians. It is again he who offers the victory to the Blues in extra time against Portugal in the semi-final (3-2 ap) and who unblocks the situation in the final against Spain (2-0) well helped by the error, became famous, of the Iberian goalkeeper Luis Arconada, although considered a reference to his position.
At the top of his art, Platini, 9 goals in 5 matches played, takes on the role of architect of victory for these Blues now on the roof of Europe. “In 84, Platini was the best player in the world. Unlike 1978 or 1982, there, he was in full possession of his means,” remembers Maxime Bossis, central defender of this team. The Blues also owe this success to a shift made on a mental level. “We finally said to ourselves, ‘Why not? Why couldn’t we offer French football a title?’. Saint-Etienne (finalist of the Champions League in 1976 Editor’s note) had already paved the way for clubs. And we, two years earlier, had demonstrated that yes, France could win a title,” explains Giresse.
Maxime Bossis and Alain Giresse (ball at foot) during the semi-final against Portugal.
Photo credit: AFP
Source of inspiration
Defensive midfielder of this French team, Luis Fernández also wants to salute the role played by the public. “We felt this fervor from the start. We felt a people of France who supported their team, who wanted their team to go as far as possible. In Marseille, when we were on the verge of being beaten by the Portugal, they pushed us to get this victory.” All the ingredients were finally there for the Blues to lift a cup.
However, at the final whistle, despite the immense relief of offering this long-awaited consecration to the French people, these Blues have a sober triumph. “We were invited to the Élysée, but there was nothing special in the weeks that followed. After the match, we all returned to the Fédé with our families, our wives and then we went to dinner quietly There were a few supporters – maybe around fifty – who we went to greet and then we returned to our clubs the next day. So it was very calm, it had nothing to do with that. that we can see today”, notes Maxime Bossis.
Simplicity, certainly, but immense joy, obviously. And above all, a source of inspiration for future generations. “I think we were able to serve as an example to all those who made up the 1998 generation. This first title was able to serve as a detonator to show French players that they were not inferior to the others,” Bossis concludes. To best celebrate this 40th anniversary, the Blues of 2024 have only one path to follow: the one once taken by their glorious elders.