Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin / Photo credit: AFP
39 years ago to the day, the French football team won its first European title against Spain. Led by a Michel Platini of the big nights, the Blues took advantage of the Spanish defensive largesse to afford the Euro. Asked in “Europe 1 Sport”, Michel Platini remembers a “very complicated match”.
It is a victory that has marked the history of French football, and more broadly the history of team sport in France. On June 27, 1984, the French football team became European champions for the first time in their existence after beating Spain (2-0) in the final. A victory to which Michel Platini greatly contributed by scoring one of the two goals of the evening. Guest on the show Europe 1 Sports (live every evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), the former Blues midfielder remembers a “very nice goal” while denying “the goalkeeper’s error”.
An error on a free kick
In the final of this Euro, France was opposed to the formidable Spaniards. On a free kick, the Roja goalkeeper Luis Arconada, hitherto perfect on his line, misses on a strike from Michel Platini. A shot low to the ground, easily captured by the goalkeeper, who suddenly lets it slip away, then slides under his stomach to finally finish in the back of the net. But for the striker of the Blues, his strike was “unstoppable”, before adding: “he could not do anything”.
This victory thus offers the Blues the first title to France in a collective sport. “It was an important moment. We wanted to be European champions, we wanted to beat Spain. We wanted to succeed for us, succeed for France, succeed for French football”, rejoices Michel Platini in Europe 1 Sports. A feat repeated 16 years later with the victory of the Blues in the final against Italy at Euro 2000.