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Eusebio 8, Platini 54, Papin 73, Torres 88
SEOUL - Sang-Am
There have been several classic clashes between these nations down the years, and France tend to come out on top. There was the famous Platini-inspired comeback to win in extra time the Euro 84 semi final, then Zinidine Zidane’s golden goal penalty at the same stage sixteen years later.
This time Portugal struck first, Eusebio drilling home a low shot after good work from Paulo Futre. Futre was a frustratingly inconsistent player, and injuries meant his career never really delivered on its early promise, but when on song he was an irresistible dribbler.
He ran at Lizarazu again and again in the first half, with Luis Figo similarly tormenting Manuel Amoros on the other wing. After that first goal though, the two full-backs held firm and made each made some great interceptions.
Portugal were perhaps guilty of trying to walk the ball in to the net, rather than just putting it away. In midfield, France were suffering from a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, with Platini, Kopa and Zidane getting in each other’s way and failing to have a positive impact.
Thierry Henry was a lost, frustrated figure up front. Fontaine battled hard to no avail.
At half time, some hard talking was done in the French dressing room. Whether it was coach Jacquet or captain Platini who asserted their authority is unclear, but in the second half there was a greater sense of cohesion.
Tigana replaced Henry, to assist Didier Deschamps with the midfield ‘water carrying’. Kopa moved to the right (where he had started his career), with Zidane moving to the left, giving Platini room to patrol the middle, slightly further forward behind centre forward Fontaine.
For all Zidane’s control and grace, Platini could match him but also offered a goal threat that Zizou never did. 25 goals a season from midfield in Serie A in the defensive 1980s speaks volumes. On 54 minutes the new set up allowed Platini the chance to show his finishing prowess. Taking a chipped ball from Zidane on his right thigh, he shifted the ball back across his body, creating space for a left-footed volley past the wrong-footed Germano and keeper Baia.
The balance had shifted and Portugal looked overmatched in midfield and defence. Figo and Futre were fading and no longer provided an outlet. Coach Otto Gloria eventually took Futre off, bringing on Fernando Couto as an extra man in defence.
With twenty minutes to go France also made a change –Fontaine had run himself in to the ground as the lone front man, and was replaced by Papin. Jacquet’s substitution proved the more successful of the two. Couto was strong committed, but occasionally prone to overconfidence and lapses of concentration, and it was one such error that led to the goal.
Couto decided to bring the ball forward, looking to launch an attack. Unfortunately his forward pass was cut out and he was out of position. Zidane lifted a simple ball over the top and Papin was on to it in a flash. His pace meant no-one would catch him. Rather than rounding the keeper or trying to slip it under him, Papin simply took one touch then blasted the ball from outside the area, over Baia and in off the underside of the bar.
Papin was renowned for being able to strike a shot incredibly hard without lack of accuracy. Two-one.
France’s inability to close out games resurfaced when, with just two minutes remaining, Luis Figo hoisted a high, deep cross from the left of midfield. Eusebio drew Thuram’s attention and the giant Jose Torres out-jumped Marcel Desailly to head home the equaliser.
For once it was Portugal who were celebrating a late goal. A draw was about right after a game of two very distinct halves, but France would feel this was two points dropped.
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