All Time World Cup!
Fontaine 25, Fontaine 70, Stojkovic 77, Dzajic 88, Platini 89, Kopa 90
Yokohama
This would prove to be another game featuring attacking play and late goals. Through the first half both sides played great passes and made skilful runs, but the only goal came from Just Fontaine poaching in the six yard box. When Fontaine scored his second with just twenty minutes to go from a Platini pass, France’s three points seemed secure.
For once however, Yugoslavia did manage to rouse themselves for a comeback. Marcel Desailly was forced to bring down Milan team-mate Dejan Savicevic on the edge of the pox and Dragan Stojkovic drilled the free kick through the wall and past Joel Bats.
Suddenly there was life in the ‘Plavi’. They ran at the French defence again and again, but just could not find the breakthrough until, in the 88th minute, star striker Dragan Dzajic was on hand to turn home a Sekularac pull-pull back.
The Yugoslavs were euphoric; the French horrified. Desailly clearly felt responsible for the goal, and resolved to make amends. From kick off, he pushed into midfield and drove forward. The still-celebrating Yugoslavs did not close him down in time and he got forward far enough to unleash a pile driver shot. It deflected off Katalinski into the path of Platini, who clipped home to break Yugoslav hearts.
With mere seconds left they had no choice but to hurl everyone forward, and in injury time France broke upfield where Kopa was able to round the overexposed keeper Beara and seal a dramatic match.
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