1958, 1982, 1998, 2006… These matches that marked the history of the Blues at the World Cup

Incredible scenarios, memorable victories, cruel defeats… In fifteen participations in the World Cup, the France team has played 66 matches. Many have fallen into oblivion, others have left their mark. Apart from the three finals played in 1998, 2006 and 2018, the Blues have delivered some memorable performances in the history of the World Cup.

France-FRG 1958

It is a time that those under seventy cannot know. And yet: at the end of the 1950s, while the great Stade de Reims shone in France and on European lawns, the Kopa-Fontaine generation achieved a full World Cup in Sweden. France reached the last four of the competition for the first time in 1958, but fell to Brazil under young star Pelé. A 5-2 defeat, on which we could have lingered, however, sends the Blues to the small final against Germany.

World champions four years earlier in Switzerland, the West Germans are the favorites. They were beaten by Sweden in the semi-finals, and are vengeful. But they won’t be able to do anything against Just Fontaine, serial scorer of this edition who scored a quadruple and brought his total to 13 goals in a single edition, a record that is still valid. Winners 6 goals to 3, Albert Batteux’s men are on the third step of this World Cup and place France on the map of international football.

France-FRG 1982

After dark years, and a role as an extra at the 1978 World Cup, France is finally back at the forefront of world football. The Platini generation shone on Spanish lawns during this 1982 edition, and the Platini-Giresse-Tigana-Genghini magic square carried the Blues to the semi-finals. France finds the FRG there, at the Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium in Seville.

More than a football match, it’s a Greek tragedy of which the Blues are the unfortunate heroes that evening. The band in Hidalgo pushes the Germans into overtime, and realizes the break there by Tigana and Giresse. 22 minutes from the issue, the scoreboard is full of hope: 3-1 for the Blues. But Rummenigge then Fischer put the FRG back in the game, while Schumacher inexplicably remained on the pitch after a terrible outing over Battiston. Injustice wins French homes, and settles there permanently at the end of the penalty shootout, which turns in favor of the FRG. The so attractive French team of Platini falls in Seville, with immense regrets.

France-Brazil 1986

Four years after the Sevillian trauma, the French team is expected in Mexico for the 1986 edition. And if the Blues will again be eliminated in the semi-finals by the Germans, it is their quarter-final against Brazil that remains in the memory. Some go so far as to speak of the match of the century, including Pelé himself… At the time, Brazilians and French deployed the most shimmering footballs. The Tricolores are even decked out with the flattering nickname of “Brazilians of Europe”.

On the meadow, the Auriverdes dominate the debates and quickly open the scoring by Careca (17th). In the heat of Guadalajara, the two teams then went blow for blow and made their vista speak. In the middle of the avalanche of opportunities, Platini equalized on a cross from Rocheteau before the break (40th). The second period continues with the same intensity. Joël Bats even pushes back a penalty from Branco. The unbearable suspense stretches in overtime, then on penalties. Michel Platini misses his, but Joël Bats pushes back Socrates’s, and sees Julio César’s attempt crash into the post. The young Luis Fernandez rushes for the last French shot on goal, and qualifies the Blues after a legendary afternoon.

France-Italy 1998

Between the golden goal against Paraguay in the eighth, Lilian Thuram’s improbable double in the semi-final, or that of Zidane in the final, it is difficult to get out of a match from the French epic of 1998. The major turning point is quickly forgotten. symbolized by the sluggish victory in the quarter-finals against Italy. At the end of the 1990s, the country was the heart of world football, its best championship, and its selection one of the most difficult to handle.

The debates are tense on the lawn, while the twenty-two actors know each other particularly well. Several executives of the Blues then evolve in the big transalpine clubs, like Zidane and Deschamps (Juventus), Djorkaeff (Inter) or Thuram (Parma). The defenses shine in this tactical clash, under the Lyon sun. Carried by a great Fabien Barthez, touched by grace but also successful against an awkward Baggio, the Blues spin on penalties. The same Roberto Baggio sends his attempt on the Barthez bar, and thus sends the Blues to the semi-finals. France then realizes that the dream becomes possible.

France-Brazil 2006

After a sluggish group stage, Raymond Domenech’s France team got scared against Spain in the round of 16, before winning at the end of the game thanks to Zidane and Vieira. But the best is yet to come. On July 1, the Blues find their old Brazilian enemy in the quarter-finals in Frankfurt. The day chosen by Zinédine Zidane to dazzle the football world one last time, he who announced his retirement at the end of the World Cup. If Brazil aligns its galactic team with, in particular, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka holders, that evening, “the Brazilians are in white” as Thierry Gilardi observes live in the comments of the meeting.

Author of a technical recital, and a decisive pass for Thierry Henry, Zinédine Zidane delivered his greatest match that evening with the knitting struck by the rooster. Zizou tries everything, and succeeds everything, with an insolent technical ease. The Brazilians observe the damage, helpless. And the Blues send a strong message to the competition by eliminating Brazil, favorite of this World Cup: four years after the sinking of 2002, they are back. The epic will however stop at the end of the final, on penalties, against Italy.

France-Argentina 2018

The 2018 Russian campaign ended in style for Les Bleus, in an explosive final won 4-2. Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The Blues then come out of a frankly disappointing group stage, despite winning first place. The snatch victories against Australia (2-1), then Peru (1-0), followed by a tasteless draw against the Danes (0-0), did not convince.

In Kazan, the Blues know that they will have to raise their level against Argentina. It all started well for Deschamps’ men, who opened the scoring through Griezmann, from the penalty spot (13th). But the Argentinians equalized just before the break on a jewel from Di Maria (41st), and took control after returning from the locker room. The moment chosen by Benjamin Pavard to score a half-volley that has remained in collective memories, at the far post (57th). Kylian Mbappé then reveals himself to the eyes of the world by scoring twice, and the Blues overthrow the Albiceleste, despite the late reduction of the score by Sergio Aguëro. Final score: 4-3 for France, which then takes a momentum that will lead to the coronation.