immerse yourself in the “Night of Seville”, 40 years later

There are matches that leave an imprint in the history of French football. RFA-France, in Seville, is one of those (3-3, 4-5 pens). A crazy game. Mythical. 1982, France faced West Germany in the semi-finals of the World Cup. The greatest Blues at the helm: Platini, Giresse, Rocheteau, Trésor… Battiston violently attacked by the German referee. The case will take on the magnitude of a state history. France Bleu offers you, thanks to the comments of Radio France of the time (to listen to by clicking on the player) and archive images, to immerse yourself in the “Night of Seville”.

Prologue: a dream starting XI

26th minute: France come back to score (1-1)

Penalty for France. Without discussion. Dominique Rocheteau was “belt”. It’s the 26th minute, Germany leads 1-0. Michel Platini kisses the ball. For a few seconds, the German goalkeeper, Shumacher and the French captain stare at each other. Then France equalized and there was jubilation.

57th minute: Schumacher’s “attack”

Battiston has been playing for seven minutes. Pass from Platini. Missed opportunity, countered by Harald Schumacher who rushed at him at face level, knees forward. Battiston collapses to the ground: concussion, four fractured teeth, a cracked cervical vertebra. “All the French players come to protest”, especially against Schumacher who threw himself “savagely” on the French, commented Jacques Vendroux at the time. “Maybe that was the match point.” “The referee could have whistled a penalty”, analyze on the spot the journalists of Radio France.

93rd minute: Marius Tresor’s “anthology” goal (2-1)

On a free kick from Alain Giresse, Marius Tresor volleys “phenomenal”. A goal “anthology”commented already in 1982 Jacques Vendroux, who lost his voice.

99th: Goal from Giresse (3-1)

The third French goal. 3-1 for France. “Extraordinary Alain Giresse” reacts Jacques Vendroux at the time.

103rd minute: the Germans counter-attack (3-2)

108th minute: comeback in extremis (3-3)

The fatal shots

The match ends with a penalty shootout. The tension is unbearable. Giresse, Kaltz, Amoros, Breitner, Rocheteau score. Two missed penalties follow (Stielike and Six). Littbarski, Platini, Rummenigge score. The machine jams with Maxime Bossis who fails to pass the Schumacher wall.