1982 - the year my football life was born

In less than 24 hours, we will most likely know one of the semi-finalists for the World Cup. France and Germany will meet in the first 1/4 final game. There is not need for an artificial story line for this game. The history between these two nations is well documented both on and off the soccer pitch! On the football pitch, Germany will always hold a place in all fans of Les Bleus of a certain age. I am one of those fans.

As sports fans we all have events that have marked us, and will continue to mark our memories, dare I say, until the day we die? I realize that might be a tad dramatic. 1982 was that for me. Let me start with the background.

France's footy team had been in the waste lands of international football during the 1960s and 1970s, they had been able to find the talent nor system that could match the "golden generation" that went to a third place finish in the 1958 World Cup. However signs of turning the corner could be seen in 1978 in Argentina - a player by the name of Platini found his way into the side. Coming into 1982, Platini was no longer a young prospect, he was now seen as one of world's best players. A player that had starred on the powerful Saint-Eteinne squad and was heading to Juventus. Riding on his talents as well as players such as Bossis, Tresor, Giresse, Amoros, Tigana, Rocheteau the French national team felt as if it was on a cusp of a new golden generation. They had qualified for the World Cup and did so by beating the runner up from the 1978 World Cup - Holland. They had a club side, Saint-Eteinne that had allowed for some to dream that France would become a premier footballing nation on the world stage.

France did not start off the 1982 World Cup on the right foot, losing to another hated rival - England. They also gave up the fastest goal, at the time, in the World Cup during that game to Bryan Robson. France would go on to finish second in the group. During the 1982 World Cup teams would be placed back into groups to determine the 4 semi-finalists. I remember being at the beach at Saint Jean-de-Monts after France defeated Northern Ireland (yes they used to make it to major tournaments) and seeing cars honking horns and people celebrating the fact Les Bleus were heading to the semi-finals. At that moment I knew what football was, but I didn't appreciate the passion associated with the beautiful game. That would change.

The day of the semi-finals I remember my great-uncle's house buzzing. There must have been a dozen of us from the family there, not because of the game, but because we always came together during the summer and would spend time at the beach. But we had a bonus this summer - a World Cup semi final for Les Bleus. That afternoon leading up to the game, things were being put in place. The usual large family dinner we would have every night around the dining table, would be moved in front of the television. I also remember the larger than usual quantities of wine that was being rolled out, it felt like a celebration.

Once the game started I can remember feeling a slow boil of tension building. Germany scored early only to see Platini convert a penalty to level the score. Both sides then settled into a cautious match. And then the assault of Battiston occurred. On a caviar of a through ball from Platini, Battiston runs onto it and gets crushed by German keeper Schumacher.  I remember as an ignorant 10 year old that I knew something bad had happened but not to that extent!


The fact there was no foul given, let alone a card was criminal. The Dutch referee waved on play and was even slow in calling in medical services to tend to the fallen player. Rumors would run wild the next day that since France had eliminated Holland in the qualifiers that the official was biased against France. This vile act of aggression would only heighten the tension of the match. France should have had a penalty kick and possibly seen Germany go down a man...alas it was not to be! The game would then take on a new dimension.

The score line would stay 1-1 into extra time. France would find a way to score twice in the first half of extra time. Marius Tresor would hit a canon of a volley from the penalty spot. Watching it I remember wondering how did he possibly do that? How could he take a ball in

For a few minutes they were heading to the finals

full flight and hit it with some power and precision?? Especially since he was a stopper! A few minutes later Giresse hit a cracker from the 18 to allow France to go up 3-1. The resulting celebratory run was one of pure joy...France were going to a World Cup final....I certainly felt that way. As an innocent 10 year old, I remember running outside in wild celebration, I probably resembled Giresse and his celebration.

Alas there were still 15 minutes in the game. And a certain Rummeingge sitting on the bench. The rest lives on in infamy. Rummeingge scores in the 102nd minute and Fischer would score a few minutes later....what? Really?

How did that happen?? All of a sudden we were heading to the penalty kicks. The first time this torture device would be used to determine a winner and a loser. How could this be?

The penalty kick sequence drama could not have been any more tense. From the Schumacher mugging of Battiston, to the back and forth goals in the extra time and now penalty kicks. I remember watching Stielike missing his kick and crumbling in tears. He could barely walk back without help from his teammate. And there was Toni Schumacher, stone faced gaze, basically scolding Stielike to get out his kitchen because he would take care of it. Which he did. He stopped Six and brought Germany level again. The next kicks were converted...so we had sudden death in penalty kicks. How could you add more tension to this match?? Maxime Bossis strides up and misses his kick...Germany's turn...and they don't miss in penalty kicks.

France crash out. Germany will face Italy in the finals. 120+ minutes of football between fierce rivals. France had arrived, in defeat, onto the global stage of football. Germany the defending European Champion and at the time, two time World Champion, had weathered the storm of being embarrassed by losing to their "little brother" neighbor.

The innocent 10 year old, who minutes ago had run around in wild celebration, wasn't sure what had happened. That was the first football game I remember watching from start to finish. It was my first introduction to the highs and lows associated with sports - I would have others! Notably with the Red Sox in 1986!!

Looking back I realize that much of the game itself I remember more from having watched it again in documentaries and YouTube videos (I will admit that re-watching Giresse score the third French goal I still believe somehow they will find a way to hold on). Germany would go on to lose to Italy in the finals while France would lose the 3rd place match against Poland. No surprise. Both teams had empty their tank both from a physical stand point as well as mental.

Since 1982, France has more than earned its place at the table for tier one footballing nations. Winning the European cup 2 years later with an unstoppable Platini. They would get to another World Cup semi final in 1986...losing to West Germany again. But France has since then won a World Cup as well as another European Cup and reached another World Cup final in 2006. By all accounts that has propelled France closer to their footballing big brother - Germany. But that July evening in 1982 will always remain in the heart of a 10 year old who for a few minutes was overcome with uncontrollable joy.

Irish eyes are crying

Well 24 hours on from the "Hand of Frog" - I did not come up with that but will gladly "borrow" it! I have enjoyed reading and listening to the reaction of fans and pundits (it was even talked about on ESPN's PTI and Rome is Burning shows...I even heard it mentioned on my local sports radio show). Some of it is rational and well thought out, most of it, understandably is emotional, funny, true, heartfelt, sometimes crass and overall what makes sports so interesting. I particularly enjoyed the following video:



I guess the voodoo burning of Titi's picture is some Irish witch doctor trick. What I really love is that he is a Chelsea fan! But I do agree with him - country over club...always! This typifies the emotion felt by Irish fans and deservedly so. The way the Irish lost this match is no way to be left out of the World Cup. However sports, much like life are not always fair. The best team does not always win. Advantages are sometimes allowed for those that disregard the rules.

It stinks, trust me. I still shed a tear every time I watch, read about or think about the 1982 World Cup semi finals between RFA and France, where an absolute blatant foul by Schumacher on Battiston in the penalty area, put the Frenchman in the hospital and saw the German keeper suffer no punishment (it should have been a red card and penalty kick!!). That was an absolute howler of a missed call by an official...in a World Cup semi final. That by no means excuses what happened yesterday, but demonstrates that sh*t happens.

Not that this will make things easier for my Irish friends, but a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Had the goal been disallowed, which it should have, there remained a good 15 minutes of the match. At that stage of the match Ireland was clearly playing for PKs so who knows if France would have not scored a goal...I do not think the Irish had any intentions to look to get the second goal at this stage of the match.
  
• Even if France had not scored the goal, the game would have gone to penalties, and while many, including myself had little faith in France winning on PKs since when have Ireland been deemed the "Germany" of PKs? It would have been a crap shoot at best.
• Ireland can blame Henry and the referee....as well as themselves. If they capitalize on the other clear chances they had on goal, O'Shea is left all alone on the far post a the restart - he has the time to chest down the ball and tee up his volley only to put it into the upper stands, Keane sees Lloris make a desperate save on him midway through the first half, Evra makes a scrambling clearance on a Keane cross at the 50th minute, Keane finds himself alone versus Lloris with 15 minutes to go in regulation but cannot control the speed of the ball, and Duff sent through alone on goal with only Lloris to chip, the French keeper had gambled and covered the low shot, but instead the Fulham man sees his shot cleared by Lloris, again in desperation (Sagna's back tracking efforts also contributed to the miss). Score on one of these clear cut chances and we never go to extra time and never see the "hand of frog."
  

Bottom line, Ireland were the better team in Paris, no doubt. The goal should not have stood, should Henry have admitted this to the referee...um...would Robbie Keane have done so had the tables been turned? Doubtful. Will Henry's image be "tarnished" will he become too toxic for endorsements...no. Hey there are athletes who did far worse who still get endorsement deals - Kobe Bryant anyone? Henry will be fine, his image will be fine and fans of Barcelona, Arsenal and France will support him. When he comes play for the New York Red Bull all the fans and the MLS will talk about how great it is that he is here...after they mention the hand ball...

France will go to the World Cup next summer, they will be seeded (most likely in the first pot) they clearly have the talent to go far...or pull a World Cup 2002 and crash out in the first round. Either way it will have nothing to do with Henry being a "cheat" but everything to do with Domenech and what he does over the next 202 days. I am sure if France do well we will hear that it should be Ireland enjoying that run...if France do poorly it will be "karma." Germany seems to have done okay for itself after Schumacher blatantly cheated in 1982 and got away with it....

Ireland should feel robbed, yes. Should they complain, absolutely. Will there be a replay, highly unlikely. Do they need to get over it...yes.

The original "Hand of God" -

France v Ireland - round 3

No surprise, the Irish are asking FIFA to call for a replay of the game due to the Henry hand ball. Um are you serious? Should England ask for the same to replay the 1/4 final game against Argentina in 1986? Should Australia ask for a replay of their Italy game in the 2006 World Cup for an incredibly poor decision to grant a last minute penalty? Or maybe France should petition for a replay of the 1982 World Cup semi finals when Schumacher should have been red carded...how about the Hurst goal in the 1966 World Cup finals...was it a goal or not?? Missed calls and poor referee decisions are part of the game, move on.

Take a look at Schumacher's foul on Battiston in the France v RFA match from 1982...every team suffers and gains from referee's calls it is part of footie.