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Agence France-Presse

It was the match that had everything – spectacular goals, a brutal clash and a dramatic comeback, before finally, a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.
For many, West Germany’s 1982 World Cup semi-final against France in Seville remains the ultimate, an engrossing duel providing new plot twists at every turn.
And as the two countries prepare to meet again in the Euro 2016 semi-final in Marseille, the 1982 match has also become a symbol of the tense football relationship between France and Germany.
“It is a scar that will remain forever,” said Alain Giresse, a French midfield lynchpin at the time.
French football legend Michel Platini treasures the encounter as one of the finest moments of his career.
“For me, no book or film or play could ever recapture the way I felt that day. It was so complete, so strong, so fabulous,” Platini said in an interview several years later.

For all the scintillating attacking play, it was a savage encounter between Germany goalkeeper Harald ‘Toni’ Schumacher and France’s Patrick Battiston in the 57th minute which became the turning point.
With the score at 1-1 after a Pierre Littbarski goal was followed by an equalising penalty from Platini, Battiston was sent clear with only the advancing Schumacher to beat.
The French substitute nudged the ball past the goalkeeper only to be brought crashing to the ground by Schumacher, who knocked Battiston cold and dislodged two teeth.


Actions that should have earned Schumacher a red card, as well as a penalty to France, went unpunished. Incredibly, the Dutch referee later said he had not seen the incident.
“I don’t blame Schumacher, it was the referee,” said France defender Marius Tresor, now 66.
Fuelled by a sense of injustice as well as the burning desire to secure a place in the final against Italy, France played fabulously for the remainder of the match.
It might have been their worst shoot-out ever – but penalty kings Germany still win it to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals
Yet they were unable to break down a typically resilient German side, who went close to winning the game with two late efforts, only to be denied by France’s goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori.
Early in extra time it looked as if Germany had finally cracked. An unmarked Tresor fired France ahead with a wonderful volley, hooking in a free-kick from Giresse.
Moments later the diminutive Giresse put France 3-1 ahead, his powerful long distance shot beat Schumacher and flew in off the post. But just as France were contemplating a place in the final, Germany hit back.
They reduced the deficit through Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, introduced as a substitute though not fully fit. Two minutes from time the Germans pulled level, Klaus Fischer scoring with an overhead kick from close range.
‘Germany are the best, but we will give it our all,’ says France coach Didier Deschamps after shattering Icelandic fairy tale at Euro 2016
For the first time in the history of the World Cup, penalties would be used to settle a match.
France converted their three opening spot kicks and looked to have gained the advantage when Uli Stielike saw Germany’s third saved by Ettori.

With a chance to make it 4-2 to France though, Didier Six’s effort was saved by Schumacher. Littbarksi, Platini and Rummenigge all scored with their next penalties before Maxime Bossis stepped up only to see Schumacher save.
Horst Hrubesch, who earlier in the tournament had attacked German coach Jupp Derwall as a coward for leaving him out of the side, sent Germany into the final by nervelessly converting his penalty.
France, one of the most gifted sides in the tournament, were out. Platini described the result as scandalous. In an interview nearly 20 years later Platini was more generous.

“In the heat of the action, I felt a profound sense of injustice after Schumacher’s foul, but now I remember that match as one of the most thrilling moments of my life,” Platini said. “Incredible.”
The Battiston injuries are revived each time France play Germany. But Franco-German writer Marc Wels, who produced a play about the game, said the nationalist tensions have eased.
“Before the players did not travel, there was a real identity stake between national teams who had to carry their history on their shoulders,” Wels said.
“Now the players are in the same clubs, its nicer. And for young people, it is a question of sport now.


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Ready for more at Euro 2016? 1982 - the 'scar' on France v German football relations

Patrick Battiston evacuated on a stretcher eyed by forward Michel Platini after colliding with German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher during the World Cup semi-final. Photo: AFP

In this photo taken Aug. 14, 2015 Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge waits for the beginning of the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV in Munich, southern Germany. Rummenigge has extended his contract with the club through 2019. The club says on its website that Rummenigge, whose current deal was to expire at the end of this year, agreed to the contract extension with its board members. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson )

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 28, 2015 shows UEFA president Michel Platini attending the draw for the UEFA Europa League football group stage 2015/16, in Monaco. Former UEFA president Michel Platini remembers the Euro 1984 opening football match against Denmark on June 12, 1984 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, and the victory of France's team. / AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE

Pierre Littbarski , pictured at the training for Philips Lighting Sevens soccer tournament at the Hong Kong Football Club.

Germany brush Slovakia aside to reach Euro 2016 quarter-finals - but coach Loew demands further improvement

Germany's forward Mario Gomez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

epa05392754 Goalkeeper Matus Kozacik of Slovakia concedes the 3-0 goal scored by Julian Draxler of Germany during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Germany and Slovakia at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille Metropole, France, 26 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA EDITORIAL USE ONLY

TOPSHOT - Germany's defender Jerome Boateng (L) celebrates near Germany's coach Joachim Loew after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between Germany and Slovakia at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq near Lille on June 26, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ

Germany's midfielder Julian Draxler (C) jumps for the ball with Slovakia's midfielder Juraj Kucka (L) and Slovakia's defender Peter Pekarik during the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between Germany and Slovakia at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, on June 26, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET

Germany expecting the unexpected when they take on Italy at Euro 2016

Coach Joachim Loew attends a training session .(AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany´s players warm up during a training session at the team's training grounds in Evian on July 1, 2016, on the eve of the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between Germany and Italy. / AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ

Germany forward Lukas Podolski critical of ‘stupid’ expanded Euro 2016 format

Germany forward Lukas Podolski against Slovakia. Photos: AFP

Germany's forward Lukas Podolski (L) vies with Slovakia's midfielder Juraj Kucka during the Euro 2016 round of 16 football match between Germany and Slovakia at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, on June 26, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN

Sport

Football

The two countries who played out a memorable World Cup semi-final in 1982 meet again for a place in the final of the European Championships
