| Such an epic match did not deserve to be settled by penalties.
But after a compelling 120 minutes, during which tournament favourites
Brazil and France, the European champions, had traded attack upon
attack, that was what had to happen.
Brazil took the lead after Muller set up Careca following some neat
footwork from Junior. Careca turned provider for Muller in the 32nd
minute, but his shot hit a post. A lucky escape for France, who
equalised 10 minutes later through Michel Platini, on his 31st birthday.
Alain Giresse sent Dominique Rocheteau away on the right and his
low cross was tapped in by the captain.
After half-time and into extra-time the game was fast and furious,
but the quality of the football shone throughout. Socrates was a
commanding figure in Brazil's midfield, spraying passes forward
to Muller and Careca. Zico, Muller's replacement, had a chance to
win the game in the 73rd minute, but his poorly directed penalty
was saved by Joel Bats. The keeper also saved a Zico header from
close range, while Rocheteau missed an open goal. French substitute
Bruno Bellone was through on goal on 117 minutes,
but was denied as keeper Carlos clearly fouled him outside the area.
Romanian referee Ioan Igna ignored the incident.
So, to the shoot-out, in which Socrates and Platini both missed
their
kicks. When Brazil's Julio Cesar put his shot against a post, it
was left
to Luis Fernandez to convert his penalty and send France into the
semi-finals.
Line-ups
France: Bats - Battiston, Amoros, Bossis, Tusseau
- Giresse (Ferreri 84), Tigana, Platini, Fernandez - Stopyra, Rocheteau
(Bellone 101).
Goals: Platini 42.
Brazil: Carlos - Josimar, Julio Cesar, Edinho,
Branco - Alemao, Socrates, Junior (Silas 91), Elzo - Muller (Zico
72), Careca.
Goals: Careca 18.
Penalty shoot-out: Socrates (miss), Stopyra; Alemao, Amoros; Zico,
Bellone; Branco, Platini (miss); Julio Cesar (miss), Fernandez.
Referee: Igna (Romania).
Att: 65,000. |
