The match for the third place should be mentioned largely for aspects of the evolution of the perception of the game. Michel Hidalgo started with his reserves – only 4 regular players were in the starting eleven – Amoros, Tresor, Janvion, and Tigana, Later Six came as a substitute. On the surface, it looked like as a fair decision – let’s give a chance to the unused players, those who only watched so far, to taste world cup football. It was never done before, so it was also revolutionary decision. On the surface. Under it laid real reasons, none too good: the interest about the ‘small final’ was already thinning out, replaced by the new philosophy that only first place matters. France was not really interested in third place… it was nothing. It is not clear, but many observers wrote that the match was silver and bronze medals – if so, FIFA was not helping in preserving the importance of this match: if both teams were getting medals anyway, so why playing at all? There was no real stimulus. The development of this world cup made the match anti-climactic – the losses of Brazil and France killed the thrill. Somehow, it did not matter at all and France confirmed that by fielding its reserves, which immediately suggested that they were not interested and the match was almost a protocol. Poland, however, took it seriously and that further diminished the interest, for there was not going to be equality on the field and Poland appeared to be sure winner. And it was… the French second-stringers were pleasant to watch and since Poland was not greatly superior anyway, for a while the game was fairly equal and mildly entertaining. The French scored first, but hat was pretty much all they did – Poland started dominating and scoring, helped by the mistakes of the French goalkeeper Castaneda. If anything, his play made painfully clear one essential problem of the French team – no strong goalkeeper. Hidalgo said that much before the beginning of the championship, but it was more than obvious now: Baratelli practically refused to play from start, claiming nerves, Ettori was adequate at best, and Castaneda… was nothing.
Szarmach equalized in the 41st minute, then Majewski scored (on the picture) scored in the 45th minute, only Kupciewitz making it 3-1 in the 47th minute. Match finished. Couriol scored a second goal for France in the 73rd minute, but it not important – it was clear by now that France had no heart and no means of winning. Seemingly, did not aim at winning from start. Poland won 3-2 and justly got 3rd place – or silver medals, depending on who was telling.
France – 4th.
Poland – bronze medalist.