The Olympic games. The West boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow because of USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan, now the Eastern Europe retaliated. The pretense was concern over security, but clearly it was tit for tat. Just like four ago, not everybody followed the ban – Yugoslavia and Romania, rarely taking orders from Moscow, participated, but only Yugoslavia qualified for the football tournament. To a point, the 1984 Olympic football was weakened by the late withdrawal of USSR, DDR, and Czechoslovakia – they were replaced in the last minute by Italy, Norway, and West Germany. By now, the whole Olympic sport was not only under suspicion, but actual changes were introduced – professionals were allowed for the first time to participate in the Olympics. The change brought debates and protests, but the line between amateur and professional sport was blurred for a long time. Especially in football, where the Eastern Europeans played with their top national sides for years and clearly nobody there was amateur. The pretense that the players were workers and students was laughable for years, but other countries also found ways to field professional players, so the change was inevitable. But there was no clear path and many obstacles – Great Britain had one Olympic team, but 4 separate national teams in football. Top professionals were not exactly welcomed yet – not that they were eager to participate, especially from countries playing at the 1984 European Championship finals, but somehow it looked unfair to teams made of amateurs. The whole change was largely a compromise and a fake, for the pretense of amateur sport was still the general notion. So, the rule in football was this: professionals could participate, but European and South American teams could not include players appearing in the World Cup. Presumably, at the World Cup finals. How the rule was applied depended on the particular country: Yugoslavia , having officially professional football, used its Olympic teams as something similar to B national team for years – potential first team players played there until ready to jump in the first squad. Brazil, where the national team was king and some second squad was not exactly all that important made its Olympic teams from the pool of young bright talent – the potential future stars. France really used a B team – players rarely playing for the national team, but almost ready for it. Oldish and experienced squad. Chile used some well established players too. As for Africans, Asians, and North Americans – they used their first squads and best players. Roger Milla played at the 1984 Olympics. And many others – they were permitted, after all. But even with professionals, Olympic football was not considered important. And since the sport required many stadiums and long time, the tournament went far away Los Angeles – as far as Boston. Well attended – the final was played in front of Olympic record crowd of over 100 000 – but created no lasting interest in football in North America, just like it had been for years. In Europe and South America it was the same as ever too – no big attention. Without the usual favourites from Eastern Europe the whole tournament seemed even less interesting – more or less, 5 or 6 teams were considered stronger and they went ahead.
Group A
Chile – unknown squad, expected to reach the second round.
Norway – Qatar
Norway – Chile
France – Qatar
France – Chile
1.FRANCE 3 1 2 0 5- 4 4
2.CHILE 3 1 2 0 2- 1 4
3.Norway 3 1 1 1 3- 2 3
4.Qatar 3 0 1 2 2- 5 1
Group B
Canada – almost the same squad will play at the 1986 World Cup.
Cameroon – this national team formation is not from the Olympic games, but the players were the same. Roger Milla crouching at the left.
1.YUGOSLAVIA 3 3 0 0 7- 3 6
2.CANADA 3 1 1 1 4- 3 3
3.Cameroon 3 1 0 2 3- 5 2
4.Iraq 3 0 1 2 3- 6 1
Group C
West Germany – familiar faces, yes? Getting experience, what else?
Brazil – Saudi Arabia. David no match even for young version of Goliath.
1.BRAZIL 3 3 0 0 6- 1 6
2.WEST GERMANY 3 2 0 1 8- 1 4
3.Morocco 3 1 0 2 1- 4 2
4.Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 1-10 0
Group D
USA – even home turf did not help…
1.ITALY 3 2 0 1 2- 1 4
2.EGYPT 3 1 1 1 5- 3 3
3.USA 3 1 1 1 4- 2 3
4.Costa Rica 3 1 0 2 2- 7 2
QUARTERFINALS
Italy 1-0 Chile [aet]
France 2-0 Egypt
Brazil 1-1 Canada [aet]
Brazil wins 4-2 on penalties
Yugoslavia 5-2 West Germany
SEMIFINALS
France 4-2 Yugoslavia [aet]
Brazil 2-1 Italy [aet]
MATCH FOR THIRD PLACE
Yugoslavia 2-1 Italy
Italy finished 4th – not bad for a team called to play in the last minute and therefore more less hastily made.
Yugoslavia with bronze medals – not bad, but more was expected from the boys. Especially at home – traditional Olympic favourites having no real challenger after the Eastern block’s withdrawal. May be caught by surprise by the new rule allowing professionals to play.
FINAL
Los Angeles, August 11, 1984
France 2-0 Brazil
France: Rust – Ayache, Bibard, Jeannol, Zanon – Lemoult, Rohr,
G Lacombe – Bijotat, Xuereb (Cubaynes), Brisson (Garande).
Brazil: R Gilmar – Ronaldo, Pinga, Mauro Galvao, Andre Luis –
Ademir, Dunga, Gilmar – Tonho (Milton Cruz), Kita (Chicao),
Silvinho.
Referee: Keizer (Netherlands)
Attendance: 101,000
Scorers: 55′ Brisson 1-0; 62 Xuereb 2-0.
Brazil got silver and that was great, for normally their Olympic team won nothing. More than second place was entirely unrealistic – the difference between Brazil and France was huge: the young Brazilians faced tough professionals. The Brazilian midfield was the strongest line of the team, but as whole it was not only inexperienced squad, but fairly uneven too. Eventually some of the players made it to the national team, but really only Dunga became world-famous.
France – the new Olympic champions. Perhaps the only team at this Olympic games taking the new rule seriously – it was more than decent squad made of A national team players, potential national team players, experienced second-rankers, and some promising talent. They did not lose a game and sailed quite smoothly to gold medals – arguably, their most difficult match was the semi-final against Yugoslavia, which was decided in extra-time.
Olympic champion and rightly so – perhaps the most important thing about the French victory was about the general health of French football: it was tremendously successful year showing that the future will be also strong – the national team won the European finals and the Olympic team, from which additional A team players would come, won the Olympics – no trouble, plenty of good players for tomorrow.