West Germany – France. The Germans played nothing so far and the memory of the disgrace against Austria was fresh, so France was the preferred and desired winner. Besides, France was the most entertaining team after Brazil. Platini was back, so France had its finest team. Derwall made adjustments – disappointing Rummenigge was benched and Magath was a starter. Also Littbarski. Both teams started with 4-4-2 schemes, more pronounced in the German team. It was dubious approach for the Germans to start with only two strikers – Littbarski and Fischer – but it was also clear by now Derwall run out of options. Thanks to the French, the match was entertaining and dramatic. The Germans did what they could – heavy pressure, excellent physical condition, attacking minded. They scored first, in the 18th minute. Pierre Littbarski proved his worth. This was perhaps the most important moment of the match, for France was known for bending under pressure and losing concentration. Not this day.
Platini equalized from a penalty in the 28th minute. The game was fast and France was seemingly the better team, but the minutes were running out without a second goal. The Germans were not very effective in their own attacks and Hrubesch came out, replacing Magath, but it was desperate move, for Fischer and Hrubesch were identical center-forwards. But earlier in the second half the second German disgrace, overshadowing even the shameful game with Austria, happened – deliberately and brutally Tony Schumacher almost killed Patrick Battiston.
It was not a questionable moment where two players fought for the ball – the ball was away and going behind the German goalkeeper, who did not run for it, but for Battiston and hit him with all his massive weight. The Frenchman was down, out, and in hospital for months. It was doubtful he will ever play again. Schumacher just walked away unconcerned, untroubled, even impatient with the lengthy stoppage of the match. The referee was absolutely silent – no card, not even verbal warning. Nothing. A telling point of the 1980s football – even murder was permitted. France was not broke down by the awful incident, but he regular time ended 1-1. Technically, the result was right: Fischer was denied of goal by excellent save by Ettori and in the very last minute Amoros hit the crossbar. Could have been 2-2, was 1-1.
This was the end of France, many felt – no matter how good, there was no way stopping the Germans in extra-time, because they were capable of running in high speed for ever. The French were physically weaker. Yet, the extra-time was not Germans rolling over the French – both teams seemingly increased the already fast tempo and abandoned all caution, moving into spectacular attacks. Tresor scored in the 92nd minute and in the 98th Giresse made it 3-1 for France. May be too much too early… it was time France to kill the speed, to start wasting time, even to play dirty, and keep the ball in midfield, but it was not a team capable of such tricks – France repeated the Brazilian approach, which appeared naïve and reckless in retrospect: they kept the tempo and continued to attack. But Germans are never mentally destroyed, no matter the result, and their physical superiority and determination was important and started to show. Rummenigge was fielded in the 96th minute and it was him scoring a second German goal in the 102nd minute. France was still leading at the end of the first half of extra-time, but Germany was more dangerous and quickly equalized after the start of the second 15 minutes: Fischer scored in the 109th minute. France practically lost by trying to outplay West Germany. The Germans extracted the maximum of this match, in which they were poorer in football terms.
Penalty shoot-out is really gambling – there was no ‘better’ team, anyone could win, luck plays a big role. When it came to shoot-out… the Germans had the edge, having better and intimidating goal-keeper, plus nerves of iron. The French had weaker mentality, affected by losing their lead of 2 goals, by missing some scoring opportunities, by the brutal destruction of Battiston. Six missed his penalty and Bossis immediately after him. Hrubesch scored. France was out. West Germany reached the final. It was truly a moment of mourning, for the game lost and brutality won – the Germans had no friends, but that was the final result, nothing to be said about it – they scored their penalties and the French did not. A war of nerves the Germans never lost.