Third place match 28.06.86 (12.00) Puebla, Estadio Cuauhtemoc FRA - BEL 4:2 (2:1, 2:2, 3:2) (~21000) Courtney ENG, Silva CHI, Al-Sharif SYR FRA: Rust - Le Roux (56 Bossis), Battiston (c), Bibard, Amoros - Tigana (84 Tusseau), Genghini, Vercruysse, Ferreri - Bellone, Papin BEL: Pfaff - Gerets, Grun, Demol, Renquin (64 F.van der Elst) – Vervoort, Scifo (46 L.van der Elst), Mommens - Ceulemans (c), Claesen, Veyt 0:1 Ceulemans 11, 1:1 Ferreri 27, 2:1 Papin 43, 2:2 Claesen 73, 3:2 Genghini 103, 4:2 Amoros 109 p booked: Pfaff The match for third place was already meaningless and therefore anticlimactic. Just like in 1982, France put its reserves in it, Platini not playing at all. Belgium fielded the regulars, but the spark was not there. Some commentators said that the teams were exhausted from too much football, but the predominant opinion was more on target: in the 1980s 3rd place interested nobody. Only first place counted.
Largely because of the many changes in the French team, Belgium took the initiative.
And scored the first goal, Ceulemans as if taking revenge. Revenge for his scared performance against Argentina. But the French had enough class even without Platini and finished the first half leading 2-1.
Still in the second half Belgium managed to stay on track and equalized. The regular time ended 2—2.In overtime the French were fresher, if anything.
Two more goals made it 4-2 France and the 3rd place was theirs. Overall, it was not so bad at all – 6 goals, 120 minutes play, the feast lasted to the end, even if the teams were not very interested and only 21 000 fans showed up.
Belgium finished 4th, their best ever place at World Cup finals. There is wrong name on the picture – instead of Scifo is written Vercauteren (misspelled for good measure). No reason the Red Devils and their fans to be unhappy – hardly anybody counted on them to go that far, but they did. Contributed to the memorable part of the finals. A pleasant surprise, considering their shaky beginning, but once again Belgium showed great spirit. Belgium played three games ending with overtime, so they had one of the most grueling and taxing tasks, but were not bothered – a clear case not only of determination, but good training and adaptation to the difficult hot conditions of Mexico. Guy Thys reaffirmed his big reputation, but he did not have the team he once had: back in 1980 Belgium was newer, younger team. For a country with limited pool of players, maintaining a strong team is very difficult – players age and drop out, but similar replacement were difficult to find. Yet, Thys managed to keep his team strong. Unfortunately, that was quite obviously the swan song of this team – Thys himself was getting too old and so were the key players: Broos and Vandereicken were not up to task anymore, Broos had to be replaced after the first games, Vandereicken did not play at all. At 32 Pfaff perhaps could stay a few more years, for goalkeepers last longer, but Gerets, Renquin, Vercauteren, Ceulemans, and very likely De Wolf, Veyt, and maybe Vanderbergh played their last World Cup. The next generation was seemingly of a lesser quality: perhaps Franky van der Elst, if healthy and in good form would stay. Scifo was certainly the new star and only 20. Add Claesen, Vervoort, Demol, and Grun... Not enough to take over. No problems with goalkeepers – there were two goalies ready to replace Pfaff. Belgium most likely was heading to some decline and for that it was too bad they lost the match for the 3rd place – would have been a nice tribute to the team which did so much with so little in the last 6 years.
France finished better than 4 years earlier, but there was a bit of disappointment. France started more solid than inspired, a certain change in their play was noticeable – harder and tougher play, instead of the elegant and creative style with which they dazzled fans all around the world. France was unable to take revenge against West Germany, which was entirely beatable team – but 1982 repeated itself, almost fully. France could be blamed for putting the last nail in the coffin of the third-place match: twice in a row they showed to all to see that this match did not matter at all by fielding reserves. France can be also blamed for not evolving tactically – for instance, the innovation introduced in 1984 – 3-5-2 – was not followed and 4-4-2 was used now. On the other hand, France contributed to arguably the most beautiful match at the 1986 finals – the quarterfinal with Brazil. This match made many, many people hoping to see France World champion or at least to play at the final, the beautiful football to triumph again. And the team was not up to the task of beating the German machine... and with that one of the most exciting generations was going to step down without world success. France was facing the same problem as Belgium: Platini, Giresse, Tigana, Bossis, Rocheteau, and very likely Battiston played their last World Cup. After them... it was not very promising: Amoros, Le Roux, Fernandez, Bellone, maybe Papin. Not the same class and the absence of creative midfielders was absolutely clear. Just for that France deserved more than third place, but the chance was denied by the Germans and for that the French had to blame themselves at least a bit.