Euro 84 – classic matches

France 5-0 Belgium
The hosts Frances were in action against the finalists of Euro 80, Belgium. The French took an early lead through Platini. Fielding an attacking line up the French dominated the first half and were 3 goals up by the end of the first half through Giresse and Fernandez. During the second period the French threatened to run riot as they totally overwhelmed Belgium but it took them thirty minutes into the second half too score their forth goal as Platini struck home a well taken penalty. With two minutes remaining Michel Platini completed a famous hat trick and had just gone clear of Just Fontaine’s scoring records with a total of 27 international goals for France.

France 3-2 Yugoslavia
If scoring a Hat-trick in Frances match against Belgium was not enough, Platini pulled out his magic once again scoring another Hat-trick here in the game against Yugoslavia.
France were coming into the game already assured of a place in the semi-finals and Yugoslavia were eliminated this proved to be a great encounter despite the score line being meaningless to how the group phased out. Yugoslavia took the lead through Sestic on the half hour mark; however France seemed to sense that they may be able to pull back and refuse to worry by the 1-0 deficit. It took Platini sixty minutes to move up a gear and he scored a memorable in the 6oth minute, which was to be followed up by two more Platini goals coming seventeen minutes after the first. Another Hat-trick for Platini was quite an achievement as he scored a hat-trick in their previous match against Belgium. In all credit to Yugoslavia they battled on and pulled a goal back in the 80th minute, which seemed to be a mere consolation.

France 3-2 Portugal

The first semi final took place in Marseille between the hosts France and Portugal. France took the early initiative with a 24th minute lead through Domergue as Platini dominated the match the French continued to pile on pressure search for their second but could no find it. Jordao equalized for Portugal with 15 minutes of the match remaining. The score was level and consequently went into extra time which started at a much more frantic pace; it took Jordao only five minutes of the extra time period to grab his and Portugal’s second and strolled into the lead. France were now on the back foot and Domergue fortunately found the back of the net with five minutes remaining to even the proceedings. With one minute remaining the star of the tournament Platini fired a Tigana cross firmly into the Portuguese net to hand the hosts victory and a place in the final.

France 2-0 Spain - Final

France started the final impressively as Giresse rifled in a shot within the first minute. The match was fairly even through out the first period. As the second half began the French grew in confidence. In the 56th minute France were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and Michel Platini curled his shot around the Spaniards defensive wall and scored, many felt that the keeper could have done better but France were now in total control. France stumbled with five minutes remaining as Le Roux was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Spain went in search for an equalizer; however seconds before the final whistle Tigana cleared the ball as practically the entire of the Spanish side moved into the French half and Bellone run on to it and chipped the ball over the advancing Arconada to seal France’s triumph.