of a four or five year old child A father holding hands crossing a busy road. Keep your head up and observe the movement of vehicles. The baby is held together. This is the image that comes to mind when watching Michel Platini play for the first time on TV in June 1986. Platini, with the ball securely planted at his feet like a child, watches his squirming opponents and teammates and moves through them. At the 1986 World Cup, Platini came to mind as a mild favourite; Maradona raised his cup with mad excitement.
Argentina and France did not meet in that World Cup. It would have come if France had beaten West Germany in the semi-finals. The French defeated Belgium 4-2 to become the 3rd place. The Blue Army had a place in mind back then, kept securely wrapped on the side bench of ownership of ‘my own Argentina’.
Zinedine Zidane emerged as Platini’s successor when he arrived in France in 1998 as a playmaker. Maradona was not in the Argentina shirt. Batistuta, Ortega, Zanetti, Crespo, Simeone and Ayala to shed love. Although they beat England in the pre-quarters, Argentina lost to Holland in the quarter-finals. Brazil’s game got out of hand when Ronaldo Nazario took to the field after suffering an epileptic seizure on the day of the final and wandered around like a chicken let loose in the moonlight. Zidane led from the front, France’s first World Cup, that too on home soil. Naturally, India supported France.
In 2002, he saw France’s elimination in the first round from up close as a reporter. Argentina also returned without firing a shot. He went to the later World Cups as a fan. When Argentina lost in the final in Rio (2014), the streets and restaurants were filled with Brazilian cheers. Messi hated the honor of the Golden Ball and took it in his hands. Despite being knocked out in the quarterfinals of the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, Argentina made a promise to the world in 2010.
The promise of being Lionel Messi. That is what collapsed in the final in 2014. It is interesting to note that Germany has been the obstacle for Argentina in the above mentioned 3 World Cups. In 2018, France raised the bar again. Just like in 1998, the team has a reputation for being a great mix of ethnic diversity and strength. The children or grandchildren of immigrants became the flagship of France’s new nationalism. Messi is going to the final today after passing Maradona and Batigol. Platini and Zidane and Mbappe on the other side.
English Summary: France, Argentina football memories