Five classic Germany vs France battles

Ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, AFP Sport takes a look at five past meetings between European rivals France and Germany: Gothenburg, Sweden, June 28, 1958. World Cup third-place play-off: France 6-3 West Germany West Germany’s reign as world champions had been ended in a 3-1 defeat to hosts Sweden in the semi-finals, and they missed out on third place after being blown away by a prolific French side. [caption id=“attachment_1601195” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  France’s Karim Benzema (C) faces Germany’s wall as he takes a shot during their international friendly soccer match. Reuters[/caption] France recovered from a 5-2 loss to Pele’s Brazil in the semi-finals as Just Fontaine scored four times to finish the competition with a remarkable 13 goals. Raymond Kopa and Yvon Douis also netted for Les Bleus, with Helmut Rahn on the scoresheet for the Germans to finish level with Pele on six goals. February 23, 1977, Paris. France 1-0 West Germany West Germany were the World Cup holders when they travelled to the French capital in February 1977. The match proved to be the great Franz Beckenbauer’s 103rd and last for West Germany, but an inexperienced French side ensured that the Kaiser bowed out with a defeat. Michel Hidalgo’s France team did not feature a single player with more than 10 caps to his name, but they ran out 1-0 winners, with Olivier Rouyer scoring the only goal of the encounter. Seville, Spain, July 8, 1982. World Cup semi-final: West Germany 3-3 France (aet - 1-1 after 90 minutes), West Germany won 5-4 on penalties Played in the steaming heat of Seville, this game is one of the all-time classic World Cup matches. It is best remembered now for the shocking challenge by German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher on France’s Patrick Battiston that left the latter unconscious and with damaged vertebrae. However, there was plenty of drama even excluding that now infamous moment. Michel Platini cancelled out Pierre Littbarski’s opener, and Marius Tresor then struck the bar for France right at the death. In extra-time, goals by Tresor and Alain Giresse succeeded in putting the French 3-1 up, only for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Klaus Fischer to hit back and force penalties. There, Didier Six and Maxime Bossis both missed from 12 yards and France crashed out. Guadalajara, Mexico, June 25, 1986. World Cup semi-final: France 0-2 West Germany Four years later, the teams met again at the same stage of the World Cup in Mexico. France by now were reigning European champions, but their stylish team, with Michel Platini struggling due to a foot problem, again came undone against the West Germans. In a game that contrasted sharply with the drama of Seville, chances were few and far between and France failed to live up to their tag of favourites, this game proving a step too far after previous wins against holders Italy and Brazil. An early Andreas Brehme free-kick put the Germans in front early on, and Rudi Voeller clinched the win right at the end. However, West Germay came unstuck against Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the final. Paris, February 6, 2013. France 1-2 Germany France had gone unbeaten in six meetings with Germany, all friendlies, since the fall of the Berlin Wall. A German win was overdue and they got it at the Stade de France in the most recent clash of the nations, in February last year. Mathieu Valbuena gave France the lead just before the interval, but Thomas Mueller equalised early in the second half and Sami Khedira went on to net the winner for Joachim Loew’s side. Of the French starting line-up that night, only Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery, who is injured, is not currently in Brazil. Eight of the German team from that game are also in Brazil. AFP