When Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty against Hungary in Portugal’s opening match of Euro 2020 – which he celebrated in that typical understated way of his – he broke a record that had been held by Michel Platini, a man who played a big part in the organisation of Euro 2020. The less said about Platini’s time as a football administrator the better, but he was a tremendous player.
Ronaldo’s goals have been spread across the last five Euros, but Platini only played in one finals. The France team that won Euro 84 was not just about Platini – he was one quarter of their formidable Carré Magique midfield alongside Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernández – but he was the star of that tournament, scoring in all five of France’s matches on his way to lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy in Paris.
Platini was shackled by the Denmark defender Klaus Berggreen in France’s opening game at the Parc des Princes. As the authors of the brilliant book Danish Dynamite put it: “No matter where Platini went, Berggreen stuck to his heels like an eager puppy.” But he was given an opportunity to escape Berggreen’s shadow in the 78th minute.
Berggreen had possession of the ball in midfield and tried to push forward. As soon as he was dispossessed by Tigana, the Danes were in trouble. When the ball fell to Platini on the edge of the box, his shot deflected off the head of the prostrate defender Soren Busk and left Denmark keeper Ole Qvist helpless. It was his 27th goal for France, equalling Just Fontaine’s record. There was a touch of fortune about Platini’s first goal of the tournament but he would go on to demonstrate the full extent of his genius in the next two group games.
Goals two, three and four: France v Belgium, 16 June
Platini marked his 50th international cap in style, scoring a hat-trick to establish himself as France’s record goalscorer, as well as equalling the European Championship finals record of four goals that had been shared by Dieter Müller and Gerd Müller. Platini opened the scoring with a left-footed strike from the edge of the area, following up after Patrick Battiston had struck the bar with a free-kick.
Giresse and Fernández made it 3-0 before half-time and there was more pain to come for the beleaguered Belgium team. Platini scored a penalty with his right foot and a superb header from 12 yards out to complete a perfect hat-trick. “At the start of the season I set myself three targets,” said Platini after the game. “The Italian Championship and European Cup Winners’ Cup with Juventus, and the European Championship. This is the hardest and also the one closest to my heart.” Platini liked doing things in threes in 1984.
Another day, another perfect hat-trick. Yugoslavia had the temerity to take a first-half lead against the hosts in Saint-Etienne, but it did not last long. Platini equalised with a left-footed effort after a Jean-Marc Ferrari pass before giving France the lead with a diving header from the penalty spot after a magnificent cross from Battiston.
Platini secured his second consecutive hat-trick with a sublime free-kick from just outside the box. With none of the Home Nations present at Euro 84, TV stations in the UK largely ignored the tournament but most of us had already witnessed a similar goal four months earlier, when England also succumbed to the French captain.
This match in Marseille deserves a blog of its own – in fact someone kindly prepared one for you earlier. France’s dramatic extra-time win over Portugal in the semi-finals has gone down in European Championship folklore. Platini’s last-gasp winner left John Motson orgasmic and the rest of us open-mouthed in wonder at the whole experience.
Left-back Jean-François Domergue tried his best to steal the limelight from Platini, opening the scoring and equalising as extra-time drifted away from France. But it is the winning goal in the 119th minute that is the enduring memory from this match. Tigana’s thrusting run, Platini’s cool touch and strike, French delight and Portuguese heartache. It’s staggering to think that British viewers could only enjoy this via late-night highlights. At least the final would be live, as Platini edged closer to completing the dream tournament for him and his country.
It ended as it started for Platini: a strike from outside the box on the Parc des Princes turf that was a touch fortuitous. Platini’s goal from a 57th-minute free-kick gave France the lead in the final against Spain, ensuring that he had scored in every match. Luis Arconada provided a helping hand, the ball squirming under his body and limping apologetically across the line.
Yvon Le Roux was sent off towards the end of the final but France doubled their lead in the last minute, with Tigana setting up Bruno Bellone. It was the only time a striker scored for France at the tournament. With Platini in midfield, strikers were not needed for goals.
Even with the bloated format of the Euros we see today, it is hard to envisage Platini’s tally of nine goals in one tournament being beaten. His latter years have soured some of the memories, but you can’t deny his majesty as he led France to their first major title at Euro 84.
