If there’s one Euro that screams one player’s name, it’s gotta be the ’84 one, where Michel Platini led France to their first-ever European glory, leaving an indelible mark with his 9 goals.
Platini never graced another Euro stage, yet he remained the tournament’s all-time top scorer for 35 years. Cristiano Ronaldo matched his record in 2016, tallying 9 goals after four Euros (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), and in the 2020 tournament (actually held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 outburst), which was his 5th outing, managed to surpass him (he has now 14 goals in the competition) but what the Frenchman did in 1984 is hard to replicate. Back then, he was the world’s best player at the peak of his career and alongside a talented generation of players, guided his homeland to its first golden era with two World Cup semi-final appearances (1982, 1986) and a European Championship trophy in between.
In ’84, Platini was riding high, clinching his first Serie A title with Juventus, topping the league’s scoring charts for the second straight year with 20 goals, and lifting the Cup Winners’ Cup with the Bianconeri. Heading into the Euros, he was a man on a mission. France hosted the tournament and landed in a tough group with Denmark, Belgium, and Yugoslavia, but none anticipated the onslaught led by their skipper. The Danes lost 1-0 in the opener, but the Belgians and the Yugoslavs suffered mercilessly. Denmark held on until the 78th minute when Platini broke the deadlock and also sealed the fate of the game, while Belgians and Yugoslavs suffered a hat-trick each. Belgium, after a 2-0 win over Yugoslavia, fell 5-0 to the French, with Platini setting them on fire from the 4th minute with a stunning solo effort, followed by goals from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez. After leading 3-0 at halftime, Platini converted a penalty he won in the 64th minute and completed his hat-trick with a header in the 89th. Yugoslavia had been humbled 5-0 by Denmark, but they sold dearly their defeat in the final group stage game.
They led 1-0 at halftime, and after the break, Platini took charge. He leveled the score at 59′, then three minutes later, he headed in a beauty to make it 2-1. At 77′, with a sensational direct free kick, he sealed the win and secured the top spot in the group for France, who ultimately triumphed 3-2. In the semis, they were followed by Denmark, who staged a remarkable comeback against Belgium, winning 3-2 despite being down 2-0. In the other group (back then the tournament consisted of two groups with four teams and the first two spots were leading to the semi-finals), the Iberians snagged the top two spots. Spain and Portugal ended up first and second, respectively, after a tie, leaving Germany and Romania out of luck. In the six games played, a total of nine goals were scored (just as many as Platini netted on his own), and the final match-ups were decided on the last matchday, with the Spaniards beating the Germans 1-0 in the 90th minute and the Portuguese edging out the Romanians with the same scoreline nine minutes before the end.
Portugal may have only scored twice (the other being a 1-1 draw with Spain), but they almost upset France, who had led since the 24th minute thanks to a beautiful foul by left-back Jean-Francois Domergue. Rui Jordao’s header in the 74th minute sent the match into extra time, and in the 98th minute, the then-Sporting Lisbon forward gave the Portuguese the lead with a tremendous shot from inside the box. Domergue answered in the 114th minute and with just one minute left before the penalty shoot-out, Platini made it 3-2 to send France to the final for the first time (note: they had to participate in the tournament since the very first Euro in 1960, where they were also hosts).
However, the other semi-final was decided on penalties, where Spain, after a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, defeated Denmark 5-4, setting up a showdown with France at the Parc des Princes for the final, marking their return for the first time since 1964 when they hosted and won their first Euro (followed by those of 2008 and 2012). Even they couldn’t withstand Platini, though. Spain’s goalkeeper, Luis Arconada, did manage to block his free kick in the 57th minute, but the shot was so powerful and had such a curve that he couldn’t hold onto the ball, resulting in it slipping through his hands and into the net for 1-0. The final score (2-0) was shaped by Bruno Bellone in the 90th minute, who was the only French forward to score in that Euro.
You see, the then-manager, Michel Hidalgo, had assembled one of the best midfielders lines of all time, with Giresse (Bordeaux), Fernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), and Jean Tigana (Bordeaux) supporting Platini. For the record, Joel Bats (Auxerre) guarded the goal, and the defensive quartet from right to left consisted of Patrick Battiston (Bordeaux), Yvon Le Roux (Monaco), Maxime Bossis (Nantes), and Domergue (Toulouse), while Bellone (Monaco), who usually came off the bench, had Bernard Lacombe (Bordeaux) alongside him in the attack. Platini, as captain, lifted the trophy, and a few months later, he grabbed his second of three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards (1983, 1984, 1985).
