World Cup Corner

The Brazil-France matches in the World Cup are nothing short of spectacular. The Brazil-France matches are the kind of games that their fans and almost everyone else who’s interested in the game love to watch. Theirs is the kind of game that gets people on the edge of their feet and eventually, on their very feet. Theirs is the kind of game that rocks the field. Everyone waits in anticipation for every single match where the two World Cup giants battle. Such notoriety was fueled by their long-running heated rivalry in the World Cup, a competitive history dotted with memorable games and players.

The feud all started in 1958. France breezed almost effortlessly hrough the tournament, but only to clash with Brazil during the quarter-finals. In the able hands of the legendary Pele in his young seventeen years, when his energy was still bursting forth, Brazil was to be the hindrance to France’s near victory. The tournament finally sent the French team home, with drooping shoulders and with much regret and remorse, as the Brazilians contrastingly celebrated their victory.

The two rival teams met again in Mexico during the World Cup tournament in 1986, several years after the memorable first clash. Their reunion produced a game of unmatched proportions when it comes to excitement and thrill. It was a most memorable game that made its mark, not only on that year’s tournament, but on the history of the World Cup tournaments as a whole. The match left the audience breathless, and can be summarized in such a way: France tried their hardest to suppress the Brazilian prowess that threatened to overflow and conquer them. And the French team, fortunately, did quite well, as evident in their eventual victory. Less than fifteen minutes before the game ended, there was much skirmish that led to Zico being penalized, and Brazilian keeper getting away with pushing the French Bellone off the ball. Although no penalty occurred when there was supposed to, the game plowed on. Thanks to the player Platini, the French team finally found its rhythm and Brazil’s once-flourishing power was ultimately contained and they were overtaken. 1986 was payback year, it seems, for the former losers that now held the title and the trophy in their triumphant hands.
Their next reunion came several years after, during the 1998 World Cup tournament, in the French team’s own soil. Their 1998 bout proved to be one of the most unforgettable incidents in the history of the World Cup tournament. This was fueled by the mystery that surrounded Brazil’s player Ronaldo’s health, which seemed to slow him down and hold back the prowess that he once had. On the other hand, France rode to victory at the able hands of Zidane, Petit, and other impressive players. Zidane landed two goals, and Petit topped it with a third goal just before the final whistle. France claimed the victory once more.

The France-Brazil rivalry, as strong and controversial as it was, even went outside the World Cup tournaments and continued in non-World Cup tournaments. In 1997, just one year before the 1998 World Cup, the two teams also battled at a tournament called “Le Tournoi”, a four-team tournament hosted by none other but France. The tournament was eventually won by England, but it was the France-Brazil match that got people on their feet, as expected. Just twenty-one minutes into the game, Roberto Carlos showed the world why his name deserved remembrance and reverence with a spectacular free kick. Everyone was baffled and amazed. Up until now, when memories of the extraordinary kick are recalled, fans and experts both are still mesmerized. The opposing team’s Fabien Barthez seemed thunderstruck himself, and seemed unable to comprehend that such a shot was even possible. Even Roberto Carlos himself seemed a bit baffled, and for the next decade, he apparently spent time and effort trying to kick the exact same way once more. His efforts did pay off and people were impressed, but it was that one huge hit that propelled him to an unrivalled status all over the world.

The Brazil and France matches are still unmatched in their ability to trigger much suspense and anticipation from the spectators. With Barthez, Zidane, Vieira, and Thuram on one side, and Ronaldo, Cafu, and Carlos on the other, there is no doubt that no other two battling giants can surpass the reputation earned by the phenomenal battles of Brazil and France.