France face England in the ‘small final’ on Saturday 18 July at 23:00 in Miami - but the 1982 and 1986 vintage Bleus admit they didn’t want to play it. Platini and the starters refused to take the field, according to first-hand accounts.
Why the ‘small final’ rankled the old guard
In 1982, after losing on penalties to West Germany, the let-down was brutal. René Girard, midfielder that summer, recalls: “We were in the same spot as this year’s side - we nearly made the final. So the disappointment was real, especially when you’re chasing something exceptional, namely a title.” The violent clash between Patrick Battiston and Schumacher sealed the gloom.
Bruno Bellone, who played both third-place matches, says: “Platini and the starters were gutted after Battiston’s collision and wanted to leave. We subs, though, were desperate to play.” Manager Michel Hidalgo told them: “He told us to enjoy it and we had no right to walk away wearing the French shirt.” The outcome? A fourth-place finish after a 3-2 loss to Poland.
A grudge match in 1986, yet physical limits remained
Four years later the mood shifted slightly. “We wanted revenge for ’82,” Bellone admits. Yet France fell again in the semi-final, this time to Germany. “We just had physical gaps,” he says. The consolation came in a 4-2 win over Belgium. Jean-Marc Ferreri, a starter that day, sums it up: “We all wanted to go all the way and lift the World Cup. When you’re stopped short and finish third, you’re on the doorstep of happiness. A bronze medal is the one nobody really wants.”
Memories that still spark smiles
For those who played, the third-place game left indelible memories. Girard grins: “It’s my only France goal, so I tell my grandkids, Grandpa scored in a World Cup.” Bellone adds: “As subs we were even called the hairdressers because we sat in the stands like fans. We were over the moon just to step on the pitch.”
France, fresh from a 2-0 win over Morocco on 9 July 2026, are on a five-game winning streak. Their next test? England in Miami tonight.
