West Germany v France (1982 FIFA World Cup)

FIFA World Cup
Semi-final

The Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán held the match
Event	1982 FIFA World Cup
West Germany France 3 3
West Germany won 5–4 on penalties
Date	8 July 1982
Venue	Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville
Referee	Charles Corver (Netherlands)
Attendance	70,000

West Germany v France was a FIFA World Cup semi-final match that took place in the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in Seville, Spain on 8 July 1982. The match was won by West Germany on penalty kicks (5–4); West Germany advanced to face Italy in the final. Thanks to its back-and-forth drama, four goals in extra time, and a dramatic penalty shootout, this game is regarded not only as the best of the 1982 tournament, but one of the best World Cup games of all time. It is considered by French captain Michel Platini to be his "most beautiful game." West Germany's victory was the first time in World Cup finals history that a shootout determined the outcome.

This match, like a number of other matches in this tournament, was played at nine o'clock in the evening, because July daily high temperatures in the southwestern Spanish city of Seville averaged 98 °F (37 °C); the hot weather during the tournament had already taken a toll on the players. The day of the match had been very hot, and the temperature at the start of the match was still in the high nineties, with high humidity.

With West Germany's captain and European Footballer of the Year Karl-Heinz Rummenigge benched from the start due to a hamstring injury, West Germany was nonetheless the first to score in the 17th minute. With Klaus Fischer charging in to challenge French goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori from about 12 yards out, the ball rebounded to Pierre Littbarski, who scored with his first-touch shot from 18 yards.

At 27 minutes, Bernd Förster was whistled for holding Dominique Rocheteau and France was awarded a penalty, which was converted by Platini.