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2 weeks ago
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France played in and even organized the very first final phase of the Euro, in 1960, but was beaten in a catastrophic semi-final at the Parc des Princes against Yugoslavia. The Blues led 4-2 with a quarter of an hour to go!
Golazo, the Sports.fr podcast, looks back on the creation of UEFA and the Euro in its latest episode, on the occasion of the 2024 edition in Germany. The European Nations Cup (before being renamed the European Nations Championship and the European Football Cup) saw its final phase take place in France because the Blues were one of the four survivors of the first two rounds. The team led by the legendary Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine swept Scotland in the round of 16 (7-1, 1-1) and Greece in the quarterfinals (5-2, 4-2).
The selection led by Albert Batteux (the coach of Stade de Reims) then lost its two star players before the “Final Four” in July, with Fontaine even suffering a double leg fracture. However, France could easily have won its semi-final against Yugoslavia, since it led 4-2 with a quarter of an hour to go, thanks in particular to a double from François Heutte and a third goal from Maryan Wisniewski. Before a remontada terrible at the Parc des Princes. The Yugoslavs scored three times in four minutes, in the 75th, 78th and 79th, to win 5-4!
The France goalkeeper is completely dark
Of the three Yugoslav goals, Georges Lamia, the French goalkeeper (and OGC Nice), went through each time, letting the ball slip into his goal or giving it back to an opposing player. In The Teamthe journalist Jacques Ferran then wrote: “Three goals unworthy of civilized football (…) at the end of which we find the unfortunate Lamia, frozen, bewildered, stupid, overwhelmed…”. The co-creator of the Champion Clubs’ Cup and the Ballon d’Or could not minimize the total bankruptcy of the French goalkeeper…
During the match for 3rd place, three days later in a sparse Vélodrome, Batteux rotated his squad and the Blues were beaten 2-0 by Czechoslovakia. From big favorite of the very first Euro – with its offensive duo Kopa-Fontaine – to an anecdotal 4th place, such is the destiny of this French team which finished 3rd in the 58 World Cup in Sweden… The next day, at the Park, It was Lev Yashin’s Soviet Union who were the first winners of the European Nations Cup, beating Yugoslavia 2-0.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
