II.
1982/83 season (Spring 1983)
Preparatory Friendly match Number 4-Portugal (February 16, 1983, Guimaraes)
France’s
first friendly of the new year (1983) was on away soil once again, this time at
Portugal at Guimaraes.
Marius
Tresor and Alain Couriol were both out injured.
Hidalgo
confirmed Tempet as his current number one by starting him. Strasbourg
goalkeeper Dominique Dropsy was recalled to act as cover (he had been out of
favor since 1981).
Nantes’
excellent season also earned a recall for winger Loic Amisse (his last cap was
in 1980).
Dominique
Rocheteau was likewise recalled.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 87, March 1983
(Jean-Pierre
Tempet)
|
Marius
Tresor’s injury allowed Hidalgo to install Maxime Bossis as Libero for the
first time for the National Team and he would grab his opportunity to make
Hidalgo question whether Tresor would be able to last until 1984.
Bossis
had been Nantes’ Libero since the start of the 1982/83 season to excellent
effect (Nantes would be Champions that season).
Mahut
also earned a recall as stopper to partner Bossis in central defense, with
Amoros and Battiston firmly established as the outside backs.
Platini,
Giresse and now Fernandez started in midfield. Hidalgo had to choose between
Tigana and Fernandez. Tigana was ill, therefore Fernandez started, though
Tigana would make an appearance as a substitute.
Hidalgo
chose a 4-3-3 formation, with Ferreri and Amisse as wingers and Stopyra as the
new number nine.
In
the end it was a rather easy win against a disorganized Portuguese side lacking
any cohesion.
France
were up (2-0) after eight minutes through goals by Stopyra and Ferreri (through
passes from Platini).
Stopyra
scored another goal in the 70th minute.
Hidalgo
praised Bossis’ performance as Libero, as well as the integration of the young
players. He said, “We could have been pre-occupied with Marius’ (Tresor)
succession. After what Bossis just did, we have no such worries”.
As
far as the cohabitation of two new Liberos, he added, “in friendlies it is out
of question for Tresor to be a substitute for official competition he could be
on the bench”.
‘L’Equipe’’s
headline on February 17th, 1983 read “This France squad is calm just like Bossis”.
Also
to note, that the match took place just a few weeks after the death of Bastia
and France midfielder (1978 World Cup veteran) Claude Papi, aged just 33, from
an Aneurysm. The French players wore black armbands in the match.
Date:
February 16, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Guimaraes –Estadio Municipal
Attendance: 9,000
Portugal
0-France 3 (Yannick Stopyra 7,70, Jean-Marc Ferreri 8)
France:
Jean-Pierre Tempet,
Patrick Battiston, Philippe Mahut, Maxime Bossis, Manuel Amoros, Alain Giresse,
Michel Platini, Luis Fernandez (Thierry Tusseau 75th), Jean-Marc Ferreri (Jean Tigana 63rd), Yannick
Stopyra (Dominique Rocheteau 80th), Loic Amisse
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1924, February 22, 1983
(February
16, 1983, Portugal 0-France 3)
|
 |
Photo
From: Le Livre d’or du Football 1983
(Maxime
Bossis, February 16, 1983, Portugal 0-France 3)
|
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Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 51, June 1984
(Alain
Giresse and Jean-Marc Ferreri, February 16, 1983, Portugal 0-France 3)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 16, 1983
(Luis
Fernandez, February 16, 1983, Portugal 0-France 3)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 16, 1983
(Alain
Giresse, February 16, 1983, Portugal 0-France 3)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 87, March 1983
(Luis
Fernandez and Michel Platini, February 16, 1983, Portugal 0-France 3)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 100, April 1984
(Michel Platini, February 16, 1983, Portugal
0-France 3) |
Preparatory Friendly match Number 5-USSR (March 23, 1983, Paris)
France’s
next friendly was against the Soviet Union at Paris (in another un-televised
match). Hidalgo kept faith with the same squad as the Portugal match.
15
out of the 16 players selected against Portugal were present for this match
against a stronger opposition.
The
only change from previous squad against Portugal was Alain Couriol. He came on
for Daniel Bravo, who was retained with the Under-21 squad.
Bossis
was once again installed as the Libero with Mahut as his partner.
France
employed a 4-3-3 formation once more with Ferreri and Amisse as wingers
supporting Stopyra as the number nine.
This
was the first time that Hidalgo had selected the same squad two matches in a
row.
Prior
to the match, there had been a lot of chatter about Alain Giresse’s future
destination as many clubs were courting him. In the end he would re-sign with
Bordeaux for three more years and apparently this lifted a huge weight from his
shoulders and he was able to play more freely.
As
a promise to Juventus, Michel Platini was to play one half only (Tigana would
replace him in the second half).
Attendance
was satisfactory at Parc des Princes after low turnouts in two previous matches
vs. Poland and Hungary.
France
played poorly in the first half, most notably Ferreri who struggled.
The
French lost too many balls and made many erroneous passes.
The
Soviets dominated the first twenty minutes. Blokhin scored a goal in the 27th
minute that was ruled out due to offside and handball.
It
was no surprise when France fell behind to a Cherenkov goal in the 28th
minute.
Afterwards
France pressured and Fernandez (playing his first match for France at his
club’s home ground) scored after an assist from Platini.
France
took initiative in second half as the Soviets started to tire, though the score
remained unchanged.
France
had faced their strongest test of the season (the Poland match could be written
off as an anomaly).
Phillipe
Mahut played his last ever match for France as Hidalgo was unsatisfied with the
position of Stopper. Dominique Dropsy was likewise never called up again by
Hidalgo.
This
was Amisse’s last match for France; he would be called up once in the following
season (though he would not play).
Date:
March 23, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Paris -Parc des Princes
Attendance: 40,908
France
1-USSR 1 (Luis Fernandez 42 / Fyodor Cherenkov 28)
France:
Jean-Pierre Tempet,
Patrick Battiston, Philippe Mahut
(12-Thierry Tusseau 78th), Maxime Bossis, Manuel Amoros, Alain
Giresse, Luis Fernandez, Michel Platini (Jean
Tigana 46th), Jean-Marc Ferreri, Yannick
Stopyra, Loic Amisse
(Dominique Rocheteau 65th)
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1929, March 29, 1983
(March
23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
 |
Photo
From: L’Equipe, L’Equipe de France de Football, la Belle Histoire
(Oleg
Blokhin and Luis Fernandez, March 23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
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Photo
From: L'Annee du Football, 1983
(Battiston,
Platini and Bossis in a defensive wall, March 23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
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Photo
From: Le Livre d’Or du Football 1983
(Maxime
Bossis and Oleg Blokhin, March 23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
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Photo
From: Le Livre d’Or du Football 1983
(March
23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 88, April 1983
(March
23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 16, 1983
(Maxime
Bossis and Oleg Blokhin, March 23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 88, April 1983
(Phillipe
Mahut and Sergei Rodionov, March 23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 88, April 1983
(March
23, 1983, France 1-USSR 1)
|
Preparatory Friendly match Number 6-Yugodlavia (April 23, 1983, Paris)
France’s
next friendly was against Yugoslavia at Paris. Hidalgo would have to do without
Platini who was retained with Juventus.
Battiston,
Giresse, Amisse, as well as Tresor were also missing through injury.
Thierry
Tusseau would be called in to replace Battiston at the back. Bossis continued
his run as Libero in Tresor’s absence.
To
partner him as Stopper in central defense, Hidalgo selected Brest’s uncapped
tall defender Yvon Le Roux.
The
other uncapped newcomer to the squad was Nantes’ talented Jose Toure, nicknamed
‘Le Bresilien’ (The Brazilian).
The
duo took their opportunity with delight and would both score in the match.
Most
notably, Le Roux established himself as the Stopper that Hidalgo was searching
for.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 89, May 1983
(Jose
Toure and Yvon Le Roux)
|
Other
players who earned recalls after a time of absence included Bruno Bellone,
Didier Six and Bernard Genghini Surprisingly; Jean-Luc Ettori was also called
up as back-up goalkeeper.
Young
uncapped Nantes defender William
Ayache would also be called up for defensive cover.
This
was a weakened Yugoslavia side who were missing many of their stars; including
Paris St Germain based Safet Susic, as well as Vladimir Petrovic (Arsenal).
The
likes of Zoran and Zlatko Vujovic, Jerolimov, Blaz Sliskovic, Nenad Stojkovic,
Milos Sestic and Pasic were unavailable as they were doing their military
service.
Susic
dismissed the current squad by saying “those in Paris, know
just a year ago they weere not ready for the National Team and know they are
not playing in the real National Team“.
France
played in a 4-3-3 formation with Tigana was the organizer in midfield. Ferreri
was on the right wing and Toure was the center forward (though playing as
number 10).
It
was a match that France totally dominated against a weak inexperienced
Yugoslavian side. Tempet was a virtual spectator as France did all the
attacking.
The debutant, Yvon Le Roux opened the scoring in
the 22nd minute with a header. Dominique Rocheteau scored France’s second ten
minutes later.
He scored France’s third just after the break from
an indirect free kick.
The other debutant Jose Touré rounded out the
scoring with a brilliant volley in the 74th minute.
Bellone had done so well that even Hidalgo
expressed his surprise.
Hidalgo once again praised the input of the youth
and how they had taken their opportunity (Le Roux and Toure).
Hidalgo liked that the Group was becoming larger.
Bossis underlined the “excellent
atmosphere with the ‘Les Bleues’ (the blues)“.
Le
Roux would become France’s Stopper that day as the Mahut experiment was over
and Christian Lopez was out of reckoning. (Le Roux would also earn a transfer
to AS Monaco in the offseason).
Yugoslavia
Manager Todor Veselinovic declared France as the next Euro Champions.
Date:
April 23, 1983
Competition:
Friendly
Venue:
Paris -Parc des Princes
Attendance: 40,881
France
4-Yugoslavia 0 (Yvon Le Roux 22, Dominique Rocheteau 32, 47, Jose
Touré 74)
France:
Jean-Pierre Tempet,
Manuel Amoros, Yvon Le Roux, Maxime Bossis, Thierry Tusseau, Luis Fernandez, Jean Tigana, José Touré (Bernard Genghini 79th), Jean-Marc Ferreri (Yannick
Stopyra 80th), Dominique Rocheteau, Bruno Bellone (Didier
Six 86th)
Note:
1-In Bold, new caps.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1933, April 26, 1983
(April
23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1933, April 26, 1983
(Dominique
Rocheteau, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1933, April 26, 1983
(Jose
Toure and Yvon Le Roux, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: L’Equipe, L’Equipe de France de Football, la Belle Histoire
(Jose
Toure, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: L'Annee du Football, 1983
(Bruno
Bellone, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: Le Livre d’or du Football 1983
(Jose
Toure, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: Le Livre d’or du Football 1983
(Jose
Toure, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 51, June 1984
(Luis
Fernanadez, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 16, 1983
(Bruno
Bellone, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 90, June 1983
(Jose
Toure, April 23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 97, January 1984
(April
23, 1983, France 4-Yugoslavia 0)
|
Preparatory Friendly match Number 7-Belgium (May 31, 1983, Luxembourg)
France’s
final friendly of the season was against Belgium at Luxembourg to celebrate the
75th Anniversary of Luxembourg’s Football Association.
Hidalgo
would be forced to build a makeshift squad as many of his regulars were
missing.
Michel
Platini was once again unavailable, as Juventus had retained him for the Coppa
Italia.
In
Addition, Tresor, Bossis, Tusseau, Rocheteau, Ferreri, Bellone, Amisse, Giresse
and Tigana were either injured or unavailable.
Hidalgo
had no choice but to call-up uncapped players and or recall others (mostly from
the Olympics squad).
Uncapped
players: Phillpe Jeannol, Jean-Christophe Thouvenel, Jean-Claude Lemoult and
Phillipe Vercruysse were called up, while striker Gerard Soler and Bernard Zenier earned a recall.
Hidalgo
said in an interview that he had even contemplated recalling Dominique
Bathenay.
In
a 4-4-2 formation, Battiston was installed as the Libero with Le Roux as his
central partner. Amoros retained his spot at the back, with Thouvenel making
his debut as right back.
Lemoult
would start in midfield partnering his PSG teammate Fernandez. Lemoult was on
the defensive midfielder on the right side assigned to counter Frankie
Vercauteren’s surges.
The
Belgians themselves were missing goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff and Jan Ceulemans.
In
the match, the French were generally better despite the eventual tie score.
France
scored through Didier Six after eleven minutes. Just a minute later, Voordeckers
leveled the score.
After
the match Hidalgo felt that despite the absences the squad maintained its
mentality and he was satisfied of that.
He
also said Toure and Le Roux had once again confirmed the premise shown in the
previous match vs. Yugoslavia.
As
far as the newcomers, Thouvenel did not seize his opportunity and struggled
against Voordeckers.
He
would not play again under Hidalgo and would go back to the Olympics squad.
Gerard
Soler played his last match for France as well and was out of reckoning
afterwards.
Vercruysse
and Zenier would likewise not return to the squad, same as the unused defender
Phillipe Jeannol.
Yannick
Stopyra also played his last match under Hidalgo. He would be called up a few
times in the following season but would not play.
This
also turned out to be the final appearance for Jean-Pierre
Tempet, who appeared to have been
Hidalgo’s choice as the starting goalkeeper at this point.
The
season came to a close and it was time to analyze the 35 players tested that
season.
The
goalkeeping position was still up for grabs. In defense, Amoros and Battiston
were set to be the outside back positions. Le Roux had broken through the squad
and imposed himself as the Stopper.
Bossis
appeared to have the edge as Libero and it remained to be seen how Tresor would
be handled in the season given his status.
The
midfield was the strongest element of the squad, with Platini, Giresse, Tigana
and now Fernandez, with Genghini and Ferreri as alternatives.
Ferreri
had been one of the revelations of the season, but was still not experienced
enough to dislodge the quartet, but was a hope for the upcoming years.
It
was upfront that France had many uncertainties, as no center forward had
established himself.
Hidalgo
felt the left wing was covered with Bellone, Six and Amisse as options, but the
right wing was problematic. He believed Ferreri might be able to occupy that
role, as well as Daniel Bravo or even Alain Couriol.
There
were some positives aspects to the season. The team appeared to have been progressing
since the World Cup. There had won matches away from home.
The
injection of youth (Ferreri, Fernandez, Le Roux, Toure) was praised all around.
The
unavailability of Platini for some matches (now that he had joined Juventus)
was a cause for concern, but his time in Italy had made him an even better
player and he was about to win his first Ballon d’Or.
He
managed to play in 3 out of 7 matches, but Hidalgo was insistent that he was
desperately needed.
Hidalgo
stated that this first season was mostly for experimentation and to maintain
the World Cup mentality.
He
expressed that in the upcoming Fall, the real hard work would begin to prepare
for the Finals.
Date:
May 31, 1983
Competition:
Friendly (Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary)
Venue:
Luxembourg -Stade Municipal de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
Attendance: 5,880
France
1-Belgium 1 (Didier Six 11 / Eddy
Voordeckers 12)
France:
Jean-Pierre Tempet,
Jean-Christophe Thouvenel, Yvon Le Roux, Patrick
Battiston, Manuel Amoros, Jean-Claude Lemoult, José Touré, Luis Fernandez, Bernard Genghini (Phillipe Vercruysse 86th), Gerard Soler (Yannick Stopyra 64th), Didier Six (Bernard Zenier 64th)
Note:
1-In Bold, new caps. |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1939, June 7, 1983
(Player
appearances at the end of the first season)
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1939, June 7, 1983
(May
31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary, France 1-Belgium 1)
|
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Photo
From: L’Equipe, L’Equipe de France de Football, la Belle Histoire
(Didier
Six, May 31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary, France
1-Belgium 1)
|
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Photo
From: L'Annee du Football, 1983
(Didier
Six, May 31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary, France
1-Belgium 1)
|
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Photo
From: Le Livre d’or du Football 1983
(Jose
Toure, May 31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary, France
1-Belgium 1)
|
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Photo
From: Le Livre d’or du Football 1983
(Jean-Claude
Lemoult, May 31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary, France
1-Belgium 1)
|
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Photo
From: Onze, Hors Serie 16, 1983
(Yvon
Le Roux and Eric Gerets, May 31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th
Anniversary, France 1-Belgium 1)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 97, January 1984
(May
31, 1983, Luxemburg Federation-75th Anniversary, France 1-Belgium 1)
|
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