WFI‘s Adam Brandon counts down to Russia 2018 with 90 World Cup goals in 90 days, scored in the minute corresponding to the day in the countdown.
Context
France went into the 1982 World Cup with their most fearsome side since the late 1950s, but they got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind to England after just 27 seconds and eventually suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Their next match was against Kuwait, which presented them with a good opportunity to get back on track.
The Asian champions had surprised many people in their opening match when they claimed a 1-1 draw against Czechoslovakia, who were considered one of the best sides in Europe at the time.
France had no such problems against the Kuwaitis though, and were two goals up at half-time.
The Goal
Didier Six beautifully controls with his chest and volleys home a superb Platini pass to put France 3-0 up…
What Happened Next?
Kuwait got a goal back with a quickly taken free kick before France added a controversial fourth. The Kuwait players stopped when they heard a whistle, but the whistle didn’t come from the referee, it came from the crowd.
Alain Giresse took advantage of the static Kuwait defence to score. The Kuwaiti players protested to the referee and then the president of the Kuwait Football Association came down to the field and demanded the referee rule out the goal and in unprecedented scenes, the Russian referee bowed to the pressure and threat that Sheikh Fahid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah would withdraw his players from the field.
Kuwait then had a goal ruled out a few minutes after the restart. France did add a fourth goal in the end as the match finished 4-1. Les Bleus went on to finish 4th in the World Cup after losing a controversial semi-final against West Germany.
Kuwait have never qualified for the World Cup again.
Extras
The controversial moment can be seen here…
