George Hamilton

I think it was a quarterfinal, maybe.

But the thing about it was... France-Brazil.

Did I say France-Italy?

I meant France-Brazil.

That's why your face went strange.

I'm nearly certain it was France-Brazil.

I am absolutely certain it was France-Brazil because France were not fancy to progress but they were playing very well.

It was the great European Championship team of 1984 and Brazil made a substitution.

They sent on Zico and shortly after they sent Zico on they got a penalty.

And they gave it to Zico to take.

And I remember thinking at the time and saying it, you know, that surely this is madness because he's hardly up to the speed of the game.

And Bats, Joel Bats, the goalkeeper, saved the penalty.

Anyway, the penalty was not scored.

It ended in a 1-1 draw.

Ultimately went to penalties and France won the shootout.

And, you know...

And it was just such a magnificent occasion.

It was my first real experience of the two really, really, really good teams, Champions of Europe and Brazil going head to head and the European team winning it, which was quite sensational.

And it's lived with me ever since as possibly the best World Cup match I've ever seen.

What a birthday Platini is having today.