MICHEL PLATINI

	BORN:  JUN. 21, 1955  COUNTRY: France WORLD CUP APPEARANCES:  3 tournaments ('78, '82 '86) CLUBS: Nancy-Lorraine, Saint-Etienne, Juventus  INTRODUCTION: Three-time World Cup player.  One of the greatest players of the eighties. CAREER INTERNATIONAL GOALS: 41 in 72 games

1978 World Cup - Argentina

Platini made his World Cup debut at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.  He was only 23 but has already assumed the role of playmaker in the team.  He gave a good midfield performance, even scoring 2 goals in the tournament.

1982 World Cup - Spain
Four years later, France had a great team.  Marius Tresor and Jean Rocheteau was still with the team.  But now France possesses other excellent attackers such as Alain Giresse and Jean Tigana.  With them  partnering Platini, the French midfield was consider the world's strongest, along with Zico's Brazil.  Platini had matured into a great player, often coming from deep and run into goal-scoring positions.  In the semi-final, they lost painfully to West Germany on penalties, the first shoot-out in World Cup history.
1986 World Cup - Mexico

STILL A MASTER Platini in action at the 1986 World Cup.  He was considered Europe's greatest player in the mid-eighties

Four years later, at the age of 31, Platini was considered by many as the world's best, along with Maradona.  Under the guidance of Platini, France defeated strong rivals such as Italy and Brazil.  The quarter-final against Brazil was one of the greatest seen in the World Cup, with Platini scoring one goal and missing his shot in the penalty shoot-out.  In the semi-final, France was again defeated by West Germany.  With his World Cup dream over, Platini did not play in the third place play-off and announced his retirement soon afterwards.

HIS GOALS IN THE WORLD CUP - COMPLETE RECORD

1978
1st round: 2nd match	v. Argentina
1982
1st round: 2nd match	v. Kuwait
Semi-final	v. West Germany
1986
2nd round	v. Italy
Quarter-final	v. Brazil