10 Biggest FIFA World Cup "What Ifs"
2. France Vs. West Germany, Spain 1982
Harald Schumacher committed the worst foul in World Cup history when he knocked Patrick Battiston out cold in their semi-final encounter at Spain '82. Had Schumacher been fairly punished, a red card would have followed.
With a free kick and a numerical advantage, the safe money would have been on France to advance and play a dream final against Italy. After eventually winning the European Championship in 1984, France surely had what it took to beat the Italians.
Not only were we robbed of a potential classic final, we also never saw French football hit its real peak. The Euro '84 title felt a bit like being the 1st runner up. It didn't take the sting away from the loss to Germany.
A World Cup victory would have invigorated French football to a higher level and instilled a winning mentality into a team that failed dismally in the decade proceeding their 1984 Euro victory. Instead, the national team took on an apathetic identity, perhaps best embodied by their failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
On a more positive note, it gave the golden generation of Zidane et al even more motivation to prove themselves and inspire a new generation to succeed them.