Michel Patini

I was never a prisoner to my footballing status.

There would probably be less of a frenzy among the French public.

Consequently, I won just about everything I set out to win, everything bar the World Cup, of course. But even now, I don’t regret that, because I was part of a team which twice reached the semi-finals.

I was playing the best football of my career at the time, finishing top scorer in Italy three year’s running. There were other good players around but I think I was the best at that time.

At Euro ’92 itself, we bowed out to the eventual winners, Denmark, in our final group match.

The match against Brazil was football at its best. Both sides had opportunities to win the game.

In any case, you can’t turn back the clock.

I gave everything in my career so I have no regrets at all.

Some games you win, some you lose, and some you draw.

Whenever I was on the pitch, I always tried to win.

During such a competition players are there for a long time as well as all the people around them. They need to train, to eat, to go out. There ought to be something in it for everyone. On that particular point, my experience has been a bonus.

When I follow the finals of the European Cups, I look at all the aspects surrounding protocol, to get some ideas. I am interested in personalities, sponsors and the stands. But as soon as the whistle goes, it’s all on the pitch.

You know, my role as Vice Chairman is a lot less tiring than playing matches every three days.

The 1984 European Championships were held in France and that was something important. I felt on form then, even though I was practically always injured at all the World Cups. It’s a great memory. But in any case, the past is past.

What differences were there between Maradona and Platini?

For me football is more about making the right pass at the right time.

For me, football is just a game, not a drama.

The team which I led to the 1992 European Championship Finals is the only one in the history of the entire competition to have won every single one of its qualifying matches.

We were the best team in the world: European champions in 1984, we qualified without a hitch and 86 was to be the swan song for a very experienced side.

In 1986, we gave it our best shot but we didn’t get the run of the ball.

At times like that it’s difficult to remember what’s at stake, that history is in the making. As a player you feel so cut off sometimes, it can be tough… Which is why it is an enormous advantage to play at home.

We arrived in Argentina with a lot of injured players, including our goalkeeper. Also we were unlucky to be drawn in the same group as the two tournament favourites Italy and Argentina.

I was the classic midfield organiser who could also score goals.