Brazil v France: World Cup 1986 quarter-final – live! | Football

2 min Josimar fouls Amoros, giving France the chance to stick one in le mixér, but the kick flies well past Stopyra and out for a throw.

2 min What’s the spread on the number of times Motty reminds us that it’s Platini’s birthday? I’m on 520-613.

1 min Brazil knock it about at leisurely pace, their fans banging out some heavy beats, before Fernandez, le réducteur, piles through Junior. Everyone’s fine.

1 min Brazil get us underway, and this is, I think, my favourite rendition of their gear. The floppy collar makes me hot under mine.

“Could we even have penalties today?” wonders John Motson – unlikely, given in the entire history of the World Cup that’s only happened once before. And it’s extremely hot out there – my body is convulsing at the mere thought.

Right then, it’s off to Guadalajara with us! You can watch coverage of the game here.

As for France, Michel Platini becomes the first man to play “World Cup-football” on his birthday for a second time. Last time, he did this…

Some notes: Brazil are the only country to have appeared in all 13 World Cup tournaments so far, losing just 10 times in that time. In 24 qualifying games, they have never been beaten – that’s now the longest operative sequence, as West Germany’s run of 31 ended with defeat by Portugal in November 1985. Other records include the three longest unbeaten sequences in tournament history: 13 games between 1958 and 1966; 11 between 1970 and 1974; 11 between 1978 and 1982. And they were fantastic in dismantling Poland just last week.

Frisson:strides interface. I would happily be called any of these names.

And it’s not just this game! Later today comes West Germany v Mexico, then tomorrow we’ve got the small matter of Argentina v England and Spain v Belgium. I’m sure it’s been said before, but I really fancy England to go all the way this time and end 20 years of hurt; if anyone can do a job on Maradona, Terry Fenwick can do a job on Maradona.

An omen: this is currently top of the UK hit parade.

A further omen: I’ve got a funny feeling this is going to succeed it next Sunday.

In other words: this is going be a religious, celestial experience. Thank you science.

For those of you who’ve invented the internet already, you can watch along here:

So Brazil are unchanged from their 4-0 hiding of Poland, because why should they make special plans for a side as good as France? Exactly. And why should France make special plans for a side as good as Brazil? Exactly. They make one alteration, Tusseau replacing the suspended Ayache; seven of these started their 1982 defeat to West Germany in Seville.

Brazil (a relaxed 4-4-1-1): Carlos; Josimar, Edinho, Julio Cesar, Branco; Elzo, Alemão, Socrates, Junior; Muller; Careca. Subs: Paulo Vitor, Leao, Edson, Oscar, Mauro Galvao, Falcao, Zico, Silas, Valdo, Casagrande, Edivaldo.

France (a flexible 4-4-2): Bats; Amoros, Battiston, Bossis, Tusseau; Fernandez, Giresse, Tigana, Platini; Rocheteau, Stopyra. Subs: Bergeroo, Rust, Ayache, Bibard, Le Roux, Ferreri, Genghini, Vercruysse, Bellone, Papin, Xuereb.

Man Jimmy Hill likes to say we’re hoping not to notice: Ioan Igna (Romania)

For those of you making your World Cup debuts aged 7 years and three months, this is the game. Obviously you’ve lapped up everything you’ve been allowed to lap up, but this is the one: the one your dad plonks you in front of, as though he needed to, and says “This – this – this – is what it’s all about.”

We’re all friends here, so we can be be honest: if it turns out to be a stinker, there’ll be joy to be had in the aftermath, winding him up. But it’ll be small compensation because this needs to be magic. The world is depending on it.

Football is a hard, nasty, vicious, visceral endeavour, and that’s a large part of why we love it so much. But this contretemps – this revés – which has the potential to be extremely special – will be no such thing. It’s a funny old game, Saint, Santo.

Performing for our delectation we have two of the most beautiful teams ever, wearing two of the most beautiful kits ever, exuding two of the coolest cools ever, with a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake. Anyone who claims to know what’s going to happen is a liar.

Brazil, the only team left in the competition with a 100 percent record, eased through their group and were dazzling in caning Poland last week – so far they have scored nine and conceded none. It’s true that Socrates is slowing, Eder has gone, Falcao is going and Zico is ailing, but they now have midfield ballast and Careca instead of Serginho. He already has four goals to his name, while the boy Josimar is flying. Roughly, os meninos podem brincar.

France, meanwhile, started slowly but hammered Hungary in their final group game before seeing off Italy in the last 16. Though this is surely its last stand, the carré magic which carried them to the European Championship remains intact; in front of it, there remains no serious striker, but behind it Manuel Amoros has strengthened the defence. Roughly, les garçons peuvent jouer.

Kick-off: 12pm CST, 6pm BST 1986, 7.45pm BST 2020