1982 Clash Revived as France-Germany Meet in World Cup

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, right, clears the ball from Algeria's Islam Slimani during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Germany and Algeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Monday, June 30, 2014	France's head coach Didier Deschamps shouts out during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between France and Nigeria at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, June 30, 2014.

Thoughts no doubt returned to one of the most shocking collisions in World Cup history, which occurred in the 1982 semifinal between West Germany and France and involved another goalkeeper's excursion off his line.

Harald Schumacher's airborne challenge on Patrick Battiston, which knocked the France defender unconscious and broke his jaw but went unpunished, still raises anger and emotion in France - particularly as West Germany went on to win that match in a penalty shootout thanks to the saves of Schumacher.

Predictably, the incident has been one of the major talking points ahead of the countries' clash in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday. It will be their fourth meeting on football's biggest stage, with Germany also winning the most recent head-to-head in 1986 in the semifinals.

''Tomorrow we will write a new page of history,'' France coach Didier Deschamps said when asked about the hurt of 1982 and '86. ''We will try to make it as pleasant as possible.''