During the semi-final of the 1982 World Cup, Schumacher collided with Patrick Battison of France, his teammate Michel Platini thought that Battison was dead, as he “had no pulse.”
He was not dead, however, he did suffer damaged vertebrae and lost two teeth in the collision, after which Schumacher was voted the most hated man in France, with Adolf Hitler in second place!
Many have commented on this tackle, though goalkeepers the world over will agree that it is this single-mindedness and desire to stop the ball at all costs that places Schumacher amongst the world’s best. Germany went on to win the game on penalties.
In the wake of the incident Schumacher was vilified and in his own words was ‘regarded as some kind of wild animal’, he received death threats, even from anonymous Germans, and was almost forced to leave 1.FC Koln. Schumacher did however make his peace with Patrick Battiston and they became good friends.