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With a 3–1 win over [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] at the [[Parc des Princes]] on 16 November 1977, a match in which Platini excelled in the role of [[playmaker]] and scored with a strike from 30 yards, France secured qualification for the [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978 World Cup]] in [[Argentina]] for their first appearance in the World Cup finals since [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]. In the month following the decisive qualifying match, Platini finished third in the voting for the 1977 [[European Footballer of the Year]].
Among the international friendlies France played in preparation for the World Cup, their match against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in [[Naples]] on 8 February 1978 (2–2) was particularly significant for Platini. With a number of scouts from Italian clubs in attendance, he was in excellent form. He beat Italian goalkeeper [[Dino Zoff]] from two direct free-kicks, the first being ruled out because the referee had not blown his whistle. The re-taken free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall, but minutes later Platini had the ball in the Italian net from another free-kick. Zoff attempted to anticipate the flight of the ball by positioning himself on the left side of the goal, only for Platini to find the unguarded area of the net with his free-kick, leaving Zoff rooted to the spot. Platini's duels with Zoff and his performance in a match that was broadcast on Italian television made him well known in Italy. A number of clubs both in France (Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Étienne) and across Europe (including Juventus, [[F.C. Internazionale Milano|Internazionale]], [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], [[Valencia CF|Valencia]], and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]) began the clamour for Platini's services.<ref>{{
===1978 World Cup===
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