GK: Harald Schumacher (West Germany)
For all the controversy of his infamous foul on Patrick Battiston in the 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final, Schumacher never let the negative publicity affect him. A worthy successor to Sepp Maier, he was a winner and ever present in his first major tournament, the 1980 UEFA European Championship. West Germany made a disappointing defence in 1984 but Schumacher performed heroically, making a memorable last-minute save to secure a 2-1 win against Romania. A beaten World Cup finalist in 1982, he suffered the same fate in 1986. A year later his outspoken biography, Anpfiff, brought an end to his 15-year association with 1. FC Köln and his 76-cap international career.

DF: João Pinto (Portugal)
A legendary right-back and one-club man who spent 16 years at FC Porto, João Pinto first came to prominence for his country at the 1984 UEFA European Championship. Capped six times prior to the tournament, he was as adventurous going forward as resilient in defence. There would be only one other major tournament appearance in his 70-cap career (42 as captain) – a disappointing 1986 FIFA World Cup – but at club level Pinto repeatedly hit the heights. He won nine domestic league titles and four Portuguese Cups and was skipper in the 1987 European Champion Clubs' Cup final as Porto beat FC Bayern München 2-1.

DF: Karlheinz Förster (West Germany)
The younger of two brothers in West Germany's EURO '80-winning squad, Karlheinz outshine older sibling Bernd throughout a career that brought recognition as one of the world's most irrepressible central defenders. Aged 21, Förster neutralised Belgian dangerman Jan Ceulemans in the EURO '80 final to round off an exceptional championship. He accumulated 81 international caps, twice finishing a FIFA World Cup runner-up. A Bundesliga champion with VfB Stuttgart in 1984, Förster left for Olympique de Marseille in 1986 and retired in style after winning the French double in 1990.

DF: Morten Olsen (Denmark)
Olsen's international career spanned almost two decades, but it was not until the mid-1980s that he was established as one of the world's finest liberos. This was Denmark's first major tournament for 20 years and Olsen, aged 34, graced it with commanding displays as captain before missing the semi-final through injury. Olsen led Denmark at their first FIFA World Cup two years later, appeared at the 1988 UEFA European Championship and won his 100th cap the following year. Olsen has been Denmark national coach since 2000, guiding them to the 2002 and 2010 FIFA World Cups and UEFA EURO 2004.

DF: Andreas Brehme (West Germany)
Brehme scored the winner in the 1990 FIFA World Cup final, burying a late right-footed penalty to give West Germany victory over Argentina. Brehme, who scored a free-kick in the previous round against England with his left, is one of the finest wing-backs to have graced the game, his 86 international caps testifying to the legend. His career began and ended at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, sandwiching spells at FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano – he won league titles with all three. Brehme was ever present in three successive UEFA European Championships.

MF: Fernando Chalana (Portugal)
A key figure in 1984 UEFA European Championship qualifying, Chalana was even more prominent at the finals and his two assists for Rui Jordão in the semi-final against France came close to eliminating the hosts. The left-footed playmaker recovered from injury against Romania to complement his man-of-the-match displays versus West Germany and Spain with another sublime showing against the Bleus. The SL Benfica stalwart joined FC Girondins de Bordeaux after the tournament, but struggled with injuries and when he returned to Benfica in 1987 the spark had gone.

MF: Alain Giresse (France)
A diminutive, zestful midfielder, Giresse was the perfect lieutenant to Michel Platini. He shone for the Bleus at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice against Northern Ireland and another in the epic semi-final defeat by West Germany. At the 1984 UEFA European Championship he was equally influential, knitting the play together and living up to his Moteur (motor) nickname. At club level Giresse made 500 appearances and won two French league titles at FC Girondins de Bordeaux before joining Olympique de Marseille. He went on to coach Paris Saint-Germain FC and Toulouse FC as well as the national teams of Georgia, Gabon and Mali.

MF: Jean Tigana (France)
Tigana was second only to Michel Platini in the Ballon d'Or in 1984. A perfect amalgam of technique and stamina, the Mali-born midfielder demonstrated his class when it mattered most with a scything run to the byline to set up Platini's extra-time winner in the semi-final against Portugal. Tigana also starred for the Bleus in the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups and ended his international career with 52 caps. He won the Ligue 1 title on five occasions, three times with FC Girondins de Bordeaux and twice at Olympique de Marseille. He has since coached Olympique Lyonnais, AS Monaco FC, Fulham FC, Beşiktaş JK and Bordeaux.

MF: Frank Arnesen (Denmark)
Attacking midfielder Arnesen was a key member of the Denmark side that graced the 1984 UEFA European Championship and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Scorer of two spot kicks in the 1984 group phase, he set up Denmark's goal in the semi-final before going off injured and missing the penalty shoot-out. Arnesen shone again in Mexico two years later until a red card excluded him from the last-16 defeat, also against Spain. After three Eredivisie titles with both AFC Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, injury forced his retirement aged 31. Arnesen has enjoyed spells as chief scout of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC and joined Hamburger SV as sporting director in summer 2011.

MF: Michel Platini (France)
Platini exceeded all expectation when he captained the Bleus to their first international trophy in 1984, scoring in all five matches, including back-to-back hat-tricks in group games against Belgium and Yugoslavia. His other three goals were all winners, including strikes in the semi-final and the final against Spain. Having top-scored in Serie A for Italian champions Juventus just before the tournament, Platini retained the Ballon d'Or and would become the only player to win it three years running. A star performer at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, he scored 41 goals in 71 internationals. Platini coached France (1988-1992) and has been the UEFA President since January 2007.

FW: Rudi Völler (West Germany)
With 47 goals in 90 international appearances, Völler is among the greatest European goalscorers. He appeared in three UEFA European Championships and three FIFA World Cups, winning in Italy in 1990. His first major tournament, the 1984 UEFA European Championship, ended with group stage elimination and four years later his campaign was cut short by a broken arm. Völler's club career, largely spent at SV Werder Bremen and AS Roma, peaked in 1993 when he won the UEFA Champions League with Olympique de Marseille. He coached Germany to the 2002 World Cup final before departing after UEFA EURO 2004.