The Story of the 1982 World Cup — Italy's Third
The 1982 World Cup in Spain is remembered for several things — the expansion to 24 teams, the introduction of a second group stage, and one of the most dramatic individual performances in tournament history. Paolo Rossi, who had only returned from a two-year ban for his alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal three months before the tournament, scored six goals in three matches to carry Italy to the trophy.
Brazil's Most Beautiful Team That Never Won
The 1982 Brazil team is one of the great tragedies of World Cup football. They played, by general consensus, the most attacking and technically brilliant football of any team that failed to win the tournament. Zico, Sócrates, Falcão, Eder, Júnior — a midfield of extraordinary creativity and quality, playing a brand of football that the group stage crowds in Spain fell in love with.
They beat the Soviet Union 2-1, Scotland 4-1 (Zico scoring a brilliant free kick), and New Zealand 4-0. In the second group stage they beat Argentina 3-1 and drew with Italy, only needing a draw against Italy to progress to the semi-finals.
They didn't get it. Paolo Rossi scored three times. Italy won 3-2. Brazil were out. Sócrates, Zico and Falcão — three of the finest midfielders the sport has ever produced — went home without a World Cup medal between them. Football can be brutal, and it was never more brutal than on 5 July 1982 in Barcelona.
Paolo Rossi — The Greatest Individual Tournament Performance
Paolo Rossi had been suspended until April 1982 for alleged involvement in a betting scandal. He arrived in Spain short of match fitness and form. Italy's manager Enzo Bearzot kept faith with him throughout a disappointing group stage in which Italy drew all three matches. The Italian press called for Rossi to be dropped. Bearzot refused.
Against Brazil in the second group stage, Rossi scored a hat-trick. Against Poland in the semi-final, he scored twice. In the final against West Germany, he scored the opening goal. Six goals in three matches, from a player who had been suspended less than three months earlier. It remains the most remarkable individual tournament performance the World Cup has produced.
Italy won the final 3-1. It was their third World Cup — level with Brazil, one behind the record that would stand until Germany won in 2014. Manager Enzo Bearzot wept on the bench.
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