Put simply, he did not inspire confidence - hardly a formidable barrier for the opposition (and I reckon Italy thought that).
I would think that if he didn't inspire confidence, which I actually agree, we shouldn't have been playing as forward and so loose on defense. That sounds like Tele's fault. The way I look at it is that no goalie would have saved any of those shots except for sheer luck.
I think I will end it here - I might start talking about Serginho next! Perhaps we are like New Zealand in rugby - play our best stuff in the year before the Copa! [ame="http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Esportes/0,,GIM944738-7824-EM+OS+GOLS+DE+BRASIL+X+ALEMANHA+PELO+MUNDIALITO+EM+MONTEVIDEU,00.html"]Globo Vídeos - VIDEO - Em 1981, os gols de Brasil 4 x 1 Alemanha pelo Mundialito em Montevidéu@@AMEPARAM@@midiaId=944738&autoStart@@AMEPARAM@@944738[/ame]
Just an interesting observation ... 82 - Italy's 3rd winning goal from corner 98 - French's first 2 decisive goals came from corners 06 - Franch's only goal came from free-kick cross 10 - Holland's winning goal came from corner 4 out of our last 6 eliminations came due to set-piece plays.
Yeah, even this is a bit off topic. it showed the reality that Brazilian defenders are weak in the air.
I must disagree. If you have good goalie you can play solid defense. Most teams that rely on defense depends on a good goalie: Italy as a example (also, Brasil in the last WC). The reasom is simple, if you play defense you expect many crosses and shots from outside of the box, where a good goalie is crutial. If you play very offensively and offer the counter the gollie has not much chance, usually. This game proves that: as you said, the goals was not Valdir´s mistakes. On the other hand, do you remeber any save from him? Zoffs has some saves but most of all has his presence in the area tramiting confidence to the italian defense. If we were more used to play defense and have more confidence in the goalie we could park on the defense when it was 2-2. Actually, the last goal, in a corner kick was bad defense. And on this I include the goalie: he should comand Junior to get out of the area after the ball was clear and not to protect the pole (as if he does not trust the goalie...).
Thanks, great article! I also would not give Rossi a ride in my cab. Definately one of the saddest days of my life. Was bed stricken for 2 weeks. I was 26 at the time, but remember it like yesterday. I have nightmares of Rossi until today. A game that will be marked in history as the biggest heart break of all time, second only to the 1950 final.