Help identifying older player ...

[Fallsman]

I have an Adidas Impossible Team poster and need help identifying a player from history in the image. He is the curly-headed and mustacchioed player in the blue shirt in the upperright corner, four people over on the back row --- positioned beside Zico and behind Zidane.

Here's a link to the image:

http://www.soccer.com/channels/decodeandwin/index.php

I am also having trouble identifying the players on each of the far back sides (the yellow jersey in the upper left raising a finger; and the light blue jersey on the far right pointing at his chest). And the blonde in the light blue jersey with chin raised in the back immediately behind Michael Platini.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm not entering a contest or anything, just trying to better educate myself on who these guys are.

Feel free to e-mail me at jfallsman@yahoo.com.

Thanks

Jason

[comme]

Is there a bigger version of the photo?

It's difficult to tell but Harry Kewell on the left, Nigel de Jong on the right.

The old moustachioed player looks like it might be Sandro Mazzola, but it's difficult to tell.

[Spartak]

The old moustachioed player looks like it might be Sandro Mazzola, but it's difficult to tell.
I was thinking Claudio Gentile but you could also be right.

[comme]

I was thinking Claudio Gentile but you could also be right.

No you might be right as well.

The collar on the shirt looks slightly more recent, and Gentile did wear adidas I think.

Difficult to tell with such a small image. It could be Graeme Souness or Bruce Grobelaar at this range ;)

[spqr70]

That is Giuseppe Bergomi from the 1982 Italy WC team. He was called up as an 18/19 year old (he looks older there doesn't he?) and ended up playing in the final (and very well) because unlucky Antognioni got injured in Semi Final. Bergomi went on to have a prolific career with Inter and played countless games for Italy.

[Fallsman]

Okay, I've blown up the images of the two remaining players I'm not sure of for you. Since I can't attach stuff yet (newbie, I know) the are on my website at the following link:

http://www.fallsofftherocker.com/soccer-id.htm

The older player has the physical features of Bergomi, but I can't find an image of him with a mustache or with that much curly hair. The images of him when he burst on the scene at age 17 are past the time it looks like that hairstyle was "in". I want to be sure, so help convince me.

The two identified on either end checked out --- thanks!

The last might be Swiss (the blonde on the left on my page) but I just can't put a finger on who he is.

Thanks a million for this help. ESPN and Yahoo were of little assistance. BigSoccer readers rule!

Jason

[spqr70]

Dude, that is BErgomi from the 1982 WC final! Same Le Coq Sportif shirt infact. And he had the Middle Eastern looking moustahe back then at 18. Bergomi mad ehis 2nd int appearance against Brazil, pplayed instead of Gentile against Poland in the Semis, and then started for Antognioni in the final.

[Excape Goat]

I thought he was Gentile. The images of Gentile with mustache hackling downn Maradona in 1982 were one of the highlights of WC 1982.


http://photos.empics.com/raid/vol2/block62/305199.jpg

[Fallsman]

Well, I'm convinced now. Bergomi it is. Can't thank you enough.

And thanks for the fantasy invite. I'm not to that point of knowledge yet. Perhaps by next season?

[comme]

Okay, I've blown up the images of the two remaining players I'm not sure of for you.

The last might be Swiss (the blonde on the left on my page) but I just can't put a finger on who he is.


Ok that makes it much easier.

It's Christian Wilhelmsson of Sweden.

The facial features of the Italian do look just like Bergomi, but he looks very old

[Excape Goat]

http://www.nazionaleitalianacalcio.it/jpg/bergomi.jpg


http://www.nazionaleitalianacalcio.it/bergomi.htm

Okay, Bergomi.

[Gregoriak]

It is definitely Giuseppe Bergomi. I always wondered how an 18-year-old could look that old, but he pulled it off back in '82. He looked younger later in his career than at the start!