Thirty years ago, Brazil was defeated by Italy (2-3) in the 1982 World Cup. Here you have the front page of a brazilian newspaper (Jornal da Tarde) covering what can be described as the biggest tragedy in the brazilian football since 1950 Maracanazzo. It was a big shame that legendary players like Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Junior could not win a World Cup. Although Italy had a good team, it was just unfair. Paolo Rossi was born just to do that hattrick. A real shame.
Shame on Italy for having a more complete team. Brazil would have won if they didn't have a clown in goal and a donkey upfront and knew how to defend, but they didn't.
Was he? After his ban he scored 30 goals in 123 league games (with 20 coming in 2 seasons) and only once hit double figures. Over his last 3 seasons (aged 28 to 30) he scored just 9 in 67 games.
That's true and many (who only looked at the news, ballon D'or) OVERATED Rossi at that WC. Right in that WC, Rossi was SCORELESS in first 4games (he was disappeared in 2 games and thanks to Italy Great defense that won games for them) until a "devil" exorcised inside Rossi starting at game vs Brazil!!! He scored 6goals in last 3 games with less than 8chances I don't know how he got the goldenball award and then eventually the Ballon D'or (of same year)? FIFA should have another category as "most efficient player" that suited Rossi well - in Reality, he was FAR from being named the "best player" of thatWC ... =============================================== Since that day ... (the DEVIL won over) the "beautiful futbol has DIED !
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jul/25/italy-brazil-1982 "The day naivety, not football itself, died."
What a piece of Wilsonian crap. The individual has been, and will always be, greater than any system; save for obvious cheating and dirty games behind the scenes. That is what makes sport great. And Wilson grounds his argument with the example of 1970s Germany and Holland. Well, I'll not say anything about Germany this time but it is well-known that the fluid 'system' that 1970s Holland played is only executable with smart and top level athletes. The strength of the 'system' was that no structure existed. Michels has said that 'total football' (with vertical, horizontal and diagonal switches) is only applicable with 8 players who are "among the best of their position" and with players who show a high level of intelligence; hence, it is again the individual instead of the rigid structure. That is why Michels and Cruijff thought primarily in terms of 'tasks' instead of 'positions' or 'structure'. And ultimately, also cattenacio is based on the inventions of a few players up front.
This is an inaccurate view of both teams. Brazil's midfield was far better than Italy's, you really can't get any better than Cerezo, Falcao, Socrates and Zico, don't think that Gentile, Tardelli, Conti and Antognoni, while very good, are comparable. Brazil's undoing was their central defense, which made some elemental mistakes, and the awful Serginho, who missed at least two sitters that match. Also Eder had a shocking performance, though much credit has to go to the Italian defense for that as well. And yes, Rossi and Graziani blew away Serginho and Eder in attack, which in my opinion marked the difference that day: GK and Defense: slight advantage Italy Midfield: slight advantage Brazil Forwards: big advantage Italy
Why was their defence only slightly better? Was the gap not bigger? I agree with you that it ultimately boiled down to the balance in the squad. On average, the Italians had simply the better players. 'Systems' can win games for you, see current Spain and Barcelona but ultimately the greatest individuals transcend and surpass the systems. In the theme of the current Olympics it has to be noted that swimmers as Egerszegi and Mary T. Meagher trumped anything that the solid and systemic 'State Plan 1425' produced. Brilliant individuals can ultimately surpass and outclass the boring consistency of a 'systemic' production line.
Junior, Oscar and Leandro were very good, in fact Junior was the best defensive player between the two sides that day. But Waldir Peres couldn't stop anything in goal, and Luisinho was your typical Brazuca centerback donkey - to be fair Cerezo, who was Santana's field marshall, has to take most of the blame on that first goal, which was crucial not just for the tally but that it awoke the slumbering wolf Rossi. One thing about soccer though is that it offers a chance for a "revancha", and both Tele and Toninho would get it a decade later when Sao Paolo beat AC Milan pretty much with the same style of play, Cerezo at 37 gave a clinic and was the best player that day. Being the favorite is always an added burden, as you well know given the history of failure by the Netherlands when tipped to win it all. Brazil of WC82 may have lost but was not dishonored, whereas the Dutch in WC90 and Euro12 shit their pants!
With all respect toward Wilson ... it's always EASY said then done ... especially aftermath ... (well 30years passed) It's so easy to say now, after France 98, Greece 04, Italy 06 and Spain10 ... I can NOT imagine Wilson would EVER have crossed his mind (what he stated) right after that game - UNTHINKABLE. Wilson would have looked NAIVE back then. What he said is all true though ... but it would apply more to like Brazil 2006, not in 82 One FATEFUL game could not decide a trend. Especially not evry team could have copied or followed Brazil70, or 82 footstep (or like Puck mentioned of Holland 74) as they required a special quality in workforce. However it did AFFECT on Brazil samba play ... NO MORE after! ======================================================= Brazil coach Santana was not naive, nor Football in the 80s were naive. but NEITHER one of them could foresee the fitness of Carreca, Reynaldo, Nor they could predict a Rossi came into a monster ... They had NOT much choice there. Same with Italy team to have played Catenaccio by default ... with the squad they got - Zoff, Collovati, Scirea, Cabrini, Gentile, Bergomi .. arguably their best players were all in the back line with only Scirea as libero to go up with Tardelli (another DM) - before that game .. Italy could only DREAM to win over Brazil as with just a TIE, Brazil would have advanced ...