World Cup 1982 - Day Nineteen

DAY NINETEEN

Monday 5^th July 1982

GROUP C, Estadio Sarria, Barcelona. (17:15)

BRAZIL   (1)   2   (Socrates 12, Falcao 68)

ITALY   (2)   3   (Rossi 5, 25, 75)

Brazil: Waldir; Leandro, Luizinho, Oscar, Junior; Socrates, Cerezo, Falcao, Eder; Zico, Serginho (Paulo Isidoro)

Italy: Zoff; Gentile, Scirea, Collovati (Bergomi), Cabrini; Tardelli (Marini), Oriali, Antognoni; Conti, Rossi, Graziani

Some have called this the ‘game of the century’, others the ‘greatest game in World Cup history’.  Whichever, this match had repercussions for both sides for years to come, and is often referred to for many future tournaments.  Brazil had been playing some of the finest football seen at a World Cup, certainly on a par with the 1970 team.  Italy, had been abysmal for the first three matches yet had put together a cohesive performance to stun Argentina the week before.  Brazil had eased past the same opponents to leave them simply needing a draw to go through to the Semi-Finals.  They already knew they would be playing Poland if they did.

5 minutes into the game, Tardelli play a cross-field pass to bring Cabrini into play on the left and his curling cross into the area was met by the head of Paolo Rossi.  Rossi had left his marker and had a free header and remarkably the Italians were 1-0 up.  Within minutes Brazil came forward and Socrates played Serginho in, and after the ball bobbled around, the Brazilian no. 9 found himself free just insidethe area but he scuffed his shot wide, when he really should’ve left it for Zico.  Brazil kept on and Socrates in midfield found Zico, who turned his man superbly, and played Socrates in, as the captain had continued his run.  Socrates had one touch and as he reached the right-hand edge of the 6-yard box he beat Dino Zoff at his near post for a beautiful goal.  1-1.  The move was clinical in its simplicity and showed the effectiveness of the threat the Brazilians posed.

But if that goal summed up the attacking instincts of this team, the goal on 25 minutes summed up their vulnerability in defence.  Waldir threw the ball out to Leandro on the right and he played it across the back to Cerezo, who in turn played it to his left without looking.  Rossi intercepted the pass, strode on to the edge of the area and then fired a shot past Waldir to put Italy back in front. 2-1.

It had been a blistering first half, yet Brazil still carried the menace of being able to score at will.  Early in the second period, Falcao played a one-two with Junior yet put his shot just wide of the far post.  Brazil were rampant now as Cerezo was put through by Zico only to see Zoff come quickly off his line to clear.  Serginho tried to backheel from close range but Zoff was again in the way.  Italy went straight up the other end and Graziani found Rossi free in the area, but the no. 20 miscued his shot wide from just 8 yards out.  Then on 68 minutes Brazil started another attack down the left with Junior, who cut inside and found Falcao on the right-hand edge of the area.  Falcao waited for Cerezo to make a run outside him, taking the defence with him, he turned back onto his left foot and fired an unstoppable shot past Zoff.  2-2. 

Brazil were now in pole position, but with 15 minutes to go Conti took a corner on the right for Italy.  He swung it in left-footed to the edge of the area, where Bergomi won a header.  The ball dropped to Tardelli whose shot was turned in at the far post by Rossi for his hat-trick.  It had been an amazing return for Rossi, having spent two years out through match-fixing allegations and looked horribly out of form in the group matches, yet now he had scored a famous hat-trick against one of the best sides to grace the world game.  3-2.

Antognoni then had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.  Almost immediately, Brazil had a free-kick just outside Italy’s area on the left, which Eder took and floated it in where Oscar got up first to head the ball down.  Zoff just got his hands to it to save it on the line.  Things were frantic now as Brazil pushed for that all important equaliser.  In the end they were unable to break through and, against all the odds, Italy had won to make it through to the Semi-Final.  For Brazil, they’d left the 1982 World Cup with memories of some gorgeous football, and had given the world a great match despite ultimately it ending in disappointment.

GROUP B, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. (21:00)

SPAIN   (0)   0

ENGLAND   (0)   0 

Spain: Arconada; Camacho, Alexanco, Tendillo (Maceda), Gordillo; Alonso, Urquiaga, Zamora, Saura (Uralde);  Satrustegui, Santillana

England: Shilton; Mills, Thompson, Butcher, Sansom; Robson, Wilkins, Rix (Brooking); Francis, Mariner, Woodcock (Keegan)

After the thrills of the earlier match, attention now turned to the final match of the second phase.  England needed to beat Spain by 2 goals to go through to their first Semi-Final since they won the trophy in 1966.  Spain, the hosts, were already out and had little except pride, to play for.  England manager, Ron Greenwood, had decided to keep Keegan and Brooking on the bench, despite both maintaining they were fit.  In the qualifiers, England had never lost when both were on the pitch. 

Alonso scared England early on when firing just wide.  Woodcock then did the same for England before Mills drove a shot over after a free-kick in a promising position.  Another free-kick and another attempt to fool the opposition found Kenny Sansom firing his shot just over.  England were now the more inventive as Robson had a couple of headers go just wide.  As they pushed forward, England were caught at the back when Santillana inexplicably failed to put the ball in from a few yards out as it trickled wide.  Arconada then started to make some important saves which further thwarted England.  Woodcock went close, Mariner went close but still the goal wouldn’t come.

In the second half, Satrustegui created a chance for Alonso who once again shot wide.  Wilkins then dragged a shot wide from outside the area.  Then on 64 minutes, Greenwood shuffled his pack and brought on both Brooking and Keegan.  Brooking was soon involved in the build-up as Mills crossed for Robson to head just wide.  Brooking then had a chance on the right of the area where he cut inside but found Arconada again in the way.  The clock was ticking and England still needed to score twice.  Mariner played Robson in on the left of the area and his ball to the far post found Keegan in space, but he couldn’t hit the target as his header went agonisingly wide with the keeper beaten.

The game ended goalless with England ruing many missed opportunities and the fact they left the tournament unbeaten, provided little comfort.  West Germany had won the group to go through to meet France in the Semi-Finals.

World Cup 1982 - Day Seventeen

DAY SEVENTEEN

Friday 2^nd July 1982

GROUP C, Estadio Sarria, Barcelona. (17:15)

BRAZIL   (1)   3   (Zico 12, Serginho 67, Junior 75)

ARGENTINA   (0)   1   (Diaz 89)

Brazil: Waldir; Leandro (Edevaldo), Luizinho, Oscar, Junior; Socrates, Cerezo, Falcao, Eder; Zico (Batista), Serginho

Argentina: Fillol; Olguin, Passarella, Barbas, Tarantini, Galvan; Bertoni (Santamaria), Ardiles, Calderon, Maradona; Kempes (Diaz)

Italy had beaten Argentina and this was becoming a frustrating tournament for the 1978 winners.  Beaten in their opening game, they had got passed Hungary and El Salvador to reach this stage, but with their minds on events back home they looked an ageing side which even the great Diego Maradona couldn’t motivate enough.  Brazil were playing some champagne football, and some of the best football seen in any World Cup.  They were confident of beating their arch rivals and then taking on Italy. 

Argentinian defender Juan Barbas, one of the few members of the squad new from 1978, arrived late to force Waldir Peres into a smart save from a header.  But then in the 12^th minute Brazil had a free-kick about 30 yards out.  Eder ran up and fired a left-foot shot against the underside of the bar and as it bounced down, Zico reacted far quicker than the Argentines and bundled the ball over the line for the opening goal.  Eder’s shot was hit with the outside of his left foot and bent and curled, with Fillol doing well to get a hand on it to knock it onto the bar but he was let down by his defence as no one rushed back with Zico or Serginho to stop Zico getting to the ball first.

Falcao then fired just over after taking down a pass from Leandro with consummate ease.  After Zico did the same, Falcao again shot over after a lovely move on the edge of the Argentinian area.  Brazil still lead at half-time thanks to Zico’s goal and as the second half wore on, Maradona became increasingly frustrated with the treatment handed out to him by the Brazilians.  He has good shout for a penalty when Cerezo brought him down on the right-hand edge of the area, but the ref was having none of it.  Cerezo had a fierce drive from a free-kick just tipped over as many of the shots were coming from outside either penalty area.   Brazil eventually had their reward in the 67^th minute after Passarella was dispossessed in midfield.  Eder played it inside to Zico, who in turn found Falcao with space on the right.  His cross to the far post was headed in by Serginho.  Often seen as the weak link in this vastly attractive attacking side, Serginho was a prolific goalscorer at domestic level but received much criticism during this tournament for missing too many chances.

Brazil looked to have killed off Argentina, although Maradona showed some lovely skill to create a chance for Diaz, who put it wide.  But almost immediately, Brazil put together another fantastic move as they toyed with their opponents.  Junior ran forward from the back, played a one-two with Zico and ran on to slide the ball past Fillol.  It was a lovely exhibition of football and the most attacking full-back in the game earned a deserved goal.  Passarella tried to single-handedly pull his team back into it with a couple of chances but Brazil were in complete control.  Maradona chipped just over and then minutes later his World Cup was over in ignominious circumstances.  Soon to be a Barcelona player, he left the pitch to a chorus of derision.  As the ball bounced around in midfield, Maradona was far too high and late with a kick on Batista which landed on the Brazilian’s thigh.  He received a straight red card and it summed up Argentina’s tournament.  Diaz did get a goal back with a fine strike from the edge of the area but the champions were well beaten.

Brazil now had a goal advantage over Italy, so a draw on Monday would be enough to see them reach the Semi-Finals.

GROUP B, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. (21:00)

SPAIN   (0)   1   (Zamora 81)

WEST GERMANY   (0)   2   (Littbarski 50, Fischer 75) 

Spain: Arconada; Camacho, Alexanco, Tendillo, Gordillo; Alonso, Urquiaga, Zamora; Juanito (Lopez-Ufarte), Santillana, Quini (Sanchez)

West Germany: Schumacher; Kaltz, K-H Forster, B. Forster, Stielike, Briegel; Littbarski, Breitner, Dremmler; Fischer, Rummenigge (Reinders)

In England’s group, West Germany had played out a cagey 0-0 draw with England in the first match.  This gave them a great chance of going through if they could beat the hosts.  Spain had struggled to get through their group, losing to Northern Ireland.  The home crowd was nervous yet desperate for success, knowing themselves that a win in this game would leave them only needing to avoid defeat against England, to progress.

The first half again was cagey and then 5 minutes into the second half, Dremmler’s shot from outside the area was too hot for Arconada to handle and as it rolled clear of the Spanish keeper, Pierre Littbarski was on hand to turn it in.  The Germans were now able to exert some pressure on the game, with them holding many aces in the group.  They should’ve added to their tally after good work down the left from Fischer saw him rob Tendillo but the eventual shot from Briegel too high.  Spanish centre-back, Alexanco, had a couple of efforts which may have promised more.  One, a header from a free-kick which bounced straight at Schumacher, and then he fired wide with a shot from long range.  But with 15 minutes to go, West Germany played their final card and it would prove decisive.  Breitner, ever industrious in midfield, played a good ball into Littbarski, who’d run ahead of the defence into the area, and as Arconada came out, the German turned 180 degrees and played in Fischer.  Klaus Fischer then had the simple challenge of walking the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead and that was effectively game over.  It was a sucker punch for the home side, who had been enjoying a fairly good period, but after only playing one match in the Second Phase, they were out.

With a minute to go, a cross from Sanchez on the right was headed in at the far post by Jesus Zamora to give the Spaniards a glimmer of hope.  They’d left it too late and the hosts had been eliminated.

England looked on anxiously as they would now need to win by 2 goals to go through.

World Cup 1982 - Day Eleven

DAY ELEVEN

Wednesday 23^rd June 1982

GROUP ONE, Estadio Balaidos, Vigo. (17:15)

ITALY   (0)   1   (Graziani 60)

CAMEROON   (0)   1   (M’Bida 61)

Italy: Zoff; Gentile, Scirea, Collovati, Cabrini; Conti, Tardelli, Oriali, Antognoni; Rossi, Graziani

Cameroon: N’Kono; Kaham, Onana, M’Bom, Aoudou, N’Djeya; Kunde, M’Bida, Abega; Milla, Tokoto

The final game in Group One was finely balanced.  In theory, Italy should’ve thumped Cameroon, but this Italy side had not found their touch in this World Cup up to now and had struggled in both their matches.  Cameroon knew they needed to win to get through to the second phase, and for Italy a draw would be enough to go through with Poland from this group.  Italy’s abject performance in the group phase so far was illustrated by Bruno Conti putting his shot wide from 6 yards out with only the keeper to beat.  Italy created plenty of chances, they just weren’t able to get any of them on target.  Then on the hour, Paolo Rossi crossed right-footed from the left wing and Graziani got up highest to loop his header over N’Kono.  It was the first goal Cameroon had conceded in the competition so far, but they fought back immediately as M’Bida hooked a shot in from close range barely a minute after going behind.  The Africans just couldn’t push for a winner and so Italy went through by virtue of having scored one more goal than Cameroon.  For Cameroon, they could be proud of their performance in remaining unbeaten.

GROUP THREE, Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante. (21:00)

ARGENTINA   (1)   2   (Passarella 23, Bertoni 52)

EL SALVADOR   (0)   0

Argentina: Fillol; Olguin, Passarella, Tarantini, Galvan; Bertoni (Diaz), Gallego, Ardiles, Calderon (Santamaria), Maradona; Kempes

El Salvador: Mora; Jovel, Osorto (Diaz), Rodriguez, Recinos; Ventura (Alfaro), Rugamas, Huezo; Gonzalez, Rivas, Ramirez

With Belgium and Hungary drawing in Elche the day before, Argentina knew anything other than a win would see them bow out after just three matches of their first ever defence of the World Cup.  El Salvador had regained some pride by only losing 0-1 to Belgium having conceded 10 in their opening match, although this was the game they really feared.  But Argentina were still not into their stride in this tournament, evidenced by Kempes hitting the bar from 6 yards early on.  In the 19^th minute, Calderon was brought down in the box and Argentina had a penalty.  The contact had seemed minimal but Passarella blasted the kick down the middle and Argentina lead 1-0. 

Argentina should’ve added to that goal before the break but early into the second half they did when a well worked goal when Daniel Bertoni curled a lovely shot left-footed into the far corner having beaten three tackles.  Argentina were comfortable winners and went through in 2^nd place behind Belgium.  Hungary’s record score proving irrelevant.

GROUP SIX, Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville. (21:00)

BRAZIL   (2)   4   (Zico 28, 31, Falcao 64, Serginho 70)

NEW ZEALAND   (0)   0

Brazil: Waldir; Leandro, Luizinho, Oscar (Edinho), Junior; Socrates, Cerezo, Falcao, Eder; Serginho (Paulo Isidoro), Zico

New Zealand: van Hattum; Dods, Almond, Elrick, Herbert; MacKay, Cresswell (Turner), Sumner, Boath; Rufer (Cole), Wooddin

The qualifiers from this group had already been decided after USSR draw with Scotland saw them join Brazil.  New Zealand, in their first ever World Cup appearance, were just hoping to keep the score down.  Brazil were soon into their lovely passing football and one move cut open the defence only for Cerezo to fire over.  Zico then tried a nonchalant back heel which went just wide.  But in the 28^th minute, Leandro crossed from the right and with it curling away from him, Zico acrobatically volleyed the ball in for the opening goal.  Within minutes they were at it again as Socrates again found Leandro as the overlap on the right and his cross was again turned in by Zico, although less acrobatically.

Falcao got in on the act in the second half as he was able to run far too far and beat the keeper on his near post.  Six minutes later a patient build-up saw Junior clip the ball over the defence to Zico on the left-hand side of the area and he played it inside for Serginho to score.  The Brazilian number 9 often looked out of place with this technically brilliant team, but he had at last opened his account for the tournament.  Brazil were through with 100% record.

World Cup 1982 - Day Six

DAY SIX

Friday 18^th June 1982

GROUP ONE, Estadio Balaidos, Vigo. (17:15)

ITALY   (1)   1   (Conti 19)

PERU   (0)   1   (Diaz 84)

Italy: Zoff; Gentile, Scirea, Collovati, Cabrini; Conti, Tardelli, Marini, Antognoni; Rossi (Causio), Graziani

Peru: Quiroga; Duarte, Olaechea, Diaz, Salguero; Velasquez, Cueto, Uribe (Leguia), Cubillas; Barbadillo (La Rosa), Oblitas

Both games in this group ended goalless so everyone was thankful when Bruno Conti finally broke the deadlock on 19 minutes.  Mind you, it was a goal worth waiting for.  Conti began the move in the centre circle, spreading the ball out wide to Cabrini on the left.  His ball inside the Antognoni allowed Conti to join up with the attack and after side-stepping a challenge he fired a right-foot shot from about 20 yards into the top corner.  Conti had been the one bright spark in a hugely disappointing Italian team and his goal was richly deserved.  There was an unfortunate moment during the first half when the ball was laid off to Velasquez in the centre circle who turned and completely took the referee out.  Walter Eschweiler of West Germany lost everything, his cards, his whistle and he didn’t even have his dignity to hold onto.

Italy had chances to increase their lead but as the game wore on so they were less concerned with adding to their lead, than preserving it.  Peru even had a perfectly good shout for a penalty turned down when Oblitas was tripped by Scirea in the box but the referee, presumably still smarting from his embarrassment earlier, just waved play on.  As the game was reaching a conclusion, La Rosa somehow missed two golden chances but then with 6 minutes to go Peru had a free-kick on the right just outside the area.  It was played square for Duarte to fire a shot from “the D” and it took a wicked deflection off Scirea and wrong-footed Zoff for the equaliser.  The crowd by now seemed to be on the Peruvians side and they were delighted with the draw.

GROUP THREE, Estadio Jose Rico Perez, Alicante. (21:00)

ARGENTINA   (2)   4   (Bertoni 26, Maradona 28, 57, Ardiles 60)

HUNGARY   (0)   1   (Poloskei 76)

Argentina: Fillol; Olguin, Passarella, Tarantini (Barbas), Galvan; Bertoni, Gallego, Ardiles, Maradona; Valdano (Calderon), Kempes

Hungary: Meszaros; Martos (Fazekas), Toth, Garaba, Balint; Sallai, Rab, Nyilasi, Varga; Kiss (Szentes), Poloskei

The difference in fortunes for these two teams in their first matches couldn’t have been starker.  Defending champions, Argentina, were shocked by Belgium and Hungary set a new World Cup scoring record against El Salvador.  Maradona was in fine form and went close on a number of occasions before Bertoni finally got Argentina’s World Cup underway.  A free-kick on the left was floated into the box and Passarella’s header back across goal was turned in at the far post by Bertoni.  Two minutes later he was involved again when his shot was only half-saved by Meszaros and Maradona bundled it over the line.  A double strike which cemented Argentina’s dominance.  It was all Argentina and early in the second half Maradona missed a relatively easy chance and then Bertoni had a goal ruled out for offside.  But it wasn’t long before the holders increased their lead as Kempes put Maradona in and his fierce low shot went under Meszaros for a 3-goal lead.  Three minutes Olguin, the right-back, joined in things with a rasping shot from the right-hand edge of the area which Meszaros could only parry and Ardiles was there to turn in the rebound.  Poloskei got a goal back, but it was little more than a consolation.  Argentina won comfortably and Hungary were proving the side to watch as 16 goals had been scored in the two games they’d played in.  The group was now wide open.

GROUP SIX, Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville. (21:00)

BRAZIL   (1)   4   (Zico 33, Oscar 48, Eder 64, Falcao 86)

SCOTLAND   (1)   1   (Narey 18)

Brazil:  Waldir; Leandro, Luizinho, Oscar, Junior;  Socrates, Cerezo, Zico, Falcao, Eder; Serginho (Paulo Isidoro)

Scotland: Rough; Narey, Hansen, Miller, Gray; Strachan (Dalglish), Wark, Souness, Hartford (McLeish); Archibald, Robertson

A famous game in Scottish World Cup folklore.  One of the finest teams in international football, Brazil up against a talented an experienced and confident Scottish side.  The early exchanges were were evenly matched, although Brazil looked more menancing.  But in the 18^th minute, Scotland took the lead.  Souness, involved in so many of the moves, played a ball forward to Wark on the right-hand edge of the area and he nodded it down for David Narey, who’d burst forward from right-back.  Narey took the ball down with his left and then fired a right-footed shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.  It was a goal which wouldn’t have looked out of place from a Brazilian.  Scottish fans were later angered by Jimmy Hill, in the BBC studio, suggesting Narey had ‘toe-poked it in’.  it was a great start for the Scots, although there was a concern they had just pulled the tail of a tiger and were now about to face the consequences.

Scotland were in front for just 15 minutes.  Brazil had a free-kick in a fairly central position, about 30 yards out.  Zico took two steps and then curled the ball round the wall into the top corner with Rough rooted to the spot.  Brazil were definitely into their stride but couldn’t add to their tally until early in the second half.  Junior swung in a right-footed corner on the left and Oscar rose highest to head Brazil into the lead, 2-1.  It was one-way traffic yet the 3^rd goal was beautiful.  Socrates played it on to Serginho who found Eder free on the left of the area.  With Rough narrowing the angle, Eder noticed him on the 6-yard line so he deftly and audaciously chipped Rough for goal number 3.

There was still time for a 4^th and some good work on the edge of the box between Socrates and Cerezo allowed Falcao to fire a shot into the corner of the net with Rough again stranded.  4-1.  It was a great performance from Brazil who were almost through, but the Scots now knew they may have to beat USSR to go through.