Rossi Awakens Italian Renaissance - Italy 1982

Italy’s 1982 World Cup triumph is remembered as one of football’s greatest redemption stories, a dramatic journey that transformed Italy 1982 Paolo Rossi from suspended outcast to national hero. After an uninspiring group stage and the fallout of the Totonero scandal, Italy stunned the world by eliminating Argentina and then conquering Brazil’s legendary 1982 side in a match that redefined the tournament. With Rossi’s unforgettable hat-trick, Enzo Bearzot’s resilience, and Dino Zoff’s leadership, Italy rose from crisis to claim a historic third World Cup — restoring pride, identity, and the nation’s footballing soul.

The yin to the yang of the ending of Brazil’s magical era of pure flair in Barcelona at the 1982 World Cup, was the reawakening of Italian football.

In truth the groundwork to this was done a week earlier when Italy all but ended the progress of World Cup holders Argentina. But it was their memorable 3-2 win against tournament favourites Brazil which changed the narrative.

Until that point, Italy had done anything but make an impression on the tournament. They drew all three games in finishing second in not the most challenging of groups including a Zbigniew Boniek-led Poland, Peru and Cameroon in their first World Cup outing. Indeed, Italy were to become the first team to win the World Cup without winning a group game.

If pretty much nobody outside of Italy would have wanted Brazil to lose that epic battle in Barcelona, any friends West Germany had made along the way were lost in their semi-final win against France

Italy and key striker Paolo Rossi were playing like they were hungover. They had an excuse. Incredible though it is to believe about 1980s Italian football, but the country was reeling from a match fixing scandal.

The wide-ranging 1980 Totonero betting scandal resulted in punishments for seven Serie A and B teams and suspensions for 20 players. Rossi, who had scored three goals for Italy in the 1978 World Cup, was among those banned. His three-year suspension had been cut to two years and finished just in time for the World Cup. However, after Italy’s underwhelming start, Italian manager Enzo Bearzot was taking flak for keeping faith in the misfiring striker.

The turning point was victory over Argentina; a win built on the Claudio Gentile’s ‘robust’ marking of starlet Diego Maradona. Having nullified Argentina’s star player, by fair means or foul, Italy then broke away to score twice – through Marco Tardelli and Antonio Cabrini. This set up the win-or-bust decider against Brazil in which a Rossi hat-trick led them to a 3-2 win, despite all Brazil’s attacking verve.

Rossi, the finisher, was awakened. He scored twice more as Italy this time managed to beat a Poland missing the talismanic Boniek.

Italy had put one of the least promising starts to a World Cup behind them to make the final. But it was not just their fortunes that had been transformed. So had neutral support. If pretty much nobody outside of Italy would have wanted Brazil to lose that epic battle in Barcelona, any friends West Germany had made along the way were lost in their semi-final win against, France. The French, with their graceful midfield, were first hit when Harold Schumacher wiped out French defender Patrick Battiston. Then the West German keeper saved the decisive sixth penalty from Maxime Bossis in what was the first ever World Cup penalty shoot-out – one bizarrely played over six penalties a side.

Come the final, Italy did not disappoint their public. Rossi scored again, the irrepressible Bruno Conti continued to dazzle, and Marco Tardelli iconically celebrated, as Italy scored three second half goals to seal the Cup. Italy were back. Fittingly, it was the safe hands of 40-year-old goalkeeper Dino Zoff who lifted the trophy – 14 years after he played his part in Italy’s last triumph, the 1968 European Championship.

Italy and key striker Paolo Rossi were playing like they were hungover. They had an excuse. Incredible though it is to believe about 1980s Italian football, but the country was reeling from a match fixing scandal

It marked Italy’s third World Cup win, but their first since 1938. In further symmetry, Italy had been the fall guys to Pele’s Brazil in the 1970 final, and were to be again when Brazil next won the World Cup in 1994.

The win set Italy up for better times on and off the pitch. The country began to emerge from the Years of Lead - the social and political unrest which had plagued Italy since the late 1960s as extremists from both sides of the political divide caused havoc.

It meant Italy could move forward through the 1980s with pride restored in their national team, a developing economy and having put an end to corruption scandals within the game. Okay, two out of three wasn’t bad.

How We Ranked Them

We have five categories of greatness from our five-star All-Time Greats category at the top to our one-star Blinkered Greats category at the bottom. Having ranked Brazil, a team who failed to even make the semi-finals, in our top bracket we could hardly put this iconic Italian team – the most fondly remembered of their four World Cup winning sides – anything other than

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*****

ALL TIME GREATS

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Listen To The Podcast

Part of our World Cup 1982 double-header based on the turning point that was the Brazil-Italy game, we did finally – at the fifth time of asking – cover the World Cup winners

Further Listening

While Italy won the ultimate prize at the 1982 World Cup, Italy were the bookies and fan favourites for the tournament. We dive into the most entertaining team to never win the World Cup.

Anything Dino Zoff can do, so can Alan Judge. Oxford’s Milk Cup winning goalkeeper came out of retirement to answer an SOS call when they needed a keeper for their home game against Cambridge United in March 2003. The 42-year-old part-time goalkeeper coach and driving instructor, cancelled some driving lessons to help United to a 1-1 draw at the Kassam.