Paolo Rossi and Enzo Bearzot’s triumph at the 1982 World Cup is underrated in the competition’s lore. The late Italian manager Enzo Bearzot pioneered Ajax’s ‘total football’. He steered the Italians away from the Catenaccio, or ‘door bolt’ defensive strategy. That tactic led to the rise of Italian soccer during the 1960s. This defensive […]
Paolo Rossi and Enzo Bearzot’s triumph at the 1982 World Cup is underrated in the competition’s lore.
The late Italian manager Enzo Bearzot pioneered Ajax’s ‘total football’. He steered the Italians away from the Catenaccio, or ‘door bolt’ defensive strategy. That tactic led to the rise of Italian football during the 1960s. This defensive blocking that suppresses opportunities for opponents led to success. A win at Euro 1968 preceded a runner-up finish to Brazil at Mexico 1970.
However, the Azzurri learned much that defense was a temporary means to an end. This is particularly true if the opponent is technically gifted, as seen in Brazil’s comfortable victory in the final at the Estadio Azteca.
Through three consecutive World Cups, Bearzot implemented their version of the Dutch system. His change worked wonders as the Azzurri’s head coach.
The triumph of the 1982 World Cup
In 1978, the Italians reached the semi-finals. Instead of changing the plan, Bearzot duplicated his formula. Giving Spain 1982 a boost, Italy entered as a contender.
However, the Azzurri developed a reputation for slow starts. Three draws in three ‘Group 1’ matches nearly eliminated the Italians early on. The only thing that saved them was more goals scored than Cameroon, who also managed three draws in that group. Critics harangued Enzo Bearzot for his average results, particularly after adopting a strategy that promised spontaneity. In essence, players had multiple roles that fluctuated between offense and defense. In addition, the forwards had the role of quickly regaining possession in the final third if they lost it.
The wise manager understood that patience was the key to demonstrating his depth of vision. Therefore, Enzo Bearzot and his flexible players ignored the scholarship that accused Italy of playing slowly. Instead, they focused on the overall goal: to win the World Cup.
Paolo Rossi shines
That goal came in the form of a mountain to climb. Back then, FIFA did not use a traditional knockout stage. The 1982 FIFA World Cup had a second group stage. There, Italy faced defending champions Argentina and tournament favorites Brazil.
After defeating Argentina in the first of their two second stage games, Italy faced Brazil for a place in the semi-finals. Here, Paolo Rossi left his mark on Brazil forever. His hat-trick helped Italy defeat the Seleção 3-2. Brazilian historians remember this match as the ‘Tragédia do Sarrià ’, or the Sarrià Tragedy, since the match took place in Barcelona at the Sarrià Stadium.
The victory sent Italy to the semi-finals, where they faced an upstart Poland. Rossi’s brace, his fourth and fifth goals in two games, secured a shutout victory against Poland. Rossi carried Italy through the second and third rounds of the tournament. Now, Italy was about to win its third World Cup.
In the final, Rossi scored the opening goal. Chance creator Marco Tardelli added a second and Alessandro Altobelli added a third late. When Germany scored their first goal in the 83rd minute, the match was almost over. A spell of decades seemed ripe for its end.
However, this does not come without controversy.
Photo by Peter Robinson – PA Images via Getty Images
Match Fixing/Suspension
That suspicion is nothing new for Italian football. Series A and Series B have a scandalous history with organized crime. Even Paolo Rossi entered the 1982 World Cup after a two-year ban for betting on Serie A.
However, Bearzot was praised as a genius for selecting Rossi given that, prior to the tournament, Italian insiders criticized the striker’s return.
Rossi’s ‘Totonero’ scandal from the 1980 Serie A season allegedly involved Paolo Rossi who played for Perugia. However, Paolo Rossi denied linking him to the ‘Totonero’, since the striker barely played that season for Perugia, on loan from Vicenza. The match-fixing scandal had a widespread effect on Italian football, highlighted by the absence of the star striker from the World Cup. Look, Rossi’s original suspension lasted three years. However, on appeal, he could return to action just a few months before the World Cup begins.
After serving his two-season suspension, the Bearzot called up the Italian No. 20. From anti-hero to hero, Paolo Rossi won redemption and adopted the nickname ‘Torero’.
history repeats itself
History has shown that Italy wins after falling into bad times. Furthermore, the Azzurri have a tendency to win the World Cup after facing accusations of inveterate gambling. For example, in the 2005/06 Serie A season, Juventus were involved in the infamous ‘Calciopoli’ match-fixing scandal, including Fiorentina, Lazio and Milan. In the midst of the accusations, Fabio Cannavaro would win the ‘Golden Ball’ with Juve and the World Cup with Italy.
Twenty-four years before ‘Calciopoli’, Paolo Rossi garnered the same praise with the same teams after suffering the consequences of ‘Totonero’. Although Rossi played for Perugia amid the scandal, the No. 20 won the Scudetto with Juve in 1982. And although Cannavaro played for Real Madrid after Juve’s relegation, he finished the 2005/06 season with I Bianconeri, a club from Serie A who was deeply involved in Italy’s last two World Cup championships.
After all the repercussions, Paolo Rossi redeemed himself and won the Scudetto, the FIFA World Cup, the Ballon d’Or, the Golden Shoe and the Ballon d’Or in 1982.
Ultimately, The Bullfighter did it his way: skipping the vaunted number 10 and becoming the first player to push the popularity to number 20.
PHOTO: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images
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