ESPANA 82 ALBUM FACTS PAGES: 48 ALBUM PRICE: 20P NUMBER OF STICKERS: 427 PACKET COST: 6P FOR 4 STICKERS
after 27 seconds in England’s opener against France it seemed that it really might be their time. Although Ron Greenwood’s men only conceded one goal in five matches, it was a lack of firepower in the second round that proved their undoing – not helped by the absences due to injury of Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking, both of whom were only fit enough to appear as substitutes in the last game against Spain. Scotland’s Group 6 was an eventful one, which ultimately ended with Jock Stein’s team missing out on qualification for the next round on goal difference. The Scots defeated plucky underdogs New Zealand 5–2,
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only to be outclassed by Brazil in their next encounter as the South Americans unleashed all of their tricks in an easy-on-the-eye 4–1 win. As the Soviet Union had managed to restrict Brazil to a late 2–1 defeat, Scotland needed to beat their rival for second spot when they met in the final round of games. Joe Jordan gave Scotland a dream start, but the Soviets hit back with two goals. Graeme Souness – adding his trademark moustache to a Panini World Cup album for the first time – hit a second, but it wasn’t enough and the Scots exited at the first round again. Northern Ireland enjoyed a happier climax to their first-
round programme when they built on two earlier draws to shock hosts Spain with a 1–0 victory in Valencia. Billy Hamilton set up Gerry Armstrong – both sporting green tracksuit tops with huge Adidas logos in Espana 82 – for the only goal. Hamilton scored twice against Austria in their opening second-round match, but France had grown in confidence as the tournament went on, overwhelming the Irish 4–1 to top Group D. The French marched on to a semi-final meeting with West Germany, qualifiers at the expense of England from a Group B that produced two goalless draws in three games. A tense encounter finished 3–3 after extra-time before West Germany showed their mettle at penalty shoot-outs. Horst Hrubesch – the two-goal hero in the Europa 80 final – struck the winning kick. A final against Italy, who had earlier beaten Poland 2–0, awaited. But the Italians’ 1982 World Cup story really begins in the second phase, after a dull first round that saw then sneak through on goals scored at the expense of Cameroon, who were making their first appearance in the finals. Reigning champions Argentina lost 2–1 to Italy and then 3–1 to Brazil (a match that featured a bushy-haired Maradona being shown the red card), leaving the last match as the decider for semi-final qualification. A draw would have been enough for Brazil and they seemed on course to progress when Falcao
1982 WORLD CUP Winners: ITALY Runners-up: WEST GERMANY Third: POLAND
made full use of a decoy run to fire past Dino Zoff to make it 2–2 after 68 minutes. By that point in the match, Paolo Rossi had scored twice and he duly completed a hat-trick soon after to give Italy a memorable 3–2 victory. For the neutrals it was devastating to see the team of Zico, Eder, Junior, Socrates et al. exit the tournament, but memories endure of a side that lit up Spain 82. Rossi – seen in Espana 82 wearing an older national team jersey to his team-mates as he had only just returned to action following a ban – added a further two goals to his tally in the semifinal victory over Poland. After a cagey first-half in the final in Madrid, Rossi scored with a header as Italy then went on the rampage. Marco Tardelli’s outpouring of emotion following the second goal was more iconic than the strike itself, while substitute Alessandro Altobelli made the game safe with a third. Paul Breitner’s reply was too little, too late. Winning 3–1, Italy secured their third World Cup and the first of the Panini era.
Fourth: FRANCE Golden Boot: PAOLO ROSSI (6)
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