Kickstarting calcio at Spain 82

Jimbo, James Horncastle and Gab Marcotti look back to Italy’s World Cup win in 1982 in Spain – the summer that arguably launched Italian football and Serie A to a whole new level.

Match-fixing scandals, press black-outs and strange squad selections – there was nothing about the Azzurri’s preparations that suggested World Cup glory.

But Enzo Bearzot’s Italy side became icons. En route to the final, they overcame Brazil’s dream side of 82, perhaps the greatest team not to win the World Cup, in one of the tournament’s greatest ever games. Before THAT Tardelli celebration in the final.

This is the story of Rossi, Gentile, Conti, Zoff and more. Plus we look at the current crop, as Italy have found their scoring boots in Euro 2020 qualifying.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: The political and footballing background in Italy in 1982 (01m 30s)

• PART 2: The group stage begins in disappointing fashion as chaos surrounds the squad (06m 00s)

• PART 3a: Italy – and Claudio Gentile – prepare to face the unstoppable Brazil (12m 00s)

• PART 3b: Italy beat Brazil in a World Cup classic (18m 00s)

• PART 4a: Italy overcome West Germany in the final (27m 00s)

• PART 4b: The aftermath of World Cup triumph (34m 45s)

• PART 5: Mancini’s Italy amongst the goals and Serie A preview (36m 45s)

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