Everyone knows, Maradona was honored at the 1986 World Cup. Excellence in that tournament is the most important reason people have to ask historical questions, controversial so far: Pele or Maradona is real. the “king of soccer” all the time?
Maradona’s first goal at the 1986 World Cup, which was later recognized as one of the most important milestones of his career, was the one he scored against reigning champion Italy. group stage. Seven of the top 11 Italian players in that match attended and won the 1982 World Cup. But sadly, Paolo Rossi was not there. The heroic number 1 of the 1982 World Cup, Rossi, was only on the list but did not play for a minute in the 1986 World Cup. And Rossi also said goodbye to the national team after the World Cup.
Rossi (dark blue jersey) and Maradona faced each other directly on the pitch at the 1982 World Cup
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Before that, the 1982 World Cup was the only major tournament in which Rossi and Maradona faced each other directly on the field. Interestingly, neither Rossi nor Maradona were successful in the critically important match in the second group stage of that tournament. Winning or losing is common sense. The very strange thing here is: both fail, while in common sense the failure of one must be the success of the other, in direct confrontation. On the other hand, both Rossi and Maradona are fading while both will become the brightest stars in the world, not long after.
Rossi vanishes because he … was. Nobody is surprised by the not so outstanding performance of a forward who has been suspended for 2 years. In fact, Rossi was suspended for three years for the historic Totonero semi-degree scandal in 1980. The sentence was reduced to 2 years probably leaving Rossi with little chance in the 1982 World Cup match against Argentina in the phase of groups. The second is the fourth consecutive game that Rossi has never scored (after 3 games in the first group stage), although he was always a starter.
And Maradona? He was followed “like leeches” by the notorious defender Claudio Gentile. Call him the most famous “one-on-one” in all of football history. I will definitely never repeat a story like this again, simply because football then had to … change the rules, to avoid such a defense. Gentile followed Maradona closely throughout the game and did not give in to any tricks to prevent the Argentine star from playing soccer. Think of it as a game with only 10 players left. By losing to Italy 1-2, Argentina faced the other team in the group, Brazil in the next match and was eliminated after losing 1-3. Since there are 3 teams in each group, choose a team to reach the semi-finals, the team that loses the first match will face the team that has not played the next match, to ensure that the final match in the group remains significant : the 1982 World Cup was the World Cup. The schedule for the second group stage is not fixed!
Argentina lost to Italy and Maradona failed because being “accompanied by death” was a surprise event. On the contrary, it is not surprising that Argentina lost to Brazil (Maradona received a red card near the end of the match). The team had Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Eder, Junior, Cerezo … at that time considered the best team in the world, the team “from another planet.” So as a “historic” surprise, when Rossi suddenly shone with a hat-trick to help Italy win 3-2 in the game against Brazil. Due to a stronger victory against Argentina, Brazil only need to draw to reach the semi-finals. Socrates and Falcao have repeatedly drawn after Rossi’s goals. But Rossi kept scoring. On the one hand, it was a game for Rossi’s life. On the other hand, Italy won thanks to Enzo Bearzot’s excellent defensive skills and excellent tactics.
Paolo Rossi (left) shone with a hat-trick in Italy 3-2 Brazil in the 1982 World Cup
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In just 1 week (from July 5 to July 11), Rossi went from zero to six consecutive goals to help Italy win 3-2 in Brazil, Poland (2-0 in semi-finals) and Germany (3-1 in the final) to win the top scorer, helping Italy win the World Cup. Of course, he will receive France Football’s “European Ballon d’Or” and World Soccer’s “World’s Best Player” title at the end of the year (the FIFA award was yet to be born).
If Maradona had only led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup, Rossi would have played the role in the 1982 World Cup. Before that, they all appeared on the national team for the first time in 1977. Maradona was not selected. to Argentina’s roster at the 1978 World Cup, while Rossi was the most prominent young star of that tournament (which is why Italy needed to reduce its suspension to get Rossi at the 1982 World Cup). In the history of the World Cup, no other star has equaled the personal role of Maradona in the 1986 World Cup and Rossi in the 1982 World Cup.
