Your first World Cup is always memorable and for me Espana ‘82 was when I fell in love with football. Maybe because it was a summer tournament but the colours looked brighter and the football shirts looked iconic.
The bright yellow shirts with light blue shorts fitted perfectly with the warm Spanish sun but above all, it was the football that made them stand out as though they were Gods.
To emphasis the fact that the Brazil squad of 82′ were not mere mortals, they had names that made them ethereal. There was Zico, Falcao, and of course Socrates. These were superstar names rather than the current Brazil team that has Fred and Bernie. Names that sound like two old men down on the allotment.
It was this team that took my imagination, especially the skill that they showed. Socrates or any of the Brazil team would just arrogantly knock the ball forward, pausing as they looked across the field of play. Such was the belief in their ability, that it was almost taunting the opposition to get the ball off them.
For me, I became transfixed with Socrates and wanted to play like him. Unfortunately, I got nowhere close but it was the languid strides, the way the skills came off so easy that got my attention. Also, the unkempt beard gave him a look of a rebel fighter which to me made Socrates even cooler.
I can remember bits from the World Cup tournament such as Bryan Robson scoring the fastest World Cup goal at the time as he put England 1-0 up against France in twenty-seven seconds. However, it was watching Brazil that the memories still stand out.
No doubt it was highlights that I saw when Socrates scored that brilliant equaliser. It’s a poor clearance by the Soviet defender as it goes to Socrates. His tries to rescue his teammate as he throws himself on, only for Socrates to turn as the Soviet defender slides by. Socrates is on the edge of the box and let’s fly a strike as the ball hits the right hand side of the goal.
A late Eder goal gave Brazil the win that they always knew was going to happen. It was the skills and fast paced attack as well as the belief that even if the opposition would score they would still better it.
The Scotland game showed that they were no pushovers as Gordon Strachan in a interview at a Betsfair event spoke how he went to shoulder challenge Brazil’s Junior but ended up bouncing off him instead.
What shouldn’t be forgotten is that Scotland had a decent team in 1982. Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, and Alan Hansen were the spine of Liverpool’s greatest team. Even so, Brazil look affronted at the audacity when Scotland took the lead. Zico equalised as Brazil knocked it up a couple of gears like the best formula one car to win 4-1.
As a young kid, I was convinced that Brazil would win the World Cup. The exciting way that they played football and that aloofness of Champions made me certain that Brazil would beat Italy in the final match of the second group stage.
The maths were simple. Italy needed to win and Brazil could still go through with a win or a draw.
I remember bits about Italy’s Paolo Rossi and the fact that he had come back after serving a ban over a betting scandal. Above all though I remember him having the same surname as the cartoon character Mr Rossi. A theme tune that I didn’t really like at the time. Let’s face it, it was no Jamie and his magic torch.
The Brazil v Italy game is one of the classic matches that is still talked about fondly. Even at a young age I knew that I had watched something special.
It was the back and forth of the match that at times resembled a basketball match. Rossi had given the Italians the lead with Socrates equalising and restoring order.
Once again Rossi gave Italy the lead with Falcao equalising. There were moments when Brazil should have scored but the chances were squandered. It was Rossi though who completed his hat-trick and the two points that ensured Italy would play Poland in the semi-final.
It was a gutting moment to see Brazil being knocked out. As a kid you are always led to believe that the good guys win or the best team in this case. Football doesn’t work like that and as it was, Italy won the tournament after beating West Germany 3-1.
Brazil had whetted my appetite for football that I started playing and took more of a serious interest in supporting Liverpool. Not that there was a choice in supporting the reds as it was family thing rather than anything else. I was hoping Bob Paisley would sign Socrates for the reds but alas, it was never to be.
As for Brazil, they once again played scintillating football in Mexico 1986 and again they fell short in the quarter-finals against a brilliant France. The tie itself was back and forth as it finished 1-1. Extra-time still couldn’t separate the two teams.
Socrates missed the first penalty although the other three were converted as Platini missed France’s fourth penalty. Cesar missed Brazil’s fifth but Luis Fernandez won the tie as he converted France’s final penalty.
West Germany would beat France 2-0 in the semi-final before losing 3-2 to Argentina in the final. Maradona had played like a God himself and even now I believe him to be the best player that I have seen.
As to Brazil, the 1986 was the last truly samba side. They might have won hearts and minds in 1982 and 1986 but it was World Cups that the football federation and supporters wanted.
The 1990 side played more like a high functioning machine and although they got knocked out by Argentina in the last sixteen they still persisted in this type of football.
It did win Brazil a World Cup in 1994 and 2002. Admittedly, they have produced players who instantly draw you to your feet. Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho but somehow despite wearing the bright yellow shirts they do not have the same aura as that 1982 World Cup side of Socrates, Falcao and Zico.
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