Norman Bell
Just doesn't shut up
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2012
- Messages
- 11,178
- Reaction score
- 18,554
It was a Monday afternoon in Barcelona ( July 5th 1982 ) at about 5.00 pm GMT that as Graeme Souness so aptly described it " The beautiful game died ".
I was 5 in 1970 so did not really have many memories of the magnificent Brazil side of Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostao to name but 4. My formative years where international football teams were concerned was the Germans who played with a crushing efficiency or the Holland side of 74 and 78 with the Dutch Masters of Johann Cruyff and Neeskens. So to see the 1982 Brazil was a revelation as they played with incredible tempo and skill. In the group stages there was a 2-1 win over what was then called The USSR, with the modern day irony that the bulk of that side were not from Russia but Ukraine. There was a defensive alarm bell in that game though as the Brazilian keeper Waldir Peres ( who looked like some kids Dad that was asked to help out in goal for the five-a-side because the regular keeper was not available ) made an utter mess of the USSR goal. As I say, I was not old enough to recall 1970 but people who were, tell me that Felix who played between the posts in 1970 was the definition of the term " Dodgy keeper ". The goals in the victory over the USSR were special with the " chain smoking " skipper Socrates and the mercurial winger Eder scoring. There was also a group win over New Zealand by 4-0 and on a sweltering Friday night in Seville, Brazil punished Scotland for having the temerity to score first with a screamer from David Narey ( Jimmy Hill managed to get even further up the nose of the average Scotsman by described the shot as a " Toe poke " ! ) The game ended up in a 4-1 win for Brazil with Zico, Falcao, Eder and Oscar scoring.
As winners of the group Brazil found themselves in the second group phase with Italy and their South American " neighbours from hell " Argentina. In the first group game Argentina lost 2-1 to Italy, which meant in the next game it would be Argentina versus Brazil. I agreed to give my Dad who was a carpenter a hand on the proviso we would be back for the second half at the very least. The game was on Friday July 2nd 1982 and the reason I remember the date so vividly is it was the day that the announcement that Wolves were now in receivership was made. We got back at half time and it was 1-0 to Brazil. The first goal remains for me one of the most remarkable one I have ever seen, Eder hit a free kick from 35 yards that moved all over the place and on first viewing it is not apparent that the Argentina keeper Ubaldo Fillol has actually made a fantastic save as he tipped it onto the bar only for Zico to beat Serginho to rebound and score. Chances are if Serginho had of got there he would have missed as that man was every bad forward Wolves have ever had rolled into one. Having just slagged him off the Cart Horse actually made it 2-0 before Junior clinched the game, despite a superb late strike from Ramon Diaz. This was the game when a certain young fellow called Diego Maradona tried circumcising Brazil's Batista with a " tackle in the tackle " shall I say ! A straight red was fully justified and so we were all left to wonder was this tubby curly haired kid was really all that, four years later he proved that he was.
So the final match of Group C was on Monday July 5th in Barcelona in the afternoon, not at The Nou Camp ( or Camp Nou if you prefer ! ) but at the 44,000 capacity Sarria Stadium. There was a goal after 5 minutes, so which Brazil player scored it, was it Zico, Eder, Socrates or Falcao, actually no it was Paulo Rossi for The Azzurri
Rossi had been a stand out in the 1978 Tournament but had been banned for a bribery scandal and had looked nothing like the ace predator he was in 78 so far in this World Cup. The lead was soon cancelled out when Socrates, if you can pardon the pun " smoked " a screamer past Dino Zoff ( Socrates was known to smoke 20 a day and what made that all the more stunning was he was a medical Doctor as well as a professional footballer ! ) Unfortunately for Brazil some utterly shambolic cartoon defending allowed Rossi to put Italy back in front in the 25th minute. So at half time it is 2-1 to Italy, yet those like me who had become utterly sold on Brazil still could only see one winner ( a draw would do as goal difference would see them quailfy ) So when Falcao ( Who like his team mate Cerezo played in Italy for Roma ) made it 2-2 with a screamer from the edge of the box in the 68th minute it seemed game over. The 1982 has two iconic goal celebrations one was this one from Falcao and the other was Marco Tardelli. It was not " Game over " because of two things, one was this side just could not happily play out time and grind out a draw they kept on attacking, the other reason was Brazil while wonderful going forward, were not a " shutdown defence " at the back, as the utterly abysmal marking from an Italian corner in the 74th minute proved. Paulo Rossi who clearly was awakening from his post ban malaise was left alone to complete his hat-trick. Junior was a wonderful attacking full back yet not to bright at defending which was his main job and he was culpable on the goal. Brazil yet again in this game in this game had to pour forward and with two minutes left it seemed they had levelled for a third time. Eder sent over a wonderful delivery from a free kick and it was met by Oscar who rose majestically and powered a header downwards that seemed certain to go in, when out of no where a 40 year old Dino Zoff defied the pending on set of middle age and produced one of the greatest saves ever in my book. With that chance went Brazil's last hope and I sat there stunned that this once in a lifetime special side were not going to win the 1982 World Cup.
40 years have now passed since that team that me and millions of other non-Brazil born fans were fascinated by, yet even now despite the France side of 98 and 2000 they remain for me the best international side I have ever seen and while not quite as crushing as far too many bad play off and FA Cup Semi Final defeats I have endured as Wolves fan of nearly half a century that final whistle on that baking hot July 5th 1982 afternoon remains one of my most disappointing moments watching football.
I was 5 in 1970 so did not really have many memories of the magnificent Brazil side of Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostao to name but 4. My formative years where international football teams were concerned was the Germans who played with a crushing efficiency or the Holland side of 74 and 78 with the Dutch Masters of Johann Cruyff and Neeskens. So to see the 1982 Brazil was a revelation as they played with incredible tempo and skill. In the group stages there was a 2-1 win over what was then called The USSR, with the modern day irony that the bulk of that side were not from Russia but Ukraine. There was a defensive alarm bell in that game though as the Brazilian keeper Waldir Peres ( who looked like some kids Dad that was asked to help out in goal for the five-a-side because the regular keeper was not available ) made an utter mess of the USSR goal. As I say, I was not old enough to recall 1970 but people who were, tell me that Felix who played between the posts in 1970 was the definition of the term " Dodgy keeper ". The goals in the victory over the USSR were special with the " chain smoking " skipper Socrates and the mercurial winger Eder scoring. There was also a group win over New Zealand by 4-0 and on a sweltering Friday night in Seville, Brazil punished Scotland for having the temerity to score first with a screamer from David Narey ( Jimmy Hill managed to get even further up the nose of the average Scotsman by described the shot as a " Toe poke " ! ) The game ended up in a 4-1 win for Brazil with Zico, Falcao, Eder and Oscar scoring.
As winners of the group Brazil found themselves in the second group phase with Italy and their South American " neighbours from hell " Argentina. In the first group game Argentina lost 2-1 to Italy, which meant in the next game it would be Argentina versus Brazil. I agreed to give my Dad who was a carpenter a hand on the proviso we would be back for the second half at the very least. The game was on Friday July 2nd 1982 and the reason I remember the date so vividly is it was the day that the announcement that Wolves were now in receivership was made. We got back at half time and it was 1-0 to Brazil. The first goal remains for me one of the most remarkable one I have ever seen, Eder hit a free kick from 35 yards that moved all over the place and on first viewing it is not apparent that the Argentina keeper Ubaldo Fillol has actually made a fantastic save as he tipped it onto the bar only for Zico to beat Serginho to rebound and score. Chances are if Serginho had of got there he would have missed as that man was every bad forward Wolves have ever had rolled into one. Having just slagged him off the Cart Horse actually made it 2-0 before Junior clinched the game, despite a superb late strike from Ramon Diaz. This was the game when a certain young fellow called Diego Maradona tried circumcising Brazil's Batista with a " tackle in the tackle " shall I say ! A straight red was fully justified and so we were all left to wonder was this tubby curly haired kid was really all that, four years later he proved that he was.
So the final match of Group C was on Monday July 5th in Barcelona in the afternoon, not at The Nou Camp ( or Camp Nou if you prefer ! ) but at the 44,000 capacity Sarria Stadium. There was a goal after 5 minutes, so which Brazil player scored it, was it Zico, Eder, Socrates or Falcao, actually no it was Paulo Rossi for The Azzurri
Rossi had been a stand out in the 1978 Tournament but had been banned for a bribery scandal and had looked nothing like the ace predator he was in 78 so far in this World Cup. The lead was soon cancelled out when Socrates, if you can pardon the pun " smoked " a screamer past Dino Zoff ( Socrates was known to smoke 20 a day and what made that all the more stunning was he was a medical Doctor as well as a professional footballer ! ) Unfortunately for Brazil some utterly shambolic cartoon defending allowed Rossi to put Italy back in front in the 25th minute. So at half time it is 2-1 to Italy, yet those like me who had become utterly sold on Brazil still could only see one winner ( a draw would do as goal difference would see them quailfy ) So when Falcao ( Who like his team mate Cerezo played in Italy for Roma ) made it 2-2 with a screamer from the edge of the box in the 68th minute it seemed game over. The 1982 has two iconic goal celebrations one was this one from Falcao and the other was Marco Tardelli. It was not " Game over " because of two things, one was this side just could not happily play out time and grind out a draw they kept on attacking, the other reason was Brazil while wonderful going forward, were not a " shutdown defence " at the back, as the utterly abysmal marking from an Italian corner in the 74th minute proved. Paulo Rossi who clearly was awakening from his post ban malaise was left alone to complete his hat-trick. Junior was a wonderful attacking full back yet not to bright at defending which was his main job and he was culpable on the goal. Brazil yet again in this game in this game had to pour forward and with two minutes left it seemed they had levelled for a third time. Eder sent over a wonderful delivery from a free kick and it was met by Oscar who rose majestically and powered a header downwards that seemed certain to go in, when out of no where a 40 year old Dino Zoff defied the pending on set of middle age and produced one of the greatest saves ever in my book. With that chance went Brazil's last hope and I sat there stunned that this once in a lifetime special side were not going to win the 1982 World Cup.40 years have now passed since that team that me and millions of other non-Brazil born fans were fascinated by, yet even now despite the France side of 98 and 2000 they remain for me the best international side I have ever seen and while not quite as crushing as far too many bad play off and FA Cup Semi Final defeats I have endured as Wolves fan of nearly half a century that final whistle on that baking hot July 5th 1982 afternoon remains one of my most disappointing moments watching football.
