Football’s Greatest Hat-Tricks No.5
Paolo Rossi died on Wednesday at the age of 64. I wrote an obituary for him and this can be found here. The Italian striker scored a fantastic hat-trick for Italy against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup second stage against Brazil. The match is widely considered to be one of the greatest football matches of all-time.
Italy and Brazil were in a group of three with holders Argentina. Each team would play each other once and the top team would go into the Semi Final.
Both sides had beaten Argentina and faced each other in the final group match. Italy needed a win to qualify, Brazil would have qualified with a draw or win.
The Brazil team were one of the best in their history and were expected to qualify for the Semi. They had several World Class players in their team including Socrates, Zico, Eder and Falcao.
Italy had started slowly and were lucky to qualify from the group stages having drawn all three games. They had drawn 1-1 with Cameroon and Peru and played out a goalless draw with Poland.
Paolo Rossi had returned to the Azzurri squad in time for the World Cup. This was quite a controversial decision as Rossi had been banned for three years in 1980 for taking part in a match-fixing scandal. His ban had been reduced to two years and he was selected for the Italian squad.
Rossi didn’t score in the group stages, and the Italian press was quick to pick up on this. He also failed to find the back of the net in Italy’s 2-1 win over Argentina. It is fair to say that he had a point to prove as he went out to play the Selecao on 5th July.
It took Rossi just five minutes to break his duck, racing in at the far post to head in a cross from left back Antonio Cabrini.
Brazilian Socrates equalised seven minutes later before Rossi scored his second after 25 minutes. Brazil’s Cerezo tried to pass back to one of his team mates around 35 yards from goal but Rossi managed to intercept the ball. He raced in and fired past Waldir Peres in the Brazil goal.
Paolo Rossi had a great opportunity early in the second half but fired wide from a few yards out. It was an easy chance and he really should have scored.
Falcao equalised for Brazil midway through the second half. It mean that Italy needed to find another goal to progess to the Semi Final.
Rossi scored that goal just six minutes later to complete his amazing hat-trick. Italy won a corner and it was hit to the edge of the penalty area. The ball landed nicely for Marco Tardelli who hit a volley at goal. Rossi was stood six yards out and diverted the ball into the back of the net.
Rossi scored twice against Poland in the Semi Final and the first of Italy’s three goals in the Final. He won the World Cup Golden Boot and was awarded the Player of the Tournament. The Italian then won the Ballon D’or to complete a fantastic year.
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