Paolo Rossi - RIP

[Puggit]

Watching the World cup in 82, and then 4 years later in 86 is what created my love of football. Pestering my dad to take me to a game led me to my local club, and now I've been supporting Watford for over 30 years. This man was a large part of that love of football.

Back when players tended to play for the love of the game and there was far less cheating and histrionics.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55248469

[The jiffle king]

I went into the Brazil vs Italy 82 world cup game being in awe of Zico, Socrates and Eder and was so convinced as a youngster that no-one could beat them...... Then Paolo Rossi came along. He was just fantastic. Not as silky smooth as the Brazilians but scored goals. He got 2 more in the semi final and 1 in the final....

I was young but I wanted to be Paolo Rossi.... My first football hero... RIP

Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 10th December 10:54

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Was watching Seville v Chelsea last week, and said to my son (24) that I hadn't seen an individual performance from a striker as good as Giroud since Paulo Rossi in 82. We then watched it on Youtube. Spooky given today's sad news.

I watched the 82 match in The Cartoonist pub in Little New St, EC4, and it was full of journos as ever. Was waiting to meet my girlfriend (now wife, mother of aforementioned son) as we both worked around Fleet St.

Amazing performance. No one gave Italy a prayer against Zico, Socratese and co.

Then Italy went on to win it, Tardelli Scream and all.

Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Thursday 10th December 11:40

[franki68]

The jiffle king said:

I went into the Brazil vs Italy 82 world cup game being in awe of Zico, Socrates and Eder and was so convinced as a youngster that no-one could beat them...... Then Paolo Rossi came along. He was just fantastic. Not as silky smooth as the Brazilians but scored goals. He got 2 more in the semi final and 1 in the final....

I was young but I wanted to be Paolo Rossi.... My first football hero... RIP

Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 10th December 10:54

That brazil team certainly the best team to watch in my lifetime,I just missed the 70 team .
Rossi had an amazing world cup,Italy were pretty average at best,but he scored in the games that mattered.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

The other thing to remember about the 82 WC was England, played 5, won 3, drew 2, and conceded only 1 goal.

And Northern Ireland beating the hosts, Spain.

[The jiffle king]

franki68 said:

That brazil team certainly the best team to watch in my lifetime,I just missed the 70 team .
Rossi had an amazing world cup,Italy were pretty average at best,but he scored in the games that mattered.

I don't think I've seen a team play like Brazil since (and now they would not be allowed to due to the physicality of the game)

[TwigtheWonderkid]

franki68 said:

Italy were pretty average at best,but he scored in the games that mattered.

To be fair, they had Zoff, Baresi and Gentile, so three world class players. They didn't play well in the group stage but having scraped thru, when they got their act together, the had players who could really play and players who could stop the opposition from playing. Gentile alone fouled Maradona 23 times when they beat Argentina 2-1.

[Drive Blind]

Puggit said:

Back when players tended to play for the love of the game and there was far less cheating and histrionics.

you do know Rossi served a ban for being involved in a match fixing scandal ?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Drive Blind said:

Puggit said:

Back when players tended to play for the love of the game and there was far less cheating and histrionics.

you do know Rossi served a ban for being involved in a match fixing scandal ?

I'm not sure Franco Baresi and Claudio Gentile got that memo either.

[Puggit]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I'm not sure Franco Baresi and Claudio Gentile got that memo either.

Ok, ok - I mean the Fernandes type dives for penalties. You'll understand that better?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Puggit said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I'm not sure Franco Baresi and Claudio Gentile got that memo either.

Ok, ok - I mean the Fernandes type dives for penalties. You'll understand that better?

He got that skill by copying Francis Lee.

[monty999]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Was watching Seville v Chelsea last week, and said to my son (24) that I hadn't seen an individual performance from a striker as good as Giroud since Paulo Rossi in 82. We then watched it on Youtube. Spooky given today's sad news.

I watched the 82 match in The Cartoonist pub in Little New St, EC4, and it was full of journos as ever. Was waiting to meet my girlfriend (now wife, mother of aforementioned son) as we both worked around Fleet St.

Amazing performance. No one gave Italy a prayer against Zico, Socratese and co.

Then Italy went on to win it, Tardelli Scream and all.

Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Thursday 10th December 11:40

Possibly the most iconic and passionate goal celebration ever. Even better than Cantona's Gladiator goal celebration (even if it was for Utd !)

[TwigtheWonderkid]

monty999 said:

Possibly the most iconic and passionate goal celebration ever.

No question. No 1 in most people's book, by a mile.