The 1982 World Cup in Spain

Spain 1982

The ones who shone didn't win

This World Cup is remembered for the biggest thrashing in a World Cup match, starring Hungary, who destroyed El Salvador with a 10-1 scoreline.

Another historical event was the incident in which Sheikh Fahid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah stormed the pitch in protest of a French goal. In the match on June 21st, between France and Kuwait in Valladolid, a whistle was heard from the stands during a legal play that put France ahead 4-1. At that moment, the sheikh went down to the field and confronted the Soviet referee Miroslav Stupar, who, after a 10-minute discussion, not only ruled the legitimate goal invalid, but also expelled French coach Michel Hidalgo from the field.

For the first time, 24 teams competed for the cup

Participants: 24

West Germany
Austria
Belgium
Czechoslovakia
Scotland
Spain
France
Hungary
England
Italy
Northern Ireland
Poland
Yugoslavia
USSR
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
El Salvador
Honduras
Peru
Algeria
Cameroon
Kuwait
New Zealand

The shameful act was the collusion between Austria and Germany to advance to the quarter-finals by eliminating Algeria.

No host country in history had such a poor performance and such a mediocre showing as Spain's national team, who only won one game thanks to a questionable penalty, drew two, and lost two.

The best games of the 1982 World Cup were the match between Germany and France (3-3), which was decided by penalties, with Germany winning. The intensity and quality of this match are compared to the 1970 World Cup game between Italy and Germany (4-3). Another great match was between Italy and Brazil (3-2). Since the 1970 Mexico World Cup, Brazil had not had such a powerful and exquisite team, but they succumbed to Paolo Rossi's skill, who took advantage of the fragility of Brazil's defense.

Brazil and France displayed the most beautiful football throughout the 1982 World Cup, but Italy and Germany, who started poorly, became the finalists at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Final was contested between Italy and Germany. Rossi opened the scoring, followed by Tardelli and Altobelli. Then the veteran German Breitner scored for Germany, but Italy won the match 3-1, securing their third World Cup title.

Final Four