Brazil at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
Matches of the Brazil national football team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Brazil national football team participated in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and in doing so maintained their record of being the only team to enter every World Cup Finals.
Brazil played until the Second Group Round, where they were defeated by Italy. This result meant that they finished the tournament in fifth place for the second time in history (1954 was the previous instance). The coach was Telê Santana[1] and captain Sócrates.[2]
Qualifying
The Cup
First Group Round
In Group 6, Brazil showcased a highly attacking squad featuring Zico, Sócrates, Falcão and Éder, drawing comparisons with their 1970 side. Brazil opened with a 2–1 win over the Soviet Union thanks to a late Éder strike, before defeating Scotland and New Zealand, scoring four goals in each match.[3]
- Group 6
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 |
 Soviet Union |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 |
 Scotland |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
 New Zealand |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | -10 |
Ref: Castillo (ESP)
Attendance: 68,000
Ref: Siles (CRC)
Attendance: 47,379
Ref: Matovinović (YUG)
Attendance: 43,000
Second Group Round
It was in Group C, a true "Group of Death" with Brazil, Argentina and Italy, that World Cup history was made. In the opener, the Azzurri prevailed 2–1 over Diego Maradona's side in an ill-tempered game in which Italy defenders Gaetano Scirea and Claudio Gentile proved to be able to stop the Argentinian attack.
Argentina now needed a win over Brazil on the second day, but they were no match. Although the Brazilians had the better of the play, Maradona's Argentina side continued pushing for an equaliser and had a clear penalty denied by the referee[citation needed] . After that, Brazil scored twice, and Maradona was sent off after he kicked a rival in a moment of unsportsmanship.
The third-day match between Brazil and Italy would be a game to remember. Twice Italy went in the lead through Paolo Rossi's goals, and twice Brazil came back. At 2-2, Brazil would have gone through on goal difference, but on 74 minutes, a poor clearance from an Italy corner kick went back to the Brazil six-yard line where Rossi and Francesco Graziani were waiting. Both world-class strikers reflexively aimed at the same shot, Rossi connecting and sending Italy to the semifinals in one of the all-time great games of World Cup history.[4]
- Group C
Ref: Vázquez (MEX)
Attendance: 43,000
