1982 World Cup Spain

The 1982 Football World Cup, held in Spain, was won by Italy for, making them equal with Brazil as three time winners.

The competition format was changed from 1978.  The number of teams that qualified for the finals tournament was increased from 16 to 24 and these were split into six groups of four.  The two top teams from each group would go through to the second round which was divided into four groups of three. The group winners advanced to the semi-finals.

There was controversy in the first round over a match between West Germany and Austria. If West Germany won 1-0 over Austria in the group's last game both teams would progress into the second round at the expense of Algeria who had already played their three matches.  Germany scored early and both teams then just played the ball around aimlessly for the rest of the game. This led to a different system at the 1986 World Cup and future World Cups where the final two games in each group were played simultaneously.

West Germany was also embroiled in controversy in their semi-final against France.  The German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher badly  fouled the French player Patrick Battiston on his way to a certain goal, leaving him unconscious.  To everyone's shock not only did the the referee did not send off Schumacher but he didn't even award the French a free kick.  After the match ended 1-1 in normal time it looked like the French would win when they went 3-1 ahead.  But the Germans managed to equalise and force the game into extra penalties which they won 5-4.

The final was held at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and attracted a crowd of 90,000.  Italy were comfortable winners going 3-0 up before the German team scored a late consolation goal.

Top Scorer

6 Goals - Paolo Rossi (Italy)

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