Tele Santana RIP

Espana 82 is the first World Cup I remember watching, but oddly I hardly remember anything about England, or even much about Italy (just the name Paolo Rossi). The only incident I can clearly recall is the German goalkeeper's brutal assault on a French striker in the semi-final: I think he jumped up and kicked him in the throat or something and the bloke was nearly killed and yet somehow he didn't get red-carded or even booked and there wasn't even a free-kick. Anyway. The main thing I remember is that Brazil were fantastic, and all of us kids wanted to be Brazilians, and for years after we'd shout 'Zico!' when we did something good.

I too was convinced that Battiston was dead, as he didn't move for ages after he was assaulted by Schumacher.

As for Brazil, many Brazilians I've spoken to rate Santana's 1982 team ahead of the legendary 1970 team. I saw Eder's goal against the USSR again recently - simply joyous.

My year-head at school was linesman for a Brazil-West Germany friendly in '81 and maintained a correspondence with the Brazilian FA afterwards - getting replica shirts to give away as prizes in the school five-a-side comp, etc. By the time of Espana '82 some of us were thoroughly fed up of his pro-Brazil schtick (including his son, with whom I used to go to Everton games) and we were ecstatic when Italy beat them. We were similarly let down that neither USSR or Scotland could hold on to their early leads against them.

Schumacher was best man at Battiston's wedding, of course. The 3-3 semifinal has never been surpassed at WC level..."Hrubesch...rocket to the skies!"

Perfectly understandable in the circumstances, Michael, but the years have surely helped you to see what a cracking side the Brazilians were.

I didn't know about the best man thing. Great fact.

Oh, of course - they were glorious. But it was the French I wanted to win the World Cup, and 1998 felt like belated reward for the genius of Tigana, Platini, Rocheteau et al.