Italians call him "Pableto", and in Brazil they know him as executioner. He is Paolo Rossi, the former Italy striker, who died Thursday at the age of 64.
In his country, he is seen as the hero who led a previously discredited team to the 1982 World Cup title.
The Brazilians also remember him, because he was the cause of a defeat known as the Sarria tragedy, which many feel has changed the country's football forever.
Another hero goes ...
Farewell to the legend Paolo Rossi
will always be in our hearts đź–¤ # ciaopablito #Pablitopersempre pic.twitter.com/cHpIwiPiAf
- FIFA.com - Arabic (@fifacom_en) December 10, 2020
Rossi was the main champion in one of the best World Cup matches ever: Italy's 3-2 win over Brazil in the second round match at Sarria Stadium.
Brazil enjoyed the world, as it played in a wonderful offensive way, and won its first four matches with a total of 13 goals, compared to only 3 goals that landed in its net.
The team, coached by Tilly Santana, is seen by many as the best in the country's history.
Italy passed the first group stage, drawing with Peru, Poland and Cameroon, before achieving a surprise 2-1 victory over Argentina.
Rossi - who appeared weak and physically fit - had just returned from a two-year ban, due to the match-fixing scandal, and had performed poorly until that point.
It was an epic game and apparently from an era completely different from the classic performance, loud trumpets, stifling heat and the crumbling stadium of Sarria in Barcelona.
There was a lot of criticism for playing in Sarria - which was demolished long ago - in the World Cup matches, but its towering stands filled with fans waving flags added excitement to the match.
Brazil needed a draw to reach the semi-final of the second group stage, but were delayed after 5 minutes due to a poor defense that allowed Rossi - unmarked - to score with a header from Antonio Cabrini's cross pass.
The South American team tied after 7 minutes, with a goal that BBC commentator John Motson said "epitomizes the philosophy of Brazilian football."
Socrates sent the ball to Zico, who passed between two defenders with a touch of his heel, and turned around with his body before returning the ball to Socrates, starting from behind.
The "doctor" advanced in his effortless manner, netting the net with a shot that passed between the close post and Dino Zoff, the Italian goalkeeper, as the ball raised some dust while crossing the goal line to emerge in another memorable way.
This goal was supposed to be a prelude to a comfortable victory for Brazil, but after 25 minutes a Russian intercepted Toninho Cerezo’s cross, running and firing a shot into the net that brought Italy back on track.
The death of the Italian 1982 World Cup top scorer "Paolo Rossi" at the age of 64, the owner of the historic hat-trick against Brazil in the tournament achieved by the Italian national team. # America 360 #PaoloRossi #Italy # Italy pic.twitter.com/XUMEj6Ex6K
Yasser Al-Ghaslan |
YASSER ALGHASLAN (@alghaslan) December 10, 2020
Falcao equalized for Brazil after the break, but Rossi scored again when he diverted the ball towards goal from close range, in the absence of supervision after a corner kick.
Change the samba way
Many Brazilians got into arguments about the defeat as it caused a deep and lasting shift in their playing style, towards a more defensive style with European influence.
Certainly in the 1990s, Brazilian domestic football has become incredibly fierce, with every match counting from 50 to 60 errors.
Zico once said, "If we had won this match, football would be different. Instead we started creating football based on coming out with a score at any cost, and intercepting the opponent's moves by making mistakes against him."
Others said that Brazil was naive, relying on 4 skilled midfielders, a winger and a striker, a style that could in no way escape the goals.
The beauty of this hat trick was not just in how it inspired Italy to their 1982 World Cup win, but also that it came against what many consider the single greatest World Cup side EVER.
#PaoloRossi
pic.twitter.com/SOAhJY49fG
- Debayan Sen (@debayansen) December 10, 2020
In a joint interview with Zico two years ago, Rossi said that on his first visit to Brazil in 1989, a taxi driver ordered him to leave the car when he recognized him, but this was an exception.
"Actually I have a lot of Brazilian friends, and there is a lot of affection and respect between us. They don't just see me as a player who scored 3 goals once against Brazil. There's more to it than that," he added.
"What makes me feel proud is that we did not just defeat Brazil, but the Brazil team in 1982, because it is an exceptional team that includes amazing heroes," he said.
The phrase "You made Brazil cry" was associated with Bruce, who had already cried the Brazilians on the night of their painful exit from the 1982 World Cup, in which Italy was crowned thanks to Russian goals and his superior prowess.