World Cup Win Was 'Redemption' of 'Totonero' Scandal for Paolo Rossi
News 18Paolo Rossi once described his performance at the 1982 World Cup, where he etched his name into football folklore, as “personal redemption” from a match-fixing scandal, even though he always said he had nothing to atone for. He was ineffective in Italy’s three pool matches, failing to score in three draws, prompting Italian journalist Gianni Brera to describe him as “an ectoplasm of himself”. But just when it seemed Italy did not have ghost of a chance of winning the World Cup, Rossi came alive, scoring all three goals in their pulsating 3-2 over Brazil in the second stage group match in Barcelona. “It was mine because I stole that precious tenth of a second from the defender and I knew he would never reach me.” The victory sparked an outpouring of emotion in Italy and gave rise to hope that the extreme violence, political and social unrest that swept the country in the ‘Years of Lead’ might also be washed away.