'World champions, world champions, world champions'.
With enthusiasm, but without rhetoric, Nando Martellini screams on TV the emotion that crosses Italy on 11 July 1982 at the end of the Bernabeu final: 3-1 clear to Germany, with the sixth goal of the top scorer Paolo Rossi, the scream liberating by Marco Tardelli which becomes a symbol, the slow and mocking ball of the recruit 'Spillo' Altobelli.
Roberto Mancini, in a low voice, cannot fail to draw favorable auspices: tomorrow the European title will be played on the same day as the 1982 world triumph. There is oppressive heat in Madrid that Sunday in July.
After the troubled group in the cool of Vigo and La Coruna won for the broken cap with the chatted 1-1 with Cameroon with the controversial tail of the press blackout, the blues change gear at the 40 degrees of Barcelona, piercing the Argentina of Maradona and Brazil by Zico. Paolo Rossi dissolves, Enzo Bearzot's winning bet after a two-year stop for football betting, and Italy reaches the final by eliminating Poland without Boniek. The injured Antognoni is missing, Bearzot chooses a team covered with five defenders (with the 18 / year old Bergomi), the Juve block that drags everyone. In front of him he finds a tired and somewhat scholastic Germany: in defense, next to the solid Stielike, free from Real, there are the Forster brothers.
Mind and heart of the midfield is the eclectic Breitner, the eternal rebel who fights with everyone and stays out of the national team for six years. Up front there is a trio of great level: the charismatic Rummenigge, the unpredictable Littbarski and the solid Fischer who arrive pumped and limp in the final after the battle on penalties with France. It seems to get bad immediately for the Azzurri: after 5 'out of Graziani due to injury, at 9' Cabrini kicks out a penalty, but Italy reacts and in the second half passes with Pablito Rossi, doubles on the counterattack with Tardelli screaming for the whole field his happiness. The Germans do not have the strength to react, Altobelli makes the final a party, then there is Breitner's goal that fixes the 3-1. Dino Zoff at 40 lifts the World Cup.
In the stands the happy smile of Sandro Pertini is the symbol of triumph. Paolo Rossi also wins the Golden Ball. Italy takes to the streets again and celebrates its third world title, 44 from the second. It will be up to Lippi's blues to make the Italian people vibrate again with the suffering of penalties in 2006.