CHAMPION: Italy
RUNNER UP: West Germany
GOLDEN BALL: Paolo Rossi (ITA)
GOLDEN SHOE: Paolo Rossi (ITA)
TEAMS: 24
TOTAL MATCHES: 52
GOALS SCORED: 146 (2.8 per match)
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 40,571
SUPRISES: Algeria provided the biggest upset of the tournament by beating European powerhouse West Germany in the group stage.
FORMAT: Four teams in six groups in the preliminary stage, group winners and runners-up advanced to a second four-group, three-team group stage, group winners moved on to single-elimination semifinals.
FIFA FAIR PLAY AWARD: Brazil
1982 – Returning to Europe once again, the 1982 World Cup was hosted by a Spain team with high expectations. The tournament expanded to 24 teams for the first time and at the end of it all, Italy claimed its third trophy in history by defeating West Germany in the final.
Spain disappointed by only reaching the second group stage, including an embarrassing loss in the first group stage to a Northern Ireland team that featured Norman Whiteside – to this day the youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup. But Poland once again provided the shock of the tournament by finishing in third place like they had in 1974.
A few first-timers also made strong impressions, albeit for very different reasons. Algeria provided the upset of the tournament by defeating West Germany in the group stage, while Honduras became the first team to ever concede 10 goals in a match which they lost 10-1 against Hungary.
But Paolo Rossi was the star of the show as the Azzurri triumphed yet again. The Italian striker erupted when it counted most in the second stage with a hat trick against Brazil, then a semifinal brace against Poland. In the final, Rossi got the ball rolling against the Germans and his team never looked back as they cruised to a 3-1 victory.
