Italy-France 2-1 (Lacombe 1', P. Rossi 29', Zaccarelli 54')
Italy: Zoff - Gentile, Cabrini, Benetti, Bellugi, Scirea - Causio, Tardelli, P. Rossi, Antognoni (46' Zaccarelli), Bettega. Ct: Bearzot.
France: Betrand-Demanes - Janvion, Bossis, Michel, Rio, Trésor - Dalger, Guillou, Lacombe (75' Berdoll), Platini, Six (76' Rouyer). Ct: Hidalgo.
Not much was expected from Italy in Argentina. The team had shown rather dull performances before the competition, and it seemed that the Azzurri hadn't been able to form a world quality group, since the 1974 World Cup and the retirements of Riva, Rivera, Mazzola and Fachetti.
Things seemed to get even worst as Italy conceded a goal in the very first minute of this opening game against France. Trailing by a goal so early on, Italy had now no options but to move to the attack. Bearzot, had made a last minute choice and selected two enthusiastic youngsters in his starting XI: Paolo Rossi up front and Antonio Cabrini in defense. Rossi from Perugia had just played 2 friendlies with the Azzurri back in December and January, due to the absence of Graziani and Bettega. Cabrini not only hadn't played a single minute in the Nazionale shirt, but he was not even a regular for his team Juventus yet! Bearzot knew that his squadra needed some fresh energy, and now against France, having to come back from 1 goal down, his gamble on his two 'babies' was fully at test.
With Tardelli being sacrificed to man-mark and 'cancel' Michel Platini, and Antognoni not up to what could be expected from him, the Juventus men Benetti, Gentile and Scirea put in very solid performances, showing offensive dispositions not often revealed in the Italian football tradition of the seventies. But it was up to the experienced and talented Causio and Bettega to lead the forward moves towards the French goal. They did well, creating repeated threats in the French box, but the added quality that Italy offered to the football world was the positive spirit, skills and ease of the two new comers Paolo Rossi and Antonio Cabrini. 'Pablito' was full of energy displaying for the first time on the World stage the unique qualities that he was gifted with: speed, wittiness, agility, opportunism and collective intelligent. 'El Bel Antonio' was efficiently involved in all the collective build ups in his left corridor, showing great technical skills and perfect positioning in defense, in addition to taking the French defense by surprise on numerous occasions surging forward like an arrow on the left flank. It was from one of his crosses that Italy equalized in the 35th minute. His cross reached Bettega's head who deviated the ball to Causio. Causio hit the bar, then the ball played a billiard game before being directed towards the goal by no one other than the ever opportunistic ... Rossi! Bearzot's had won his gamble, the youngster were proving their worth! (Rossi ended up being chosen Second Best Player of the tournament behind Kempes, and Cabrini won the award of Best Young Player)
Italy's second goal came without much struggle early in the second half. Zaccarelli who had replaced Antognoni at halftime was the scorer from a Gentile cross. The game remained under the Italians control, till the final whistle.
The importance of the game was not just the remarkably achieved win. This game formed the foundation stone for the Bearzot team that would bond together for a long time, eventually offering the highest glory for Italian football. In 1978, in Argentina, the Scirea-Gentile-Cabrini-Tardelli-Causio-Rossi-Bettega block seduced the world earning the title of 'best team of the competition'. In 1982, in Spain, the Scirea-Gentile-Cabrini-Tardelli-Conti-Rossi group lead by captain Zoff conquered the world! And it all started in this 1978 World Cup opening match: Italy-France.
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World Cup 1978 Italy vs W.Germany - 2nd halfby footoldies2,625 views
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