Flashback: No 12. Spain 1982: Rossi climbs back from the depths to fire Italy to glory

(GETTY IMAGES)

Paolo Rossi in action for Italy in their 3-1 win over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup final at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. Rossi's story is the classic example of how things can rapidly change in a World Cup.

He had shone as a 21-year-old in Argentina in 1978, but after being implicated in a betting scandal was banned from playing for two years. Rossi had only just returned in 1982 when the Italy coach, Enzo Bearzot, controversially reinstated him in the national side.

The criticism intensified as Italy scraped through the first group stage with three draws but suddenly everything clicked one afternoon in Barcelona. Italy beat the Brazil side of Zico, Socrates and Falcao 3-2, with Rossi grabbing a hat-trick. Two more goals followed in the semi-final against Poland and when Italy, now bursting with confidence, took the lead in the final, it was inevitably Rossi.