1982: 40 Years of the Seleção Dream Team
Brazil's defeat by Italy in 1982 helped shape the history of men's football and the character of a country that was beginning to emerge from a military dictatorship.
Street decorated for the World Cup. (1982) by Antonio Augusto FontesThe Football Museum
"Evening fell like a viaduct..."
The Brazil of 1982, saddened by the death of Elis Regina but feeling hopeful about the slow political opening that would culminate in "Diretas Já", showed enthusiasm for the Seleção. In the streets, Pacheco, a character created by a brand of razor blades, waved his flag.
Careca receives medical care. (1982) by Pedro MartinelliThe Football Museum
Shared pain
A midfield consisting of Falcão, Cerezo, Zico and Sócrates was buoyed by the presence up front of centre-forward Careca, from Guarani. However, an injury forced him out of the tournament days before the opening game against the USSR. Serginho, from São Paulo, became the starter.
Brazilian team poses for photography. (1982) by Rodolpho MachadoThe Football Museum
Under a 40-degree sun
The classic photo of the full delegation was always an annoyance for the players, but it was an obligation imposed by FIFA and the federations. In his exclusive diary for PLACAR, Sócrates commented on the compulsory pose, taken at his hotel in Seville: "In the afternoon we watched the France-England match and at half-time we took another one of those group photos under a 40-degree sun. I can't take these photos anymore, what can I do?".
Sócrates, during his goal against the USSR. (1982-06-14) by Ricardo ChavesThe Football Museum
No agreement with the Russians
The opening game against the USSR was very tough. It opened 1-0 to the Soviets. It seemed unlikely that Brazil would be able to equalise until Sócrates dribbled the ball past two opponents and unleashed a thunderous shot from outside the box. The Seleção won 2-1.
Éder celebrates his goal in the victory against thE USSR. (1982-06-14) by J. B. ScalcoThe Football Museum
The winger we were looking for
"Put a winger in the national team, Telê", demanded Zé da Galera, personified by Jô Soares. The catchphrase stuck. On the left side the coach fielded Éder. His was the goal that turned the game around against the USSR, and one of the goals in the 4-1 thrashing of Scotland.
Maradona and Zico dispute the ball during the World Cup game. (1982-07-02) by J. B. ScalcoThe Football Museum
The prelude of El Diez
Diego Maradona would eventually play in his first World Cup. In a 3-1 defeat by Zico's Brazil, he was sent off at the end of the game after a brazen foul on Batista. However, throughout the World Cup there would be flashes of the genius that would erupt in 1986 in Mexico.
Trust us, folks
Sócrates surprised the world with his apparently slow but precise football. There was no player like him. But what made him exceptional was his attitude off the pitch.
From his diary, published by PLACAR: "This week's thought I got from a great friend, the 'Paizão', Tim. A great motivator for the whole squad. Allow me: 'The World Cup is the awakening of a dream into reality'. Good luck, companions. Trust us, people".
Falcão celebrates the second Brazilian goal in the match against Italy. (1982-07-05) by J. B. ScalcoThe Football Museum
The open veins
Midfielder Falcão's veins seem to burst with joy after scoring the equaliser against Italy. As Luciano do Valle narrated: "Only Falcão, with all his class, all his skill. A bomb in the right corner of the great goalkeeper Zoff. Brazil two, Italy two".
Falcão, Zico and Toninho Cerezo, from the Brazilian Football Team, celebrate. (1982-07-05) by J. B. ScalcoThe Football Museum
The weeping of shirt 5
Toninho Cerezo made a mistake that gave Italy their second goal. The ball was with the defense, and he attempted a pass across the penalty area. Paolo Rossi was quicker, intercepted the pass and came out to finish. When Falcão equalized, the whole team ran to hug number 5.
Zico had his shirt torn by the strong marking of the Italian defense. (1982-07-05) by Rights ReservedThe Football Museum
Ripped shirt
Zico was pursued on the field and had his shirt torn by Cabrini. Abraham Klein, the referee, gave the Italian player a warning. Klein would later recall, at the end of the game, which ended 3-2 to Italy: "I remember Sócrates with his head down, in the dressing room, as if it were yesterday".
Farewell
The tears would last until the bus left with the Brazilian delegation, returning to their hotel in Barcelona. It was time to say farewell, as Arthur Júnior, Zico's son, waved goodbye in a picture that went round the world, symbolising the sadness at the defeat of futebol-arte.
The boy is the father of man
But nothing would be more memorable, as a melancholic symbol of defeat, than the cover of the following day's Jornal da Tarde newspaper. A boy in tears and, as a caption, the plainest of information: "Barcelona, 5 July 1982". The boy was José Carlos Villela Júnior, who was only 10 years old.
He told PLACAR, forty years later, now a respected lawyer, when he looked at the mythical image: "What could be the symbol of a story with an unfortunate ending took on another connotation: the hope for better days. We were happy and we didn't know it. Happy because of the quality of that team. Happy because Brazil, despite everything, despite the permanent inequality, was turning the page on the dictatorship. It is a story that moves me, that I always tell my children, and it empowers a certainty: that the boy is the father of the man".
Lawyer José Carlos Vilella. (2022) by Alexandre BattibugliThe Football Museum
The cover that nobody wanted to see printed
PLACAR's cover the following week would sum up the feeling in Brazil and for everybody that had dreamt about that national team: "What a Pity, Brazil". The title was a suggestion by Sócrates to the magazine's editor-in-chief at the time, Juca Kfouri. What a pity...
Telê's team
The world was thrilled with the fast and agile team of Telê Santana. He used to preach that in football, repetition done right is a shortcut to success. After the defeat by Italy and elimination, Telê received a standing ovation as he entered the room for his press conference.
Paolo Rossi, hero of the Italian conquest of the World Cup. (1982-07-05) by Pedro MartinelliThe Football Museum
Il bambino d'oro
The title went to Paolo Rossi's Italy, the scorer of the three goals that would eliminate Brazil. On December, 2020, Rossi died of lung cancer at the age of 64. On social networks, Falcão paid an emotional tribute to him: "Brazil has cried because of him, now it cries for him".
Museu do Futebol and Placar Magazine
São Paulo, November 2022.
IDBrasil Cultura, Educação e Esporte - Organização Social de Cultura
Board of Directors
Carlos Antonio Luque - President
Renata Vieira da Motta - Executive Director
Vitoria Boldrin - Administrative and Financial Director
Marilia Bonas - Technical Director
1982 Exhibition: 40 Years of the Seleção Dream Team
Curator, research and texts: Fabio Altman
Metadata: Ademir Takara and Dóris Régis
Editing: Dóris Régis
Proofreading: Fiorela Bugatti and Renata Beltrão
Image Treatment: Hugo Takeyama
Video editing: Pedro Henrique A. Morais
With thanks to Editora Abril.
This virtual exhibition was produced as part of the 2023 Season of the Museu do Futebol, undertaken with funds from the Federal Law for the Incentive of Culture.
