On This Day at the World Cup – July 11: Marco Tardelli and THAT Celebration

It was on this day in 1982 that Marco Tardelli scored a World Cup final goal then capped it with one of football’s most unforgettable celebrations.

The Italy and Juventus midfielder scored the second in his side’s 3-1 victory over West Germany in Madrid and ran towards the bench, fists clenched, screaming, with tears in his eyes.

“After I scored, my whole life passed before me – the same feeling they say you have when you are about to die,” Tardelli told the BBC many years later. “The joy of scoring in a World Cup final was immense, something I dreamed about as a kid, and my celebration was a release after realising that dream. I was born with that scream inside me, that was just the moment it came out.”

Paolo Rossi and Alessandro Altobelli were also on target for the Azzurri, with Paul Breitner’s late effort no more than a consolation. Rossi’s opener was his sixth of the tournament and he was crowned top scorer and best player, not long after returning from a suspension for his part in the Totonero match-fixing scandal.

Tardelli spent most of his career with Juventus – making more than 350 appearances for The Old Lady having arrived there in 1975 after helping Como win promotion to the top flight. He also steered the Lariani to promotion as a manager, making the jump from Serie C1 to Serie B in 1994 before slipping back down.

Como are very much on the up again and, with the club about to make their Champions League debut, there is no better time to start planning a calcio trip to the shores of the lake.