ALTERNATE PLAYERS

*Roberto BETTEGA breaks a ligament of his left knee during a collision with Jacky Munaron, the goalkeeper of Anderlecht, during a European Cup match on 4 november 1981. Panini inserts him in italian team in his World Cup 1982 album. Because Enzo Bearzot wanted “Pena Bianca” at all costs, he waited until May 24, 1982 to remove him from the list of reservists.

*Roberto PRUZZO the "Bomber" of Roma, was the top scorer of the last two championships before the spanish World Cup. Panini also included him in the italian team in his album "España 82". Bearzot gives him a chance in the Paris friendly match against France on February 23, 1982, lost 2-0, and Pruzzo, although voluntary, did not shine. Also, "Il Vecchio", who believed above all in Rossi, wanted to preserve him from all serious competition as a center forward.

*Evaristo BECCALOSSI was, since 1981, widely pushed by the sport newspaper "Guerin sportivo" for a selection in the national team, because of the disappointing team results in friendly matches during preparation for the world cup. Bearzot, who wanted to keep his 4-4-2 system, considered that there was no place in the squad for Beccalossi, who was a classic playmaker behind the attackers.

*Agostino DI BARTOLOMEI, captain of As Roma, played 308 games for his club, scoring 66 goals. He played first in a central midfield director role, as "Regista" position made famous by Gianni Rivera. Even when in 1982 he was moved into a more defensive position in front of defense, he continued to regulary find the back of the net, scoring seven league goals in the 1983 Scudetto-winning campaign. Elegant and skilful, with great vision and technical ability, he would regularly hit pinpoint 60 yard cross-field passes to a teammates feet.Possessing a powerful shot, he scored many thunderous long-range strikes and was also a great penalty scorer. Unfortunatly by the 80's this kind of midfielder was beginning to disappear as coaches tented to favour players who could press and tackle back. So, he was never called up for the italian national team as Enzo Bearzot seemed to prefer the strength of Marco Tardelli or Gabriele Oriali. That's make Agostino DI BARTOLOMEI certainly the greatest italian player never play for his country. So, even if he has no chance to be selected, because he was part of the 40 pre-selected for spain 82', I like to put him in my personal squad.

*Giuseppe BARESI was part of the team summoned to the "Mundialito" played in Uruguay in 1981. In an interview he will say that one of his greatest disappointments was not having gone to Spain, through his own fault, feeling so strong that he was negligent with the discipline of training.


*World Cup qualifications, Mundialito & Friendlies : From October 11 1980 to May 28 1982

Forwards

Francesco Graziani (Fiorentina) : 14 selections as starter
Alessandro Altobelli (Internazionale) : 7 selections (5 as starter/2 as substitute)
Roberto Betttega (Juventus) : 6 selections as starter
Roberto Pruzzzo (As Roma) : 5 selections (3 as starter/2 as substitute)
Franco Selvaggi (Cagliari) : 3 selections as starter
Paolo Rossi (Juventus) : 1 selection as starter

Midfielders

Marco Tardelli (Juventus) : 14 selections as starter
Giancarlo Antognoni (Fiorentina) : 13 selections as starter
Bruno Conti (As Roma) : 13 selections (12 as starter/1 as substitute)
Giampiero Marini (Internazionale) : 11 selections (10 as starter/1 as substitute)
Giuseppe Dossena (Torino) : 9 selections (6 as starter/3 as substitute)
Gabriele Oriali (Internazionale) : 8 selections (4 selections as starter/4 as substitute)
Carlo Ancelotti (As Roma) : 4 selections (1 as starter/3 as substitute)
Salvatore Bagni (Internazionale) : 3 selections : 1 as starter/2 as substitute
Franco Causio (Udinese) : 2 selections as starter
Daniele Massaro (Fiorentina) : 1 selection as starter
Domenico Marocchino (Juventus) : 1 selection as starter
Patrizio Sala (Sampdoria) : 1 selection as substitute
Renato Zaccarelli (Torino) : 1 selection as substitute

Defenders

Gaetano Scirea (Juventus) : 16 selections as starter
Claudio Gentile (Juventus) : 16 selections as starter
Antonio Cabrini (Juventus) : 13 selections as starter
Fulvio Collovati (Ac Milan) : 13 selections as starter
Giuseppe Baresi (Internazionale) : 4 selections (2 as starter/2 as substitute)
Pietro Vierchowod (Fiorentina) : 2 selections as starter
Luciano Marangon (As Roma) : 1 selection as starter
Giuseppe Bergomi (Internazionale) : 1 selection as substitute

Goalkeepers

Dino Zoff (Juventus) : 14 selections as starter
Ivano Bordon (Internazionale) : 7 selections (2 as starter/5 as substitute)

*Scorers

Francesco Graziani Fiorentina 5
Roberto Bettega Juventus 2
Bruno Conti As Roma 2
Antonio Cabrini Juventus 2
Fulvio Collovati Ac Milan 2
Giancarlo Antognoni Fiorentina 1
Guiseppe Dossena Torino 1
Carlo Ancelotti As Roma 1
Gaetani Sciera Juventus 1


*List of 40 players pre-selected by Enzo Bearzot before the announcement of 22 squad for the tournament

Forwards

Paolo Rossi (Juventus)
Francesco Graziani (Fiorentina)
Alessandro Altobelli (Internazionale)
Franco Selvaggi (Cagliari)
Roberto Pruzzo (As Roma)
Edi Bivi (Udinese)

Midfielders

Giancarlo Antognoni (Fiorentina)
Bruno Conti (As Roma)
Marco Tardelli (Juventus)
Giampiero Marini (Internazionale)
Gabriele Oriali (Internazionale)
Giuseppe Dossena (Torino)
Franco Causio (Udinese)
Daniele Massaro (Fiorentina)
Evaristo Beccalossi (Internazionale)
Agostino Di Bartolomei (As Roma)
Domenico Marocchino (Juventus)
Renato Zaccarelli (Torino)
Eraldo Pecci (Fiorentina)
Franco Colomba (Bologna)
Walter Novellino (Ac Milan)
Massimo Mauro (Udinese)

Defenders

Claudio Gentile (Juventus)
Gaetano Scirea (Juventus)
Antonio Cabrini (Juventus)
Fulvio Collovati (Ac Milan)
Franco Baresi (Ac Milan)
Pietro Vierchowod (Fiorentina)
Giuseppe Bergomi (Internazionale
Giuseppe Baresi (Internazionale)
Mauro Tassotti (Ac Milan)
Renzo Contratto (Fiorentina)
Luciano Marangon (Verona)

Goalkeepers

Dino Zoff (Juventus)
Ivano Bordon (Internazionale)
Giovanni Galli (Fiorentina)
Franco Tancredi (As Roma)
Luciano Castellini (Napoli)

Updated with more informations