Spain 1982
Final: Italy 3-1 West Germany
An expanded World Cup of 24 teams included an increase in the number of finalists from Asia, Africa and the CONCACAF region of North and Central America, but it was the Europeans who dominated the competition.
The new format left much to be desired.
After the teams were split into six groups of four, the top two in each advanced to a second round of 12 with four groups of three.
Hosts Spain were eliminated in the second phase after losing 2-1 to West Germany and drawing 0-0 with England, who also went out despite being undefeated in their five matches.
Champions Argentina also went out in the second phase, losing to Italy (2-1) and Brazil (3-1), when Diego Maradona was sent off.
Italy battled through to the last four after starting the tournament poorly with three draws in their opening group matches against Poland (0-0), Peru (1-1) and Cameroon (1-1). But, they came to life in the second phase, following up a 2-1 win over Argentina with a 3-2 victory over Brazil in one of the best World Cup matches of all time.
Paolo Rossi, who only returned to the side a few weeks earlier at the end of a suspension for his alleged role in a match-fixing scandal, which he has always strenuously denied, scored a hat-trick against Brazil and then two more against Poland in the semi-finals, as Italy reached their first final since 1970.
The Germans arrived after their epic victory over France in the semis in Seville when they battled back from trailing Michel Platini's side 3-1 in extra-time to force a 3-3 draw, eventually going through on penalties.
But, they went into the final with their best player Karl-Heinz Rummenigge not fully fit. He went off soon after Italy took a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute of a game which they eventually won 3-1 to become world champions for the third time.
Rossi maintained his scoring form with the opening goal early in the second half, while Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli added the others. Paul Breitner scored a late consolation for the Germans.
