Kolkata: The 1982 World Cup in Spain marked a significant moment in Indian football history, with Paolo Rossi's goals being a crucial part of the Italy team that won the championship after 42 years. However, it was not Rossi's goals that made the World Cup memorable for Indians, but rather the first live telecast of a World Cup match in India, which featured his brace against Poland in the semi-final.
The 1982 Nehru Cup, an invitation tournament, served as a precursor to the World Cup, featuring a precocious teen in Enzo Francescoli. International football was mostly consumed through newspapers, short-wave news bulletins, and news reels in cinemas at that time.
Doordarshan played full match recordings, giving India a glimpse of Diego Maradona, Laszlo Kiss, and other legendary players. Even on black-and-white television sets, Brazil looked vibrant, and Zico's goal against Italy was a highlight of the tournament.
India couldn't wait for the next World Cup, which was a month-long extravaganza with all matches being shown on DD. The country saw the pace-setters of 1986, Denmark, and Argentina, the real deal. India had seen Carlos Bilardo and some of his team in the Nehru Cup, and Jorge Burruchaga, Ricardo Guisti, and Nery Pumpido had come for the 1984 edition.
Maradona almost did an encore against Belgium, but West Germany clawed back from the dead, and Lothar Matthaus shackled him. Maradona had a quiet final, but he found Burruchaga with a pass as good as the one he played for Claudio Caniggia four years later.
India saw Franz Beckenbauer when he had become "Der Professor" in 1990, and it was also about Paul Gascoigne's tears, Gary Lineker finding his inner Rossi, and Cameroon's upset win against Argentina. The internet had democratized access by then, and players communicated to fans through Instagram.
Memorable though they were, that changed how the world consumed the World Cup. From Maradona to Messi, India's journey through the World Cup has been a fascinating one, with each tournament bringing new memories and experiences.
