Francisco Franco was in power when Spain won the bid to host the World Cup finals. He was a Spanish Military General who led National forces against Communism during the civil war. The dictator died before the 1982 World Cup finals began. Juan Carlos the king of Spain introduced a democratic political system.

Edward Heath stood aside after losing the Conservative Party leadership ballot to Margaret Thatcher (The Iron Lady). Prime Minister James Callaghan lost the general election by a majority of 44 seats.

Argentina's military Junta invaded the Falklands Islands a few months before the World Cup finals began. The Iron Lady sent a naval force to retake the Islands. 

The Belgrano, an Argentine battleship, was sunk by a missile from a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine. Retaliation came at the battle of San Carlos. HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope, and HMS Coventry were sunk by Argentina's firepower in a four-day battle.

 John Halliday was part of the Fifth Infantry Brigade in the Scots Guards who boarded the HMS Canberra at Bluff Cave. His battalion came under fire from Argentina ground troops and Skyhawks. He jumped onto a helicopter close to Mount Tumble, where his company attacked with machine guns. Attention turned to a British victory at Goose Green. The race for the capital Stanley was on. Argentine troops surrendered two weeks later. 

Ronald Reagan welcomed the announcement of a cease-fire between the United Kingdom and Argentina in the Falkland Islands.

England 3 France 1

Ron Greenwood pulled the players together with some good old pie and mash and 'Love on the dole' had become a best selling novel. Bryan Robson scored twice, Paul Mariner's close-range shot helped England to secure a 3-1 victory over Michel Hidalgo's French team.

Kuwait is on the edge of Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf. It has borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The Grand Mosque and dunes are popular tourist attractions in Kuwait City.

England 1 Kuwait 0

Trevor Francis went on a long run and pulled back his right foot from just inside the penalty area to make it one-nil. Kuwait's defence couldn't be breached again and they fought to the bitter end. 

Supporters enjoyed Murabba Samak: Spiced fried fish, caramelized onions, and mutanjan rice after the game.

England 2 Czechoslovakia 0

After the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia, Gustav Husak became President and the first secretary of the Communist Party. He held talks with Leonid Brezhnev because Soviet troops had kidnapped former President Dubcek.

 Czechoslovakia wore red shirts, and England chose white. Trevor Francis opened the scoring for England from a corner, and an own goal by Jozef Barmos made it 2-0.

The Estadio Mestallo is the home of Valencia Football Club. The name originates from a canal that you jumped to be able to enter the stadium. The River Turia flooded the stadium. However, it was back in operation before the Fallas Festivities of Saint Joseph in Valencia. Renamed the Estadio Luis Casanova. 

Spain 1 Honduras 1

Spain took on Honduras in front of A 40 thousand crowd. The Referee was Arturo Ithurralde from Argentina. Spain wore red shirts, and Honduras chose white. Zelaya opened the scoring at the near post. Lopez Ufarte's penalty saved the day.

Spain 2 Yugoslavia 1

Spain is famous for Sherry made from white Palomino dry grapes. Pedro and Ximinez's grapes are used to make sweet Sherry. The Holy Grail is in the Santo Caliz chapel. Most people wander around the old town of Valencia or the lonja de le seda.

Spain wore redshirts, and Yugoslavia wore white. Gudeljo opened the scoring for Spain. Juanito equalized from the penalty spot. Saura scored the winner.

Spain 0 Northern Ireland 1.

Volcanic activity created the Pillars of the Giant Causeway by the North Antrim Coast. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge links the tiny island of Carrickarede to the mainland. 

Billy Hamilton crossed the ball into the penalty area. Luis Arcanada (the Spanish goalkeeper) reached out with one hand. Gerry Armstrong scored Nothern Ireland's most important goal in World Cup history. 

West Germany 1 Algeria 2

Algiers was one of the wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Its decline led to the invasion by France, which lasted until the declaration of independence in 1962. Algeria has vast resources of gas and oil. The military is one of the biggest in Africa. Birds of prey include lappet-faced vultures, short-toe snake eagles, hawks, kites, and Harriers.

West Germany met Algeria at the Moliran stadium in Gijon by the dangerous Bay of Biscay, where enormous Fin, Sperm, and Pilot Whales swim. 

Football pundits wrote off the fixture as a mismatch. West Germany in white shirts, Algerians wore green. Madja surprised the German defense with his fitness and ability to beat the goalkeeper after being played in by a clever through ball. West Germany hit back with a goal by Rumminege. Algeria broke down the left wing, and Bellanci put away the cross.

West Germany’s  4 Chile 1 

West Germany took a three-goal lead when Rumminege scored his hat trick. Reidler added a fourth. Moscoso's cheeky nutmeg pulled a goal back for Chile.

West Germany’s 1 Austria 0

If West Germany beat Austria 1-0. Algeria would be out of the World Cup Austria and West Germany would proceed to the next round. West Germany took the lead after ten minutes with a goal by Horst Hrubesch. Germany didn’t come out of their half of the pitch for the rest of the game. The crowd began booing. The fixture is known as the disgrace of Gijón.

Second Round Italy v Brazil

Sandro Pertini president of Italy and leader of the Italian Socialist Party joined the Italian resistance movement that opposed Mussolini's rule and the Nazi occupation. Pope John Paul ll was the head of the catholic church and the first Polish pope. He was shot four times while passing St Peter's Square in an open top car.

Italy 3 Brazil 2

A crime was committed against football on the day Italy met Brazil in the Estadio de Serria Barcelona. Brazil only needed a draw to qualify for the next stage but Rossi's fine diving header put Italy a goal up. A one-two between Socrates and Zico made it 1-1. 

Poacher Rossi scored a second goal but Falco hit a ferocious shot to make it 2-2. 

Rossi flicked the ball past the goalkeeper for his hat-trick and Italy won the match 3-2. Football fans enjoyed Spaghetti Bolognese: Beef mince, pasta, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil after the match. The fixture is considered to be one of the most beautiful games.

 England 0 WestGermany 0

England met West Germany in the Santiago Bernabeu Madrid. The game was delicately poised at 0-0 when a sniper shot from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge  rattled the bar and England were happy to come away with a 0-0 draw. 

Germany 2 Spain 1

Germany took the lead in the first half when Littbarski taped in at the near post. Fischer added a second goal.  Spain pulled back a goal with s beautiful header from Zamera.

England 0 Spain 0

England had to beat Spain by two goals or more to qualify for the semi-finals. Trevor Brooken broke down the Spanish defense twice late in the game. Kevin Keegan headed over the bar both times. The paparazzi blamed Keegan's permed hair for getting in his eyes.

Semi-Final Italy 2 Poland 0.

Italy met Poland in the semi-finals and Rossi scored both goals. 

France 1 West Germany 1

 In the other semi-final, West Germany met France on the night of Seville. Licbarisky opened the scoring for West Germany but Planti equalised from the penalty spot and the game ended 1-1. 

Extra Time

Trésor scored a stunning volley on the half turn in extra time to make the score France 2 West Germany 1 and Alain Gresse's screaming shot made it 3-1 to France. 

Rummenigge scored with a backward horizontal volley to make the score 3-2. After the break, Fisher equalized with a breathtaking bicycle kick that made it 3-3.

 The game had to be decided on Penalties and West Germany won the match 5-4. The match is considered to be one of the most beautiful games.

World Cup Final Italy 3 West Germany 1

West Germany met Italy at the Santiago Bernabeu Madrid in front of 90,000 supporters and the Referee was Amaldo Cezar Coelho from Brazil. The ball bounced across the penalty area and Pablo Rossi's diving header put Italy 1-0 ahead. Tordelli's shot from the edge of the area made it 2-0. The German flags went down Bruno Conti made it 3-0. Brehme pulled one back from the penalty spot to make the final score: West Germany 1 Italy 3. 

Sandro Pertigi the Italian president stood up and applauded in the crowd Pablo Rossi was hailed the Emperor of Rome.

Chapter 6