As Italians mourn Pablito...

I'm an admirer of Tiqui-taca, the style of short, quick passes as played by the Spanish team under managers Luis Aragones and Vicente del Bosque. The Spanish team let us down in 2018.

Let us forget Spain and cross over to Italy.

The country mourns the death of its 1982 world cup hero Paolo Rossi. Pablito passed away due to an "incurable disease" at the age of 64, weeks after the death of Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

Rossi became a household name in Italy  after scoring six goals at the 1982 World Cup in Spain - leading the Azzurri to a third title.

Matteo Bonetti writing in the bleacher report.com in 2014 describes Rossi as not the epitome of a modern-day No. 9, nor was he even considered as a champion before he made history. He was small, frail and lacked the technique that some other Italian heroes had.

Bonetti mentions that in 1980, Rossi found himself engulfed in the scandal known as Totonero while he played for Perugia. The striker was suspended for three years from football but had his sentence shortened to two seasons instead. Rossi maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal.

"Shortly after, Rossi signed for Juventus and would be called up to the 1982 World Cup, much to the complaint of the media who said he was out of shape and simply not fit enough to be part of an Azzurri squad that wasn't expected to seriously challenge for the trophy," writes Bonetti.

During Italy's first three matches in the competition, Paolo Rossi was diabolical, wandering aimlessly around the pitch and not being an influence in any shape.

After Italy knocked out Argentina with a 2-1 victory, Rossi would go on to score one of the most memorable hat-tricks in history against a superior Brazilian side, as Italy triumphed 3-2 in that match that would go down as one of the most exciting in history.

Thereafter, Italy defeated Poland 2-0 to enter the finals. It defeated West Germany 3-1 to lift the world cup.

Pablito thus rose to glory putting behind the scandal that could have ruined his career.

ENDS