"A draw would have been enough for us to qualify for the semi-finals, but Rossi was in a state of grace. He scored an astonishing hat-trick. We tried everything but there was nothing we could do about it."
Falcao, Brazilian standout at the 1982 FIFA World CupTM

"All the best Brazilians were in Spain, I have a clear conscience on that. We just made the mistake of trying to mark Rossi man-to-man."
Tele Santana, Brazil coach at Spain 1982

"He had been very good alongside Roberto Bettega at the 1978 World Cup, but Bettega wasn't there anymore. Rossi was the only one left, and I can honestly say that if I'd had another alternative I wouldn't have called him up. It was a huge risk gambling on him being able to get into the rhythm of such a demanding tournament and on his desire to make up for past mistakes. But I needed a goalscorer, someone to poach for goals in the box in a way that suited the style of play I wanted. I knew that if I didn't take him, I wouldn't have a player capable of causing trouble in the area, a crucial role in any team.

"The fact it took Rossi some time to explode into life during the tournament was partly due to our physical preparations, which prioritised fitness at the expense of speed. At the start, he was sluggish, but he kept getting better. In the area, he was extraordinary: very lively, always ready to pounce on the slightest mistake and never ceasing to put defenders under pressure. Ultimately, that translated into glory for himself and the team."
Enzo Bearzot, Rossi's coach at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.