Zico criticises 1982 Italy team

Brazil legend Zico has claimed that Italy's victory in the 1982 World Cup final had an adverse effect of the way football was played.

A hat-trick from Paolo Rossi secured a 3-2 win over Brazil in Spain, capturing the Azzurri's third title in the process.

Zico, who was man-marked by Claudio Gentile, believes that Italy's tactics perpetuated a 'win-at-all-costs' attitude, rather than encouraging free-flowing football.

"Brazil had a fantastic team, recognised around the world, and everywhere we go people remind us about that team in 1982," Football Italia quotes the 59-year-old as saying.

"If we had won that game [against Italy], football would have been different. Instead, we started to create football based on getting the result at whatever cost, football based on breaking up the opposition's move, and based on fouling the opposition.

"That defeat for Brazil was not beneficial for world football."

Zico went on to coach Brazil between 1976 and 1988.