But he comes with a the reputation of being Italy's most capped international (112) and captain of the 1982 World Cup-winning team.

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Fergani, who captained Algeria at the 1982 World Cup finals, was part of a team adjudged to be the best in the country's football history.

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New Zealand's only other appearance in a World Cup finals was in 1982 when they lost to Scotland (5-2), Soviet Union (3-0) and Brazil (4-0).

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Even as a player, O'Neill, a former law student, was obsessed with the criminal mind, said Chris Nicholl, his former roommate with Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup, in a recent newspaper interview.

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The most capped English player of all time is Peter Shilton who finally retired his gloves at 47 while Dino Zoff captained Italy to a 1982 World Cup win four months after he turned 40.

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"For me the best national team of all time is the Brazilian team from 1958, " Zico, who was part of the much-heralded Brazil team which reached the second group stage of the 1982 World Cup, exclusively told CNN.

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The bulk of the Spanish team wasn't even alive the last time that happened more than 30 years ago, at the 1982 World Cup, when it lost to West Germany (2-1) and then limped out of the tournament following a 0-0 draw with England, becoming the first host nation ever to bow out of soccer's biggest showcase in the first round.

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"I want more speed from them, and the passing of the ball will have to be greatly improved, " says Lissek, who coached Germany from 1982 to its bronze-medal place in this year's World Cup.

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The 1982 Brazilian team that he captained was perhaps the greatest never to win the World Cup (along with Hungary in 1954 and Holland in 1974).

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