For sheer unbridled ecstasy, Marco Tardelli's goal to put Italy 2-0 up against West Germany in the 1982 World Cup Final takes some beating. The eyes popping out of the head and and the mouth gaping open betray a release of energy of spiritual proportions. Tardelli, now assistant manager or the Republic Of Ireland, later spoke of being "in a trance-like state" after the goal which all but confirmed his side's status as world champions. Indeed, here exists a man on the edge of violence. Tardelli is taking off his watch, rolling up his sleeves and telling his wife to go home in this clip. He fancies a bit, and you wouldn't want to get in his way.
Another player to go into a trance was France's Lilian Thuram after his second strike in five minutes against Croatia took his side to the 1998 World Cup Final on home soil. Thuram simply falls to the ground and half strikes a pose before quickly developing a thousand yard stare of the sort associated with heroes of Vietnam war films which stays with him for the rest of the match. Watch Laurent Blanc's fruitless attempt to make contact with him during his trip here. Thuram is gone. Elsewhere. And justifiably, the Timothy Leary of the world cup has scant intention of coming back.
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