Pole Kupcewicz died: he made Zoff tremble in the 1982 World Cup

The former midfielder could have come to Serie A in the 83/84 season. Catania treated him

Mourning in the world of football. Former Poland international Janusz Kupcewicz died at the age of 66 and this morning it was former team-mate Zbigniew Boniek on Twitter to announce his disappearance. In Italy the less young remember the unfortunate former Polish midfielder for the match played by Poland against Italy in the semifinal of the 1982 World Cup in Barcelona. After Paolo Rossi’s advantage, Poland nearly equalized with a fireball from Kupcewicz’s free-kick that shook the goal post defended by Dino Zoff. Italy then doubled in the second half again with “Pablito”. But Kupcewicz could also come to Italy and play in Serie A in the 1983/84 season. The then president of Catania, Angelo Massimino was about to take it to the slopes of Etna and deliver it to the coach Gianni Di Marzio. The phrase said to the reporters by the picturesque rossazzurro “Presidentissimo” was famous: “We are dealing with that player whose post still Zoff looks at today.” During his long professional career Kupcewicz played in many clubs but his best page was written at the 1982 World Cup with Poland who finished third having beaten France 3-2 in the final with one of his goals.