Luigi Riva was the man who symbolised Italy’s revival after World Cup
disaster in 1966. During that ill-fated tournament, where the Azzurri
humiliatingly lost to North Korea at Ayresome Park, Riva was never used.
Rotten tomatoes were thrown at the disgraced squad as they arrived at Genoa’
s Christopher Columbus Airport following the embarrassing exit.

Changes were inevitable and Cagliari’s left-footed striker found himself
carrying the hopes of his country. ‘Gigi’ responded, spearheading an
Italian attack that lifted the 1968 European Championship trophy and reached
the World Cup final in Mexico two years later. Known as ‘Rombo di Tuono’ -
Sound of Thunder - because of his powerful, all-action style, Riva is Italy’
s all-time record marksman with 35 goals in 42 matches. It could - and should
- have been more but Riva twice broke his leg in the early 1970s which
hampered his career.

But Riva is really remembered for scoring the 21 goals during the 1969-70
season that virtually won Cagliari their first and - so far - only Scudetto.
Born in Leggiuno, near Varese, Riva - along with Silvio Piola – is
considered to be the finest forward Italy has ever produced. Strong, fast and
brave, he boasted a left-foot that produced an Exocet shot. It was so
powerful that it broke the arm of a child spectator when one of his efforts
flew into the crowd.

He began his career as a left-winger and was plucked from Serie C side
Legnano by the legendary Coach Fulvio Bernardini, then at Cagliari. He
converted Riva to centre forward but it was his successor, the late Manlio
Scopigno, who reaped the rewards. Riva was Serie A capocannoniere on three
occasions - in 1967, 69 and 70 - as the unfashionable islanders were turned
from also-rans to one of Italy’s top sides.

During his 12 years at the Stadio Sant’Elia he scored a record 164 goals -
156 of them in Serie A. He was the ideal catenaccio striker, clinically
finishing off so many of his team’s counter-attacking moves. He scored all
types of goals but was renowned for his overhead kicks.

He made his first appearance for his country in 1965 but he shot to
international fame three years later during the European Championships in
Italy which the Azzurri won. Riva scored the first goal in Italy’s 2-0 win
over Yugoslavia in the final and he arrived in Mexico for the 1970 World Cup
as Italy’s great, white hope.

It was a mixed tournament for ‘Rombo di Tuono,’ one of many European
players to struggle with the high altitude. In the first round he fired
blanks as Italy scored only one goal in three games. But he broke his duck
against the hosts in the quarter-finals. His two goals in the 4-1 win
demonstrated his immense physical power, holding off Mexico’s defenders
before pulling the trigger.

Arguably his most memorable goal for Italy came in the very next game, that
epic semi-final with West Germany which ended 4-3 in Italy’s favour after
extra-time. Riva scored the Azzurri’s third, controlling Angelo Domenghini’
s cross at the first attempt, turning his marker Berti Vogts before firing -
with his left foot, naturally - a low shot past Sepp Maier.

It was the best goal of the match and one of the goals of the tournament. The
final was disappointing for Riva and Italy, beaten 4-1 by the brilliant
Brazilians.

For an hour Italy were a threat and Riva had his moments, testing Felix with
a stinging 30-yard shot and then seeing a header scrape the crossbar. But
like his teammates he faded in the last half-hour as the semi-final, played
only two days previously, took its toll. Back in Serie A, Cagliari made a
poor job of defending their title, not helped by Riva missing most of the
season with a broken leg. He bounced back in 1971-72 with 21 goals, one less
than capocannoniere Roberto Boninsegna.

Not for the first time Riva was being linked with a move to one of the big
clubs - Juventus reputedly offered Cagliari a whopping ￡3m for his services
- but he stayed at the Sant’Elia. But as the 1970s wore on, Cagliari’s
championship-winning side began to lose their looks. They finished 10th in
1974 and 10th again in 1975. Then came the unthinkable in 1975-76. The
Rossoblu were relegated after finishing bottom of Serie A. Riva was their
potential saviour but the team’s hopes realistically ended at the Sant’Elia
in February 1976, during the 3-1 defeat by Milan when Riva was carried off
with a broken leg, which left him out for the remainder of the season. That
was his last game. ‘Rombo di Tuono’ deserved much better.

STAR RATING 9/10 The Azzurri’s all-time top scorer and the key to Italy’s
European Championship victory in 1968. Almost single handedly won Cagliari
their first and only Scudetto with his pace, power and presence in front of
goal.

Gigi Riva
Born: Leggiuno, 7/11/44
Position: Striker
Serie A debut: Roma 2-1 Cagliari, 13/9/64
Last Serie A game: Cagliari 1-3 Milan, 1/2/76
Club: Cagliari
International debut: Hungary 2-1 Italy, 27/6/65
Last international game: Italy 1-1 Argentina, 19/6/74
International apps: 42
International gls: 35
Honours:
Lo Scudetto 1970
European Championship 1968



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