Francesco Graziani

Francesco Graziani gave every attack something concrete to lean on. Strong in the air, generous in the press and constantly available for physical battles, he was not the most elegant Italian striker of his generation, but he was one of the most tactically useful. At Torino, beside Paolo Pulici, he became part of a brutal and beautifully balanced forward pair, mixing aerial power, running, sacrifice and penalty area presence. His value was not limited to goals: he stretched defences, attacked crosses, fought for second balls and created space for teammates through sheer competitive noise. With Italy, he carried that same usefulness into the 1982 World Cup triumph, even when the spotlight naturally moved elsewhere. A centre forward of intensity, courage and function, less refined than others but extremely important to the shape of a serious team.