by Nick Holt
Los Angeles 1932 – No football, please, we’re American . . .
Berlin 1936 – Italy. Germany were expected to do well under Hitler’s gaze, but they lost 2–0 to Norway in the quarter-final in what is believed to have been the only match Hitler actually attended in person. The final was played out between two other states in the grip of fascism as Italy beat the last knockings of the Austrian Wunderteam 2–1. Both goals were scored by Annibale Frossi, later a notable coach. GB’s participation ended with a 5–4 defeat by Poland; two of England’s goals were scored by Bernard Joy, who also won a full cap that year, the last amateur to do so.
London 1948 – Sweden. A fast and efficient Sweden team beat Yugoslavia 3–1 in the final. The key to the side was the talented trio of Gunnar Nordahl, Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm – all were bought by AC Milan the following year, and all were still around for the 1958 World Cup Final, albeit a tad heavier in the legs. GB’s amateur side did well to make the semi-finals.
Helsinki 1952 – Hungary. The Magyars were the best team in Europe and won easily under the pretence that their big names were amateurs playing for the army team – one suspects Puskás, Grosics, Bozsik and the like did relatively few kitchen chores or forty-mile slogs with full pack.
Melbourne 1956 – The Soviet Union beat Yugoslavia, runners-up for the third successive games, in the final at the end of a drab tournament. It was the only major international medal won by the great Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin.
1960–1980 (Rome, Tokyo, Mexico City, Munich, Montreal, Moscow). For these two decades the teams from behind the Iron Curtain dominated. After Yugoslavia finally won the thing in 1960 (beating Denmark), every finalist was part of the Soviet bloc. Hungary won in 1964 and again in 1968, Poland in 1972 (with much of the team that would eliminate England from the 1974 World Cup qualifying group and go on to reach the semi-finals), East Germany in 1976 and Czechoslovakia in 1980.
Los Angeles 1984 – France. The gold medal finally left Eastern Europe when France beat a youthful Brazilian side that included future World Cup captain Dunga.
Seoul 1988 – Soviet Union. An altogether more impressive Soviet win, with a young side that included Dmitri Kharin (later of Chelsea) in goal; they came from behind to beat a Brazil team that included Taffarel, Jorginho, Bebeto and Romário, all World Cup winners six years later.
Barcelona 1992 – Spain won on their own patch, beating Poland 3–2 with a last-minute winner from Kiko. A side that included Abelardo, Guardiola and Luis Enrique suggested Spain were a coming force – in the end it was the next generation of youngsters who delivered, not this class.
Atlanta 1996 – Nigeria. Nigeria became the first African winners in the most exciting of the modern tournaments. In the semi-final they beat Brazil in a minor classic after Kanu equalised in the dying seconds of ordinary time to make it 3–3 and scored a decisive Golden Goal four minutes later. In the final they left it until the last minute again, Emmanuel Amunike’s goal seeing off Argentina 3–2. The squad included Kanu, Amokachi, Okocha, Taribo West and Babayaro, all of whom would become familiar to Premier League audiences in years to come.
Sydney 2000 – Cameroon. Favourites Brazil, who included the prodigy Ronaldinho in their squad, again succumbed to a Golden Goal from an African side, this time nine-man Cameroon at the quarter-final stage. In the final Cameroon went 2–0 down to Spain but fought back to draw 2–2 and win on penalties as Spain imploded, finishing the game with nine men.
Athens 2004 – Argentina. An all-South American final was settled by a goal from Carlos Tévez, the tournament’s dominant player and not yet the tool of marketing men and trouble magnet of later years.
Beijing 2008 – Argentina. Argentina won again, beating Nigeria 1–0 in the final with a goal from Angel Di Maria, now of Real Madrid. Hardly surprising given their squad also included the divine Messi, with Riquelme and Mascherano as over-age players.
London 2012 – Mexico. After much agonising, GB put together a squad in the face of objections from the FAs other than England; in the event the squad was English and Welsh, with Ryan Giggs made captain, a well-deserved accolade towards the end of a career that had embraced much frustration at international level. They went out (on penalties, of course!) to South Korea. In the final a brace from Oribe Peralta surprised a Brazilian side including Hulk, Neymar, Oscar and Thiago Silva.
1.3 WORLD CUP 1934
The 1934 tournament, like most events in Europe in the 1930s, had an uncomfortable backdrop, with the competition held in Italy, a country run by a fascist dictator. Before we get too carried away with all the “shadows over Europe” stuff, let’s also remember that the average football fan didn’t give two hoots about the political climate, just as the modern football fan’s primary concerns on a Saturday afternoon aren’t potential conflagration in the Middle East or nuclear posturing by North Korea. Characters like Mussolini and Hitler thrived in the first place because of the indifference of the bulk of the population to the bigger picture.
Italy was a divided country (still is), the prosperous north in sharp contrast with the agricultural peasant south, and most of the games were played in the north, with just a couple in Naples. While it would be an exaggeration to suggest war was “in the air” by 1934, there was an ominous shift in mood in Europe discernible to the well-read or interested. Tough financial times demand scapegoats, and foreigners and immigrants and minorities were the obvious target – aren’t they always? Already, dissident voices in Europe’s fascist states and the Soviet Union were being quietly removed from whatever office or position they held. It would be years before western Europe cottoned on to the Nazis’ game; many in Britain positively approved of Hitler, including numerous members of the aristocracy and elements in the government.
Not that Mussolini was yet in Hitler’s pocket; he had come to power almost a decade earlier, and provided a model for the Munich putsch that brought the German Chancellor to power. The Italian leader regarded Hitler’s victory as a triumph for fascism, but there was little personal regard between the two – a meeting shortly after the end of the 1934 World Cup went very badly. For now, 1934, and this World Cup, Mussolini wore the long trousers, and this was a chance for him to show the world that Italian culture and manhood was once again pre-eminent.
1934
ITALY
Eight cities and eight stadia were used to stage the 1930 tournament in Italy.
Rome: Stadio Nazionale del PNF
The stadium that hosted the 1934 final was built seven years previously as a showpiece for the Italian fascist party. Roma and Lazio both used the ground before transferring to the more modern Stadio Olimpico in 1953, when the SNPNF was demolished and replaced with a multi-sports facility, the Stadio Flaminio, home of the Italian rugby union side from 2000–2011.
Milan: Stadio San Siro
Now officially called the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, after one of the stars of the 1934 tournament, the San Siro is home to both the great Milan clubs, AC Milan and Internazionale. It holds just over 80,000, having peaked at 100,000 in the mid-fifties.
Naples: Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli
This 40,000 capacity stadium was destroyed during the Second World War. It was the home of Napoli until the club moved to the Arturo Collana and later, in 1959, to the club’s current home, the Stadio San Paolo.
Florence: Stadio Giovanni Berta (aka Comunale)
The Comunale is still the home of Fiorentina, the city’s principal club, although it now carries the official name of the Stadio Artemio Franchi. It once held nearly 60,000, but the current all-seater capacity is 47,290.
Genoa: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Home at the time to Genoa, the Luigi Ferraris now also plays home to Sampdoria, which has superseded Genoa as the city’s most successful club. It held around 30,000 for the 1934 World Cup and now holds 37,000 – the record attendance coming from the post-war years when a reported 60,000 squeezed inside (which is slightly scary as this is not a big ground).
Bolo
gna: Stadio Littoriale
This was a host stadium in two World Cups, and also saw San Marino score against England inside a minute in 1993. The stadium, home to Bologna, holds just over 38,000 and was opened in 1927; it now goes by the name of the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Turin: Stadio Benito Mussolini
It was inevitable that one of the stadia at this tournament would carry Mussolini’s name. This particular ground would play host to Torino and Juventus up to 1989–90 when the teams moved to a new stadium (Stadio delle Alpi) built for the 1990 World Cup. In 2006 Torino subsequently moved back into the old stadium, now called the Stadio Olimpico Torino (it was redesigned for the 2006 winter Olympics held in the city). The ground now holds slightly less than 30,000.
Trieste: Stadio Littorio
A new stadium, opened in 1932, the Littorio hosted only one match in the 1934 tournament. It was much the smallest of the grounds used, with a capacity of only 8,000. Trieste had been a top-flight side pre-war, but the club has declined since relegation in the fifties, and the city is now better known as a centre for rugby union.
Fascism aside, Italy was a sensible choice of host. They had a good team and a number of decent, modern stadia, including the 1927 Stadio Nazionale PNF (National Fascist Party), a 50,000 capacity purpose-built national stadium. Other than Rome and Naples, six Italian cities hosted matches during the tournament: Milan, Trieste, Genoa, Florence, Bologna and Turin. Apart from the Stadio Giorgio Ascarelli in Naples, which was flattened during the Second World War, all the stadia (or the sites on which they stood) are still in use, with obvious refurbishments. The PNF was demolished in 1953 when work started on the new Olympic stadium, and was replaced with the Stadio Flaminio, which became Italy’s premier rugby union venue when they joined the Six Nations in 2000.
For the first time there was a qualifying tournament, but it was more a winnowing exercise than a serious test for the major players; even Italy, the hosts, were asked to play an eliminator, but Greece were still footballing novices and easily dispatched. There was another change to the format used in 1930, as groups were dispensed with, and the competition was conducted as a straight knockout, with eight seeded teams kept apart in the first round. In every round the matches kicked off simultaneously in different cities – not sure the world’s TV channels would approve of that in the modern era . . .
The tournament would feature a larger proportion of the top sides than in 1930, although, sadly, Uruguay could not be persuaded to make the trip to defend their title, perhaps because they knew their team was on the wane, but more likely in pique at the absence of the best European sides in 1930. The British sides all stayed away – the associations were run by prickly and pompous officials who didn’t like anyone else running the party. The eight seeded teams included the favourites, Italy and Austria. Austria had been one of the best teams around for the last few years and had beaten Italy only months before. Under their revered coach Hugo Meisl, they had adopted the “Scottish method” of slick, quick interchanging passes rather than long balls out to the wingers. It was a method favoured by most Central European sides, and Austria’s “Wunderteam” had perfected it. Their fear was that the team was slightly past its best. The other seeds were Czechoslovakia and Hungary, who also favoured the passing game, Argentina, Germany (for no obvious reason), Brazil and Holland (also for no obvious reason).
There was a bizarre preamble to the tournament three days before the opening match when FIFA arranged a play-off for the last place in the Finals to be staged at the Nazionale del PNF – a surprising choice of venue as the participants were Mexico and the United States. Mexico were peeved, and had every right to be, as the USA entry was late and Mexico believed they had already qualified by beating Cuba. The USA won 4–2, all four goals scored by Aldo Donelli under the gaze of Mussolini. Il Duce would have been pleased – an American proving the prowess of Italian bloodstock.
FIRST ROUND (both games 27 May)
SECOND ROUND (31 May)
In modern times it’s a surprise if the business end of the tournament doesn’t feature the Germans, but in 1934 little was expected of them. The Italian press described them as no-hopers and they came into the tournament with very little form – including two recent defeats by 5–0 and 6–0 to neighbouring Austria – and a ton of political pressure.
Germany’s best club side Schalke 04 were excellent, a club version of the Austrian Wunderteam, even aping the Austrians’ intricate passing in a style the German press labelled the spinning top. Unfortunately for the national team, head coach Otto Nerz was an admirer of the fast-paced and aggressive English style, and was suspicious of the Schalke artistry. He deployed his (and their) best player, the Polish-born Fritz Szepan, in a defensive centre-half position, rather than as a ball-playing inside-forward, and he ignored another talented forward Ernst Kuzorra al together. Despite these tactical shortcomings the Germans had enough attacking clout to recover from a first-half runaround against Belgium and win 5–2. They then outmuscled Sweden 2–1 in a dull affair, Hohmann scoring twice while Sweden’s physio attended to two of his players after a clash of heads. Hohmann himself was injured in the game and missed the semi-final against Czechoslovakia.
Sweden reached the second round as an unseeded team, knocking out the finalists from four years earlier, Argentina. The South Americans were in the midst of a domestic row over professionalism and sent over an amateur team. They scored two spectacular goals, one an outstanding individual effort by Galateo, but were woeful at the back and conceded three to an average Swedish outfit. The match heralded a period of international isolation for Argentina, at least so far as playing outside South America went – it was the 1958 tournament before they entered a team again.
FIRST ROUND (both games 27 May)
SECOND ROUND (31 May)
Germany’s semi-final opponents were Czechoslovakia. They were fortunate to win their first game against Romania, who led 1–0 at half-time but succumbed to goals from left-winger Antonin Puc and a disputed winner from playmaker Nejedly, scored while Romania had an injured player writhing in agony. With Svoboda replacing Silny for the next game, Czechoslovakia fielded an XI made up entirely of players from the two dominant Prague clubs, Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague. They were only just good enough against an improving Swiss team. The Swiss had beaten Holland 3–2 in their first match, an attacking encounter with chances galore. Against the Czechs, it was their opponents who got the odd goal in five. Switzerland took the lead and then found enough spirit for an eightieth-minute equaliser after Czechoslovakia came back. Three minutes later Nejedly found the net again and it was over.
FIRST ROUND (both games 27 May)
SECOND ROUND (31 May)
The first World Cup match to need extra-time featured one of the favourites, Austria. France, with Alex Thépot still in goal (and now captain), caused Das Wunderteam much anxiety, taking the lead after eighteen minutes and holding out with ten able men for all the second half after goalscorer Jean Nicolas took a bash to the head. Austria equalised just before time through Matthias Sindelar (more of him anon) and took control in extra-time – but France had gone out with credit again. Which is more than can be said for Hungary, who exchanged more blows than passes in their second-round match against Austria. The two countries, once part of a great empire, were clearly not so friendly now. Hungary had let a two-goal lead slip against Egypt, the first African side to compete in the finals, before winning 4–2, and they showed the same frailty here, conceding after five minutes and having a man sent off just after reducing Austria’s lead. Austria were through to a semi-final against Italy but looked less than imperious.
FIRST ROUND (both games 27 May)
SECOND ROUND (both games 31 May)
Italy themselves had arrived by a fortuitous route. In the first round the USA got their come-uppance for their cheeky gatecrashing trick; Donelli scored again but the Italians scored seven in reply. I say Italians – they fielded five players who were born in South
America, four previously capped by Argentina and one by Brazil. Raimundo Orsi, an Argentinian winger, got two of Italy’s goals against the USA, while the experienced Bologna striker Angelo Schiavio scored a hat-trick. The five imports included the monstrous Luis Monti, already a World Cup winner and back once more to terrorise opponents, this time with the might of a fascist state behind him. This flagrant use of oriundi (immigrants, loosely) was a deliberate policy of the Italian manager Vittorio Pozzo. One can hardly blame Pozzo for using any means at his disposal to win (and he did just that) – the political pressure on him to succeed was immense. Brian Glanville argues strongly that Pozzo was not a fascist – and there is evidence, cited in John Foot’s Calcio, that he aided the anti-fascist resistance during the war. A number of former supporters of Mussolini turned against the fascists when they allied with Hitler, and Pozzo served Mussolini’s regime willingly enough and instructed his team to make the traditional fascist salute during the national anthem. Support need not always be enthusiastic and vocal; it can be enough to accept the yoke.
