What happened at the 1934 World Cup?
In the weeks leading up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, we'll set the scene for the next incarnation of the greatest sporting event in the world by reliving each of its predecessors. We continue the build up today, with the first ever World Cup to be held in Europe.
Who, what, why, when and where?
Who: 16 squads from Africa (1), Europe (12), North America (1) and South America (2).
What: The second World Cup, and the first to be held in Europe.
Why: Because football and fascism.
When: May 27, 1934 to June 10, 1934.
Where: Italy.
The Final: Italy 2 - Czechoslovakia 1 (Extra Time)
Italy’s stamina and power vs. Czechoslovakia’s skill and precision. Metodo vs. the Danubian school. It was a perfect stylistic match up, but through the first 70 minutes, neither side could get out ahead. Then, the Czechs finally broke the deadlock scoring after Italy failed to properly clear a corner kick. They almost scored twice more in the next ten minutes, with one shot ricocheting off the post.
Despite run of play, the Azzurri — full of composure and resolve — managed to equalize in the 82nd, when left-winger Raimondo Orsi ran through the entirety of the Czech defense before faking with his left foot and firing with his right from the edge of the box. The curve of the shot was miraculous enough to force Italian supporters to make good on their whispered promises to God.
Then, extra time. After a cross to the left side of the smaller than regulation pitch at the Stadio Nazionale, Angelo Schiavo would take a short pass on the edge of the box to score the winner.
A less than capacity crowd (unlike the rest of Italy, Rome was never quite enamored with the tournament) erupted, and Italy would go on to win its first World Cup.
How Did It Happen?
Large sporting events often benefit from the eagerness with which terrible rulers want to show off their terrible ruling. Like Adolf Hitler with the Berlin Olympics two years earlier, Benito Mussolini was keen to use the tournament as a means of promoting his brand of fascism, and was therefore willing to spare no expense.
Why It Almost Never Happened
The 1934 World Cup was never in the same amount of doubt as its predecessor, but because most of Europe stayed home instead of traveling to Uruguay in 1930, the reigning champions returned the favor. The 1934 tournament is the only one in which the previous winner didn’t attempt to defend their title. Once again, England — still not part of FIFA — did not compete.
Golden Boot
Oldřich Nejedlý - Czechoslovakia (5 goals).
Major Innovations
Qualifying rounds (even the host had to qualify);
Matches in multiple cities;
Replays for draws;
A third place match;
Metodo, the Italian 2–3–2–3 formation; and
The Danubian school, a 2–3–5 formation employed by the Austrians and Czechs who relied on short-passing and a withdrawn center forward.
Substitutes?
Nope. Not yet. An injury still meant your side was down a man.
Group Stage?
Negativo. A straight knockout tournament meant that Argentina and Brazil traveled all the way across the Atlantic to play one game, bringing new meaning to the phrase one and done.
The Curve Of God
The curve of Orsi’s game-tying goal in the 82nd minute of the final was so unbelievable that photographers asked the winger the next day to duplicate the shot without a keeper. After twenty failed attempts, he gave up trying to recreate it.
Deja Vu All Over Again
The kickoff for Italy and Spain’s quarterfinal replay occurred less than 24 hours after their first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw. The Italians only changed three players from the previous day’s eleven, while Spain used seven new players.
Craziest Match: Italy 1 - Spain 0 (QF Replay)
A header eight minutes in would decide who advanced to the semi-finals, but the first ever replay would become more well known for its violence than anything else. Italy’s roughhousing resulted in three Spanish players having to leave the pitch with injuries. This occurred after the first match saw Mario Pizziolo suffer a broken leg and rendered Spain’s keeper unable to play the next day.
Best Rivalry Match: Austria 2 - Hungary 1
The historic rivals went at each other in the second round of the tournament, with Austria jumping out to a 2-0 lead shortly after the half. The rest of the match was brutal. A sending off, and a converted penalty reduced the lead to 2-1, but Austria held off the Hungarian advances to win.
Afterwards, the melancholy Austrian manager Hugo Meisl referred to the match as "a brawl, not an exhibition of football."
Best Villain
The harsh profile of Benito Mussolini would be seen by spectators throughout the tournament, cheering on his Azzurri. Rumors spread that Il Duce was doing a little more than merely supporting his national team.
Swedish referee Ivan Eklind was said to have met with Mussolini prior to taking charge of Italy's semifinal and final games, leading many to question the neutrality of his officiating.
The Oriundi
Despite Argentina’s early exit from the tournament, three Argentines played in the World Cup final ... for Italy, including the infamous Luis Monti (the only player to appear for two separate countries in two different World Cups).
Manager Vittorio Pozzo justified the inclusion of South American stars of Italian origin in his squad by referring to Italy’s military service policies, “If they can die for Italy, they can play for Italy.”
A year later, Enrico Guaita, who assisted on Italy’s winning goal in the final, was caught trying to escape across the Swiss border to avoid fighting in Abyssinia. Perhaps he deemed his duty fulfilled.
The Forgotten Story
It’s been suggested that Italian left back Luigi Allemandi — who had been banned for life for taking bribes — was not so coincidentally reinstated by FIFA just in time for the finals. However, he was actually pardoned six years before the tournament began.
Craziest Goal
Bespectacled center forward Leopold Kielholz scored one of his two goals Switzerland’s 3-2 defeat of the Netherlands on a shot that hit a bump in the less than manicured pitch and diverted past a frustrated Dutch keeper.
Best Fans
The Dutch. Despite not exactly having the most prodigious of voetbal programs, more than 7,000 from the Netherlands came to cheer on the national team in their only match of the tournament.
The United States?
Yup. The U.S. won a play-in game against Mexico in Rome, three days before being trounced by Italy 7-1 in the first round.
Legacy
The first European winners of the World Cup only allowed three goals all tournament, a record that wasn’t equalled until 1966 by England, and again by Brazil in 1994. It was eventually surpassed by a French side in 1998 that only allowed two goals. Italy repeated this feat in 2006, as did Spain in 2010.