LIONS WIN ‘DIRTIEST’ OF GAMES
England 3 Italy 2 Brook 3, 10 Meazza 58, 62 Drake 12 International friendly, Highbury November 14, 1934 Att: 56,044 BY MATT BOZEAT THE English Press billed this as “The Match of the Century” – others called it “The Real World Cup Final”.
Italy had lifted the World Cup five months earlier in front of their own fans – and in England’s absence.
The FA had left FIFA in 1928 and, though that meant the Three Lions had missed the first two World Cups, they considered themselves to be the best team in the world.
The ‘friendly’ with Italy drew a crowd of 56,044 to Highbury on a midweek night to see what would be known as ‘The Battle of Highbury’.
The crowd included thousands of Italians praying their heroes would pick up the £50-per-man win bonus promised by prime minister Benito Mussolini. That was soon looking unlikely. As early as the opening minute, England were awarded a penalty after keeper Carlo Ceresoli brought down Ted Drake. The Italian stopper made amends by keeping out Eric Brook’s spot kick, but the world champions suffered a huge blow seconds later when centre-half Luis Monti suffered a broken foot after a robust challenge from Drake.
Monti told his team-mates the foul was deliberate and they sought about getting revenge on his behalf.
What followed led England skipper Eddie Hapgood to describe the game as “the dirtiest I ever played in”.
Brook put England ahead in the third minute, heading home a cross from teenager Stanley Matthews, and then thumped in a second.
Ceresoli felt he did not need a wall to protect him from Brook’s free-kick – and saw the ball fly into the net.
Drake put England 3-0 up after only 12 minutes – and the injuries kept piling up. Hapgood had his nose broken and Monti had to limp off, leaving Italy with 10 men as there were no substitutes.
Italy were not beaten and striker Giuseppe Meazza struck in the 58th and 62nd minutes to give them hope.
At the post-match banquet, keeper Frank Moss was the only member of the England team who didn’t have scars from what the Press described as a “spiteful” match.
Hapgood had a plaster over his broken nose, Brook’s arm was in a sling, Drake’s face was bruised and others limped, but England had won.