1934

Host nation: Italy Games: 17 Goals: 70 (4.12 per match) Dismissals: 1 Venues: 8 Winners: Italy Top scorer: Oldrich Nejedly (5 goals)

The 1934 tournament invented the phenomenon we now call ‘sportswash’. Benito Mussolini wanted to host and win the finals to proclaim the dynamism of Fascist Italy. He even commissioned a special set of gold medals to present to his players. Charismatic coach Vittorio Pozzo did as Mussolini expected, helping the Azzurri prevail in the semi-final against Austria’s Wunderteam (bottom) – their most feared opponents – and Czechoslovakia in the Rome final. The referees, either on Mussolini’s orders or because they knew what was expected, consistently favoured Italy. From here on, no World Cup would be free of skulduggery, conspiracy theories and politicking.

STAR FACTOR

Doomed Austrian genius Matthias Sindelar (left, see 1938) has been hailed as football’s first ever playmaker and a trailblazing false nine. Despite playing with a limp, Giuseppe Meazza, Italy’s first footballing superstar, scored two and made two.

WONDER GOALS

Raimundo Orsi’s late equaliser in the final was an all-time classic. He feinted with his left foot and struck a swerving shot with his right that looped over keeper Frantisek Planicka. Orsi later tried the same shot 20 times for photographers but couldn’t find the net.

AGGRO

Italy won a combative quarter-final after a 1-1 draw in which seven Spaniards, including keeper Ricardo Zamora, were injured and Italian midfielder Mario Pizziolo’s leg was broken. In the replay, which Italy won 1-0, three Spain players left the pitch for treatment.

THE THRILLERS

Hungary’s 4-2 victory over Egypt in the first round was enthralling. The Hungarians raced into a 2-0 lead before winger Abdulrahman Fawzi scored two in nine minutes for Africa’s first World Cup finalists. In search of a treble, Fawzi then weaved his way through Hungary’s defence to score a goal that the Italian referee, Rinaldo Barlassina, mysteriously decided was offside.

THE FINAL

Mussolini’s best-laid plans almost fell apart in a gripping showpiece. Antonin Puc’s long-ranger gave Czechoslovakia a 71st-minute lead. With the hosts in disarray, Jiri Sobotka squandered an open goal and Frantisek Svoboda hit an upright. Yet when Orsi equalised in the 81st minute, Italian stamina proved decisive. During extra time, forward Angelo Schiavio made it 2-1 and won the World Cup for Il Duce.

LEGACY

Hugo Meisl’s Wunderteam pioneered a revolutionary approach known as ‘The Whirl’, in which the players’ positions were interchangeable, anticipating the breakthrough of Total Football.