Sportstar

ITALY’S WIN MARRED BY FASCISM

As a retort to the many withdrawal­s of European teams four years earlier, several South American nations, such as Argentina and Brazil, kept away. Uruguay also did not defend its title.

- TEAM SPORTSTAR

Although a great sporting success, the second World Cup took place in an environmen­t where fanaticism was running high. In 1934, the fascists in Italy realised football could be a potent tool for propaganda.

Though Italy had refused to participat­e in the first World Cup, it became the competitio­n’s chief advocate in 1934, when the sporting and financial stakes were doubled by enormous political pressure. Propaganda was the order of the day for Benito Mussolini, who saw the World Cup as an opportunit­y to vaunt his fascist regime. He was helped in this task by the “Giocco Calcio” Federation President, General Vaccaro, a staunch supporter of II Duce. This World Cup was markedly more ambitious than its fore-runner. Thirty two nations took part and for the first time a preliminar­y round was necessary. Sixteen teams qualified for the finals. Sadly, as a retort to the many withdrawal­s of European teams four years earlier, several South American nations, such as Argentina and Brazil, kept away. Uruguay also did not defend its title.

Predictabl­y then, only European teams reached the quarterfinals. The battle reached its height in Florence. In gruelling heat, a steely Spanish defence bravely resisted the onslaught of the Italians and at the end of extra-time the score stood at 2-2. The match had to be replayed the next day. In an effort to rejuvenate their troops, both

coaches called on fresh legs (five changes in the Italian team and seven for Spain), but player after player collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Happily for the locals, Giuseppe Meazza scored the only goal of the game. Two days later, the same scenario took place in the semifinal against Austria, in Milan. On a San Siro pitch resembling a quagmire after a torrential storm, it was again Meazza, playing his fourth game in a week, who scored the winning goal and helped his team qualify for the final. Italy’s opponent was to be Czechoslov­akia, conqueror of Germany.

On Sunday, June 10th, the whole of Italy was holding its breath. In his private box draped in purple, Mussolini awaited the triumph of his team like a Roman emperor.

For two whole hours the crowd chanted “I-ta-lia...du-ce...i-ta-lia...du-ce...!” But with still 20 minutes remaining Czechoslov­akia left-winger Puc put his team ahead to silence the del Partiti Stadium. With only a few minutes to go, however, the Italo-argentinia­n Orsi equalised, forcing the game into extra-time. Italy suffered a blow when its marksman Meazza was injured in a tackle, but he recovered sufficiently to lay up the winning goal for his team-mate Schiavio. But while the Italians deserved the win, through the undeniable footballin­g abilities displayed, Mussolini’s ensuing fascist salute to the crowd cast a sinister shadow over this particular World Cup victory. •

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Moment of glory: Vittorio Pozzo, the Italian manager, is chaired by the players following their 2-1 victory over Czechoslov­akia after extra-time in the World Cup final in Rome.
GETTY IMAGES Moment of glory: Vittorio Pozzo, the Italian manager, is chaired by the players following their 2-1 victory over Czechoslov­akia after extra-time in the World Cup final in Rome.
 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? First strike: Antonin Puc of Czechoslov­akia scores past the Italian goalkeeper Giamperro Combi to put his team ahead in the final.
GETTY IMAGES First strike: Antonin Puc of Czechoslov­akia scores past the Italian goalkeeper Giamperro Combi to put his team ahead in the final.

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