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.
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 first World Cup, it became the competition’s chief advocate in 1934, when the sporting and financial 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 first time a preliminary round was necessary. Sixteen teams qualified for the finals. 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 quarterfinals. 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 effort to rejuvenate their troops, both
coaches called on fresh legs (five 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 semifinal 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 final. 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 suffered a blow when its marksman Meazza was injured in a tackle, but he recovered sufficiently 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. •