The FIFA World Cup has been the encasement of international football. Following the fruitful inaugural edition of the tournament in 1930, the proponents of the game were waiting with bated breath for the next one. The second World Cup which took place in 1934, would push the boundaries and the appeal of the beautiful game. It would also bring new dimensions of rivalry, emotion, and pressure as the game began to become the global sport that it was meant to be. In this post, we partly recount the history and provide a critical review of the 1934 FIFA World Cup, its deeded territory – Italy, its memorable moments, and in what Direction has the game been improved regarding this tournament.
The Preliminary Phase: Italy at the 1934 countdown nineteen-four season
Italy commemorated the year’s anniversary of embracing the Second World Cup for the first time – led by Giuseppe Meazza, and Giuseppe Borra. In 1934 for the first time in the world, football served on a hitherto unseen scale for an entire nation. This was not a decision lacking in controversy – some felt that the event was within the ideals of promoting fascism and Napoleonic cut out by the regime of Benito Mussolini. However, Italy was a well-developed football country with a successful league and supporting fans, so it was a natural choice. In Monthly W.C. they were able to confidently use him as a platform for demonstration of increased expertise levels in the sphere of football together with unabated patriotism.
It was the very first time that Europe hosted such a World Cup Competition, leading to an increased interest in other nations seeking to host the tournament. In contrast to the 1930 edition in which 13 teams participated, the 1934 Second World Cup expanded in scope where 32 nations were drawn into a series of qualifying rounds to determine a place in the finals. Qualification was introduced for the last moments at the end thereof the competition and this meant that only the 16 with the best record advanced. Notable countries that had respectable footballing teams like Brazil, Argentina, Germany/ Austria, and Netherlands, were also in this tournament.
The Tournament Format and Teams
From the very first Second World Cup held in the year 1934, it was evident that the competition would be run on a knockout basis, there was no group stage as modern tournaments are held. The 16 qualified teams were paired up to play knockout without second chances. The severity of the format caused the importance of every game to be extremely high and thus the level of tension did not decrease and there was always an anxious expectation from the supporters.
Participation from Different Countries:
Europe: Italy, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Sweden, France, Romania, Belgium, Switzerland
South America: Argentina, Brazil
North America: The United States of America
Africa – Egypt – The first African country to qualify for the World Cup
Asia –None – 1934 World Cup
What’s more, reigning champions Uruguay did not attend due to several factors especially the fact that several European nations boycotted the 1930 World Cup. And in their absence, there was some void but at the same time a way opened up for some new champion to emerge.
Italy’s Road to Glory
As the host country of the Second World Cup, Italy had plenty of answers to provide and their squad was all set for the task. Under the inspiring leadership of the famous coach Vittorio Pozzo, Italy created a strong national team combining her players from Serie A. Stars such as Giuseppe Meazza and Raimundo Orsi known throughout the world epitomized the power and the grace of Italian football.
In their very first game of the tournament, they thrashed the United States by a whopping 7 goals to 1. From this feat, it was obvious as to how the rest of the Second World Cup would shape up for the Italians. Eventually, they managed to come through this difficult path as they knocked out Spain in the quarter-finals after their first meeting ended in a stalemate. Italy’s subsequent replay against Spain was itself one of high tension with goals scarce. Italy managed to win this tense contest by a solitary goal and advanced to the semi-finals.
The semi-final against Austria was an exhausting game of football but there was a winner, Italy with their Enrique Guaita bagging the only goal. Hence the winning team advanced to the final which saw them play the European giants in Czechoslovakia The Final.
Italy vs. Czechoslovakia Final.
This final which was on June 10, 1934, at the Stadio Nazionale PNF in the city of Rome was a great encounter of the finest European Football. South American nationalists were not overeager at the clash as over 50 thousand fans covered the ground ability with the central figure Sophie watching the Italian young Fussball heroes contest for glory.
The executable Czechoslovakia team was headed by captain goalkeeper Frantisek Planicka. The Czechoslovakian defense proved sturdy for most of the contest and Italy’s forwards could not break the resolve of their defense. The Italian audience eventually turned deadly when Czechoslovakia’s Antonin Puc netted the 71st goal on Second World Cup.
And still, Italy never gave in. Out of 81 minutes played winger Raimundo Orsi scored an amazing long-range shot to bring the scoreline one apiece and pushed the match into a couple of extra time. After 30 more minutes of action, it was Angelo Schiavio of Italy who scored in the 95th minute giving Italy a 2-1 win against the asseport for a first World Cup trophy.
It was an event of great importance in the history of Italian football as well as a source of great patriotic emotions in Italy. The fascist regime of Mussolini propagandized the win as evidence of Italian power and unity which in essence made sports political.
Controversies and Legacy: Every Cup has its controversies, theSecond World Cup was no exception. There were similar accusations regarding political pressure and bias towards the host country. The referees were also accused of favoring Italy, especially during the quarter and semi-finals. There was no doubt that Mussolini influenced the tournament, and while there is no arguing about the capabilities of the Italian team, there are questions as to whether they won fairly.
As much as the 1934 Second World Cup held some controversies, the tournament was highly successful in terms of public admiration and international prominence. It enlarged the sphere of the tournament and transformed the competition into a genuine worldwide event. With teams from Africa and South America participating, it showed that the leadership of FIFA was serious about making the tournament a worldwide event, though the tournament was largely dominated by European teams.
General Overview of Notable Players and Key Performances: The Second World Cup was marked by some players’ remarkable performances. Of particular note for Italy was Giuseppe Meazza, who became one of the stars of the tournament. The forward who was very intelligent and skillful in dribbling and movement, was very crucial to the Azzurri’sceptors.
Another famous name stands out in the Czechoslovak team, the goalkeeper František Plánička, who impressed on many occasions during the tournament. As long as there was time on the clock, his team had a fighting chance, and thanks to his skills, Plankiewicz can be proud to say that he was the top player in the tournament.
He didn’t stay apart in the matters of making Italy victorious along with Meazza and Planička. Particularly in this final when he scored the equalizer, it became one of the brightest moments in the tournament and proved Orsi’s patience and hard work.
The Growth of Football Development
Second World Cup was very important in the history of world football, in that it was the first one to penetrate beyond the sports field and create a kind of world event. It showed that the tournaments were not only for sports but something that the world wanted to watch. Participation in the tournament made more countries prioritize football and develop their teams.
For Italy, the victory was very essential in the footballing ethos of that country. It contributed towards the positive perception of Italy as a footballing giant, a position they maintained in all subsequent competitions. The Italian team that participated in and won the Second World Cup became a national icon, and their win was revered several years down the line.
Second World Cup also paved the way for future competitions about their planning and size. The growth of the competition and its effort to host competing nations through a qualifying phase were very important milestones in the history of the World Cup.
Conclusion
Looking back to when the Second World Cup took place, it must be said that this indeed signifies a revolution in the world of football. It was the first World Cup in Europe, it was the first to feature a preliminary round of qualification, and it was the first one that was greatly politicized. Italy’s win, even with the scandals surrounding it showed their Football strength and set the foundation towards making a mark on the global market.
To date, football history is incomplete without the Cinderella patch since probably the Second World Cup, jewels of every tournament and logically culminates in the finals. It showed the power that is within the game of football in bringing people together, making people passionate, and leaving memorable occasions. We at justsports24 will look to provide you with all the information about the different tournaments football has had and also the history of the great sport.
Second World Cup will always be in our hearts and memory for those of us who specifically waited until the next tournament’s clock because we are looking forward ts of football and paving the way for the greatest tournament that men in this world play and adore.
