Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Football
at the 1928 Summer Olympics
tournament, won by Uruguay against Argentina, would be the precursor to the first FIFA World Cup
held in 1930 in Uruguay.
, since the tournament, though organised and run by FIFA, was an event subject to the ethical foundation that underpinned the Olympic movement.
That all Olympic competitors had to maintain an amateur status had, for a length of time, been a constraint that football was unable to uphold. Increasingly, FIFA had sought to appease those nations that required concessions in order that players could participate in the Olympics. This required there to be an acceptance that irregular payment could be made to players by national associations: the so-called 'broken time payments' by which loss of pay and expenses would be met. On February 17, 1928 the four 'home' associations of the United Kingdom, meeting in Sheffield
voted unanimously to withdraw from FIFA in opposition to the manner in which the governing body was seeking to dictate on such matters and, as was noted 'that (the four Associations) be free to conduct their affairs in the way their long experience has shown them to be desirable'.http://www.fifa.com/en/development/technical/index/0,1250,7758,00.html?articleid=7758
For Henri Delaunay
, President of the French Football Federation
the writing was on the wall; FIFA must wait no longer to put into practice an international tournament, freed from ideological shackles. In 1926 he stated, at the FIFA Conference: 'Today international football can no longer be held within the confines of the Olympics; and many countries where professionalism is now recognised and organised cannot any longer be represented there by their best players'. (Glanville. Brian, p. 15, The Story of the World Cup, Faber and Faber, London. 2005). The day before the tournament began, on May 26, 1928 (Portugal played Chile; Belgium played Luxembourg in the opening games) the FIFA congress in Amsterdam
presided over by Jules Rimet
, voted that a new FIFA World Cup tournament be organised in 1930 and be open to all member nations. Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Uruguay would all lodge applications to host the event.
(1926) was the setting for one of those, now ignored meetings of the football chiefs that would have far-reaching implications. Three years had passed since the British Associations had asked FIFA
to accept their definition of what an amateur player was; FIFA had refused. The Rome Convention was called to try to coax the British and Danes back into the fold; it proved only to distance them.
Switzerland
, a nation that favoured broken time payments suggested: It is not allowed to pay compensation for broken time, except in some well-circumscribed cases, to be fixed by each National Association. This challenge to the centralised authority of FIFA was disputed by the Football Association. In 1927 FIFA asked the Olympic committee to accept the concept of broken time payments as an overriding condition for the competing members. The British Associations consequently withdrew from the Olympiad and a few months later withdrew from FIFA (Association Football (1960))
It is quite clear that not only had professionalism advanced throughout the world; but so too were national sides benefiting from a situation whereby groups of the best players could be selected en masse, paid for their representation and still participate in the Olympics. It was a concept of great distaste to the British.
There was little question as to who were the favourites going into the tournament. Uruguay were rightly considered to be the strongest side with the Argentinians shading the advantage between the two. The shock of their previous victory had been felt at home and abroad. Upon returning home in 1924 they had ceded to a request to play a disbelieving Argentina in what transpired to be a bruising two staged contest; Argentinian fans hurling missiles at Jose Leandro Andrade
to the extent that he had with adopt a position deep in-field. Scornfully, the Argentinians won http://www.fourfourtwo.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BigRead/0,,11442~1034860,00.html.
However, Uruguay, the defending Olympic champions, once again sent a formidable side made up, predominantly, by the personnel of their two biggest clubs: Peñarol and Nacional
. This time Argentina would be holding onto their coat-tails.
; even the loss of the Argentinian-Italian Julio Libonatti
before the tournament was made good by the inclusion of Angelo Schiavio
. Their semi-final with Uruguay
should rightly rank as one of the key matches in football history.
Spain
were, potentially, much to be feared. Defeated once since the last Olympic Games tournament their traditional tournament nerves would handicap them here, a key note that would strike throughout the coming years. The unavoidable loss of their experienced captain Pedro Vallana
after their first game, though, would cost them dearly.
. The game was calmly controlled by Jean Langenus, a performance which was recognised. Meanwhile the Argentinians had little difficulty against the United States winning 11-2.
Elsewhere Germany had performed strongly but in the quarter-final Germany were put to the sword by the Uruguayans who beat them 4-1. In another quarter-final the Italians 'enjoyed' another of their close encounters with Spain. In the first game they reached a curious tie with the Spanish fighting back from a half time deficit to force a replay. In the replay three days later the Azzurri
simply over-ran their opponents scoring 4 without response before the break. Virgilio Levratto
's brace confirmed their superiority; once again Rangone kept faith in a largely unchanged team. Spain, on the other hand, had gambled by making five changes to Italy's two. Clearly less was more.
Portugal, after convincing wins over Chile (4-2) and, the wildly inconsistent Yugoslavia (2-1) http://rsssf.com/tablesj/joeg-intres20.html lost, dysmally, to Egypt
2-1; the African side repeating their customary Olympic shock to advance to a semi-final tie against Argentina
. Egypt's 3-0 defeat of Hungary in 1924 would continue to sustain them well into the 1930s; a reason, if one were needed, for their entry into the 1934 FIFA World Cup
.
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. The Italians selected Giampiero Combi
in goal, Angelo Schiavio
, in attack. Both would be crowned World champions at the 1934 FIFA World Cup
. In this game the Uruguayans stormed to a convincing lead by the break; Levratto
's goal in the second half flattered the Italians because Uruguay ran out comfortable winners by the odd goal in 5; José Pedro Cea, Hector Scarone
scoring for the Celestes
.
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In the final the Uruguayans played Argentina who had trounced Egypt who would now fold like a house of cards; clearly out of their depth against more sophisticated opposition, conceding 6 goals to Argentina and as many as eleven to Italy in the Bronze medal match.
The final itself was a close - run affair. Both nations had been undefeated in competitive matches against other nations but had traded losses to each other since the last Olympic competition. The interest, understandably, was immense. The Dutch had received 250,000 requests for tickets from all over Europe.
Once again, there was little in it; the first game finished 1-1. The tie went to a replay. Uruguay's Scarone converted the winner in the second half of that game. It seemed only fair and fitting that on May 18, 1929, the Barcelona
congress voted that Uruguay be the first nation to host a World Cup.
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Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
at the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
tournament, won by Uruguay against Argentina, would be the precursor to the first FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
held in 1930 in Uruguay.
Medalists
| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
| José Andrade José Andrade José Leandro Andrade was an Uruguayan footballer who played at right half. Nicknamed the black marvel, "meravilla negra", is considered the first great colored player, and the very first real international football star.... Juan Peregrino Anselmo Pedro Arispe Pedro Arispe Pedro Arispe , nicknamed El Indio, was a football player.He played in over 300 matches in the Uruguayan First Division over the course of 17 seasons for Rampla Juniors, winning the title in 1927 and a runner's-up spot in 1932... Juan Arremón Juan Arremón Juan Pedro Arremón was a Uruguayan football player. He competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics and played club football for Peñarol.... Venancio Bartibás Fausto Batignani René Borjas René Borjas René Borjas was an Uruguayan football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Uruguayan team, which won the gold medal in the football tournament.... Antonio Campolo Antonio Campolo Antonio Campolo was an Uruguayan football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Uruguayan team, which won the gold medal in the football tournament.... Adhemar Canavesi Adhemar Canavesi Adhemar Canavesi was an Uruguayan football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Uruguayan team, which won the gold medal in the football tournament.-External links:*... Héctor Castro Héctor Castro Héctor Castro was a Uruguayan football player and coach.-Early life:Castro was born in Montevideo... Pedro Cea Pedro Cea José Pedro Cea was an Uruguayan football player and coach.-Club career:At club level, he played for Nacional, where he won several Uruguayan Championships.-International career:... Lorenzo Fernández Lorenzo Fernández Lorenzo Fernández , nicknamed El Gallego , was a Spanish-born Uruguayan footballer. During his career, he played for Capurro, River Plate, Montevideo Wanderers FC and C.A. Peñarol... Roberto Figueroa Roberto Figueroa Roberto Figueroa was an Uruguayan football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Uruguayan team, which won the gold medal in the football tournament.... Álvaro Gestido Álvaro Gestido José Álvaro Pelegrín Gestido Pose was a footballer from Uruguay. He was born in Montevideo. From 1926 to 1942, he played for C.A. Peñarol. He also played 25 matches for the Uruguay national football team, winning the 1930 FIFA World Cup and the 1928 Summer Olympics.... Andrés Mazali Andrés Mazali Andrés Mazali was a twice Olympic Gold medallist for Uruguay in the 1924 and 1928 Olympic football tournaments, but is, perhaps, famous for his ill-judged decision to break curfew in the days leading up to the start of the first, deciding to go out on a date with a mystery blond before the FIFA... Ángel Melogno Ángel Melogno Miguel Ángel Melogno was an Uruguayan footballer who was part of the team that won the first ever World Cup in 1930 for Uruguay, but he did not play any matches in the tournament. He also won the gold medal in football at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was a club player of Bella Vista... José Nasazzi José Nasazzi José Nasazzi Yarza was the Uruguayan footballer who captained his country when they won the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.-Biography:... Pedro Petrone Pedro Petrone Pedro Petrone Schiavone , nicknamed Artillero was a Uruguayan footballer in the striker role. His nickname Artillero, meaning artilleryman or gunner in reference to his amazing goalscoring prowess.... Juan Piriz Juan Piriz Juan Píriz was an Uruguayan football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Uruguayan team, which won the gold medal in the football tournament.... Héctor Scarone Héctor Scarone Héctor Pedro Scarone Beretta was a Uruguayan football striker. He went on for many years Since 1930 to holds the record as the all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 52 games between 1917 and 1930 for the Uruguayan national team... Domingo Tejera Domingo Tejera Domingo Tejera was a football player from Uruguay. He was part of the Uruguay team that won the gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics, and the 1930 FIFA World Cup held in Uruguay.... Santos Urdinarán Santos Urdinarán Santos "Vasquito" Urdinarán , known as el Vasquito, was a footballer from Uruguay. He played for Nacional from 1919 to 1933 , playing the position of right winger. He was born and died in Montevideo.He also played 20 matches and scored 2 goals for the Uruguay national football team... |
Ludovico Bidoglio Ludovico Bidoglio Ludovico Bidoglio was an Argentine football defender, and one of Boca Juniors' idols."Vico" made his debut with Sportivo Palermo in 1916, playing as a forward... Ángel Bossio Ángel Bossio Ángel Bossio was an Argentine football player who competed in the 1928 Olympic games. He was called la maravilla elástica, "the elastic wonder".... Saúl Calandra Saúl Calandra Saúl H. Calandra was an Argentine football midfielder who competed in the 1928 Olympic games.... Alfredo Carricaberry Alfredo Carricaberry Alfredo Carricaberry was an Argentine football forward who played most of his career for San Lorenzo in Argentina.... Roberto Cherro Roberto Cherro Roberto Eugenio Cerro, named "Cherro" was an Argentine football striker. He was born in Barracas in the city of Buenos Aires in Argentina... Octavio Díaz Octavio Díaz Octavio Juan Díaz was an Argentine football goalkeeper who played for the Argentina national football team.... Juan Evaristo Juan Evaristo Juan Evaristo was an Argentine football defender who played for Argentina between 1923 and 1930.-Club career:... Manuel Ferreira Manuel Ferreira Manuel Ferreira was an Argentine footballer who was a member of the Argentina national team.... Enrique Gainzarain Enrique Gainzarain Enrique A. Gainzarain was an Argentine football player who played a single official game for Argentina in the 1928 Summer Olympics.... Alfredo Helman Segunda Luna Ángel Segundo Medici Luis Monti Luis Monti Luis Felipe Monti was an Italian Argentine footballer who played as a midfielder. Monti has the distinction of having played in two FIFA World Cup final matches with two different national teams. He played the first of these finals with his native Argentina in 1930, which he lost to Uruguay; and... Pedro Ochoa Pedro Ochoa Pedro Ochoa was an Argentine football striker. He played for Racing Club.Ochoa played his entire club career for Racing Club, where he won seven league championships, he retired in 1931 shortly after the professionalisation of Argentine football... Rodolfo Orlandini Rodolfo Orlandini Rodolfo Orlandini was an Argentine football midfielder who played for the Argentina national team between 1927 and 1930.-Club career:... Raimundo Orsi Raimundo Orsi Raimundo Bibiani "Mumo" Orsi was an Italian Argentine footballer who won the 1934 FIFA World Cup with Italy and the silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-Club:... Fernando Paternoster Fernando Paternoster Fernando Paternoster was an Argentine footballer and manager. He played for the Argentine national team and helped promote football across South America in countries such as Colombia and Ecuador.-Club:... Feliciano Perducca Feliciano Perducca Feliciano Ángel Perducca was an Argentine football forward who played for the Argentina national team.Perducca started his career in 1923 playing for Temperley... Natalio Perinetti Natalio Perinetti Alberto Chividini was an Argentine football attacker.-External links:... Domingo Tarasconi Domingo Tarasconi Domingo Alberto Tarasconi is a former Argentine football striker. He played most of his career for Boca Juniors where he was Club topscorer on 5 occasions and Argentine Primera league topscorer on 4 occasions .-Club career:Tarasconi won 10 titles with Boca Juniors and 3 Copa América with Argentina... Luis Weihmuller Adolfo Zumelzú Adolfo Zumelzú Adolfo Bernabé Zumelzú was a football player from Argentina.Zumelzú represented the Argentina at the South American Championship 1927 and the South American Championship 1929 both won by Argentina.... |
Elvio Banchero Elvio Banchero Elvio Banchero was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He played for 7 seasons in the Serie A for Genova 1893, A.S. Roma, A.S. Bari and U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament... Virgilio Felice Levratto Pietro Pastore Pietro Pastore Pietro Mario Pastore, also known as Piero Pastore was an Italian professional football player and later, actor.He was the youngest ever player to play for Juventus F.C... Gino Rossetti Gino Rossetti Gino Rossetti was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.Rossetti was born in La Spezia. He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.-External links:*... Attilio Ferraris Attilio Ferraris Attilio Ferraris was an Italian football midfielder.He played 10 seasons in the Serie A for A.S. Roma, S.S. Lazio and A.S. Bari... Enrico Rivolta Enrico Rivolta Enrico Rivolta was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.... Felice Gasperi Alfredo Pitto Alfredo Pitto Alfredo Pitto was an Italian footballer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.-External links:*... Pietro Genovesi Pietro Genovesi Pietro Genovesi was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.-External links:*... Antonio Janni Antonio Janni Antonio Janni was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.-External links:*... Fulvio Bernardini Fulvio Bernardini Fulvio Bernardini was an Italian footballer and coach.During his playing career, he played for Lazio, Inter, Roma and M.A.T.E.R.... Silvio Pietroboni Silvio Pietroboni Silvio Pietroboni was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.... Andrea Viviano Delfo Bellini Delfo Bellini Delfo Bellini was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the bronze medal in the football tournament.-External links:*... Umberto Caligaris Umberto Caligaris Umberto Caligaris was an Italian international footballer who played, normally at left back, for A.S. Casale and Juventus. His 59 caps for the Italian national team stood as a record for many years.... Virginio Rosetta Virginio Rosetta Virginio "Viri" Rosetta was an Italian football player. He was also a precision passer.Rosetta was born in Vercelli, Piedmont, where he debuted for Pro Vercelli in the Italian First Division in the 1919-20 season, as a striker... Giampiero Combi Giampiero Combi Gianpiero Combi was one of Italian football's greatest goalkeepers of all-time. He spent his entire career at Juventus FC and won the 1934 World Cup with the Italian national team... Giovanni De Prà Giovanni De Prà Giovanni De Prà was an Italian football goalkeeper born and raised in Genoa. He played his entire footballing club career with his hometown side Genoa playing more than 300 games over the course of nearly a decade and a half.De Pra also represented his national side Italy, he was part of the squad... Adolfo Baloncieri Mario Magnozzi Mario Magnozzi Mario Magnozzi was an Italian football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.Magnozzi was born in Livorno, for whose team he played until 1930. In 1920 Livorno won the Torneo del Sud, after which it was defeated by FC Internazionale in the final for the Italian overall title... Angelo Schiavo Valentino Degani Valentino Degani Valentino Degani was an Italian football player in goalkeeper role.Degani was born in Badia Polesine, province of Rovigo. He played 176 matches in Serie A Inter Milan from 1924 to 1937, won one title in 1929-30 season. For Italy national football team he won bronze medal at 1928 Summer Olympics.... |
Background
Up to 1928 the Olympic football tournament had represented the World Championship of football; (and understandably so: the 1920 (14), 1924 (22) and 1928 tournaments (17) all had greater participation than that of the first World Cup in 1930). Yet this presented a significant problem for the governing body, FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, since the tournament, though organised and run by FIFA, was an event subject to the ethical foundation that underpinned the Olympic movement.
That all Olympic competitors had to maintain an amateur status had, for a length of time, been a constraint that football was unable to uphold. Increasingly, FIFA had sought to appease those nations that required concessions in order that players could participate in the Olympics. This required there to be an acceptance that irregular payment could be made to players by national associations: the so-called 'broken time payments' by which loss of pay and expenses would be met. On February 17, 1928 the four 'home' associations of the United Kingdom, meeting in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
voted unanimously to withdraw from FIFA in opposition to the manner in which the governing body was seeking to dictate on such matters and, as was noted 'that (the four Associations) be free to conduct their affairs in the way their long experience has shown them to be desirable'.http://www.fifa.com/en/development/technical/index/0,1250,7758,00.html?articleid=7758
For Henri Delaunay
Henri Delaunay
Henri Delaunay was a French football administrator.After playing for the Paris team Étoile des Deux Lacs, he became a referee...
, President of the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
the writing was on the wall; FIFA must wait no longer to put into practice an international tournament, freed from ideological shackles. In 1926 he stated, at the FIFA Conference: 'Today international football can no longer be held within the confines of the Olympics; and many countries where professionalism is now recognised and organised cannot any longer be represented there by their best players'. (Glanville. Brian, p. 15, The Story of the World Cup, Faber and Faber, London. 2005). The day before the tournament began, on May 26, 1928 (Portugal played Chile; Belgium played Luxembourg in the opening games) the FIFA congress in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
presided over by Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet was a French football administrator who was the 3rd President of FIFA, serving from 1921 to 1954. He was FIFA's longest serving president, having served for 33 years. He also served as the president of the French Football Federation from 1919 to 1946...
, voted that a new FIFA World Cup tournament be organised in 1930 and be open to all member nations. Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Uruguay would all lodge applications to host the event.
Participation
RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(1926) was the setting for one of those, now ignored meetings of the football chiefs that would have far-reaching implications. Three years had passed since the British Associations had asked FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
to accept their definition of what an amateur player was; FIFA had refused. The Rome Convention was called to try to coax the British and Danes back into the fold; it proved only to distance them.
Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, a nation that favoured broken time payments suggested: It is not allowed to pay compensation for broken time, except in some well-circumscribed cases, to be fixed by each National Association. This challenge to the centralised authority of FIFA was disputed by the Football Association. In 1927 FIFA asked the Olympic committee to accept the concept of broken time payments as an overriding condition for the competing members. The British Associations consequently withdrew from the Olympiad and a few months later withdrew from FIFA (Association Football (1960))
It is quite clear that not only had professionalism advanced throughout the world; but so too were national sides benefiting from a situation whereby groups of the best players could be selected en masse, paid for their representation and still participate in the Olympics. It was a concept of great distaste to the British.
There was little question as to who were the favourites going into the tournament. Uruguay were rightly considered to be the strongest side with the Argentinians shading the advantage between the two. The shock of their previous victory had been felt at home and abroad. Upon returning home in 1924 they had ceded to a request to play a disbelieving Argentina in what transpired to be a bruising two staged contest; Argentinian fans hurling missiles at Jose Leandro Andrade
José Andrade
José Leandro Andrade was an Uruguayan footballer who played at right half. Nicknamed the black marvel, "meravilla negra", is considered the first great colored player, and the very first real international football star....
to the extent that he had with adopt a position deep in-field. Scornfully, the Argentinians won http://www.fourfourtwo.premiumtv.co.uk/page/BigRead/0,,11442~1034860,00.html.
However, Uruguay, the defending Olympic champions, once again sent a formidable side made up, predominantly, by the personnel of their two biggest clubs: Peñarol and Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
. This time Argentina would be holding onto their coat-tails.
The Europeans
The competition was more competitive than the 1924 edition. Ten European nations (17 in all) had made the journey to the Netherlands for the competition, but few had any real pretentions to the title; the Italians had, however, come into impressive form defeated only twice in three years. The Italian coach, Augusto Rangone, had been fortunate; a beneficiary of the national federation's decision in 1923 to permit subsidies to cover player's lost wages. For two years his forward line had remained comparatively the same: Adolfo Baloncieri, Virgilio LevrattoVirgilio Levratto
Virgilio Felice Levratto was an Italian football striker and later a coach.Levratto was born at Carcare. He played for F.C. Vado and played also for Hellas Verona F.C., Genoa C.F.C. , Inter Milan in 1932, S.S...
; even the loss of the Argentinian-Italian Julio Libonatti
Julio Libonatti
Julio Libonatti , is a former Italian Argentine football forward.Born in Rosario, Argentina, Libonatti started his professional career with Newell's Old Boys in 1917. He would play with Newell's Old Boys until 1925 when he transferred to Torino F.C....
before the tournament was made good by the inclusion of Angelo Schiavio
Angelo Schiavio
Angelo Schiavio was an Italian football player. Schiavio spent his entire career with Bologna FC, the club of the city where he was born and died...
. Their semi-final with Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
should rightly rank as one of the key matches in football history.
Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
were, potentially, much to be feared. Defeated once since the last Olympic Games tournament their traditional tournament nerves would handicap them here, a key note that would strike throughout the coming years. The unavoidable loss of their experienced captain Pedro Vallana
Pedro Vallana
Pedro Vallana Jeanguenat was a Spanish footballer. He competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics.He was born in Algorta.He was a member of the Spanish team, which won the silver medal in the football tournament....
after their first game, though, would cost them dearly.
Final tournament
Perhaps the first round draw favoured the South Americans. Uruguay immediately dispatched the hosts, the Netherlands, 2-0 in front of 40,000 people with none of the controversy that had surrounded their previous encounter at the 1924 Summer Olympics1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
. The game was calmly controlled by Jean Langenus, a performance which was recognised. Meanwhile the Argentinians had little difficulty against the United States winning 11-2.
Elsewhere Germany had performed strongly but in the quarter-final Germany were put to the sword by the Uruguayans who beat them 4-1. In another quarter-final the Italians 'enjoyed' another of their close encounters with Spain. In the first game they reached a curious tie with the Spanish fighting back from a half time deficit to force a replay. In the replay three days later the Azzurri
Azzurri
Azzurri is the Italian plural form of azzurro, light blue . Light blue was the official color of the Savoia family, Italy's monarchs until 1946. For this reason azure is the color usually worn by Italians in sport events....
simply over-ran their opponents scoring 4 without response before the break. Virgilio Levratto
Virgilio Levratto
Virgilio Felice Levratto was an Italian football striker and later a coach.Levratto was born at Carcare. He played for F.C. Vado and played also for Hellas Verona F.C., Genoa C.F.C. , Inter Milan in 1932, S.S...
's brace confirmed their superiority; once again Rangone kept faith in a largely unchanged team. Spain, on the other hand, had gambled by making five changes to Italy's two. Clearly less was more.
Portugal, after convincing wins over Chile (4-2) and, the wildly inconsistent Yugoslavia (2-1) http://rsssf.com/tablesj/joeg-intres20.html lost, dysmally, to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
2-1; the African side repeating their customary Olympic shock to advance to a semi-final tie against Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Egypt's 3-0 defeat of Hungary in 1924 would continue to sustain them well into the 1930s; a reason, if one were needed, for their entry into the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
.
Preliminary round
First round
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Quarter-finals
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Semi-finals
This meant that in the semi-final Italy played Uruguay. In retrospect this proved to be an intriguing match-up; a game that presaged what may have happened if the Uruguayans had sought to defend their World title in the 1934 FIFA World Cup1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
. The Italians selected Giampiero Combi
Giampiero Combi
Gianpiero Combi was one of Italian football's greatest goalkeepers of all-time. He spent his entire career at Juventus FC and won the 1934 World Cup with the Italian national team...
in goal, Angelo Schiavio
Angelo Schiavio
Angelo Schiavio was an Italian football player. Schiavio spent his entire career with Bologna FC, the club of the city where he was born and died...
, in attack. Both would be crowned World champions at the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
. In this game the Uruguayans stormed to a convincing lead by the break; Levratto
Virgilio Levratto
Virgilio Felice Levratto was an Italian football striker and later a coach.Levratto was born at Carcare. He played for F.C. Vado and played also for Hellas Verona F.C., Genoa C.F.C. , Inter Milan in 1932, S.S...
's goal in the second half flattered the Italians because Uruguay ran out comfortable winners by the odd goal in 5; José Pedro Cea, Hector Scarone
Héctor Scarone
Héctor Pedro Scarone Beretta was a Uruguayan football striker. He went on for many years Since 1930 to holds the record as the all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 52 games between 1917 and 1930 for the Uruguayan national team...
scoring for the Celestes
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
.
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Bronze medal match
Gold medal match
The final itself was a close - run affair. Both nations had been undefeated in competitive matches against other nations but had traded losses to each other since the last Olympic competition. The interest, understandably, was immense. The Dutch had received 250,000 requests for tickets from all over Europe.
Once again, there was little in it; the first game finished 1-1. The tie went to a replay. Uruguay's Scarone converted the winner in the second half of that game. It seemed only fair and fitting that on May 18, 1929, the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
congress voted that Uruguay be the first nation to host a World Cup.
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Consolation first round
----Consolation final
- Note: The Netherlands wins after drawing of lots but awarded the Cup to Chile