The first game: December 18, 1921. Hungary - Poland 1-0
Encyclopedia
The 1921 football (soccer)
game between Hungary
and Poland
was a historic event for the Poles.
came to an end, several Eastern European nations, including Poland
, regained independence. Poland had been an ancient kingdom, which in the years 1772-1795 was partitioned by its three powerful neighbors - Russia
, Habsburg Austria and Prussia
(see: Partitions of Poland
).
As the result of the partitions, Poland disappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years. Despite several insurrections, the Poles did not manage to win back their independence throughout the 19th century. Only after the “Great War”, in which all three neighboring empires ceased to exist, did the nation manage to free itself.
The newly created country quickly started to organize its administration as well as sports organizations. Envoys of several soccer clubs, which had previously existed under either Prussian or Russian or Austrian rule, met in Warsaw
on December 20 and 21, 1919 thus establishing the Polish Football Association
.
, Polish-Ukrainian War
, Polish-Lithuanian War
, Great Poland Uprising
, Silesian Uprisings
, Border conflicts between Poland and Czechoslovakia
), so, under the circumstances, no soccer games took place. Only when these conflicts were over, starting in spring of 1921, first games for the Championships of Poland took place (first, historic champion of the country is Cracovia).
To establish itself among other European soccer federations, Polish officials started to look for a potential opponent for a friendly game. This was not easy - relations with almost all neighbors were strained, due to conflicts mentioned above (soccer, like all sports, has never been free from politics). Also, as Polish national team had never before appeared as such on the field, other nations were simply not interested in playing with an unknown opponent (e.g. Polish officials asked the Austrians
whether they would be interested in a friendly international, never to receive a response).
Fortunately for the Poles (who also considered playing either France
of Sweden
), sometime in mid-1921 the Hungarians came forward with an offer, asking whether Poland would like to face their national team around Christmas of 1921. This was happily accepted by the Poles - Hungary in those years was regarded as a strong team. Some speculate that then-Polish coach, Imre Pozsonyi from Hungary, used his influence to convince his fellow countrymen to get in touch with the Poles.
and after a few weeks 13 players were chosen. These athletes, who in most cases did not know each other, boarded the train on December 16, and after a 36-hour journey, reached Budapest
(as newly created Polish Football Association was very poor, all Poles - players and officials, traveled in 3rd class cars).
This is the list of players who came to Budapest on December 17, 1921, a few hours before the historic game, the first match of the Polish National Team:
- Jan Loth - goalkeeper (Polonia Warszawa
),
- Ludwik Gintel
- defender (Cracovia),
- Artur Marczewski - defender (Polonia Warszawa
),
- Zdzisław Styczeń - midfielder (Cracovia),
- Stanisław Cikowski - midfielder (Cracovia),
- Tadeusz Synowiec
- midfielder (Cracovia),
- Stanisław Mielech - forward (Cracovia),
- Wacław Kuchar - forward (Pogoń Lwów
),
- Józef Kałuża - forward (Cracovia),
- Marian Einbacher - forward (Warta Poznań
),
- Leon Sperling
- forward (Cracovia).
Players mentioned above created Polish lineup. In reserve there were two additional footballers:
- Stefan Loth (Polonia Warszawa
),
- Mieczysław Batsch (Pogoń Lwów
).
Apart from players there were some officials: coach Imre Pozsonyi, president of PZPN dr. Edward Cetnarowski
, PZPN’s prof. Jan Weyssenhof as well as several journalists.
The game took place on [Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium|Hungaria Stadium]] in Budapest. Fans’ turn-out was not impressive - only around 8000 showed up, which was a disappointment; at previous games there usually were up to 30000 supporters. Perhaps this was due to weather - in Budapest on December 18, 1921 there was some snowfall, which melted, creating slush.
As a result of the weather, the turf was wet and muddy, which proved to be an advantage for the Poles. The Hungarians, regarded as first-quality dribblers, were unable to play their fast, energetic style.
The host team scored the first and lone goal of the game quite fast - in 18th minute, by Jenő Szabó. The Hungarians had another great chance in 41st minute, but Karoly Fogl
’s penalty kick missed the goal. From what can be gathered, home team should have scored more goals than one, but visitor’s goalie played an extraordinary game.
The final blow of the referee, the Czech-German Ernst Gratz, was welcomed with relief by both sides. The Hungarians were happy because they had won, the Poles - because the defeat to a renowned opponent was not as severe as some had predicted.
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...
game between Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
was a historic event for the Poles.
Historical background
In the fall of 1918, when World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
came to an end, several Eastern European nations, including Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, regained independence. Poland had been an ancient kingdom, which in the years 1772-1795 was partitioned by its three powerful neighbors - Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Habsburg Austria and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
(see: Partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
).
As the result of the partitions, Poland disappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years. Despite several insurrections, the Poles did not manage to win back their independence throughout the 19th century. Only after the “Great War”, in which all three neighboring empires ceased to exist, did the nation manage to free itself.
The newly created country quickly started to organize its administration as well as sports organizations. Envoys of several soccer clubs, which had previously existed under either Prussian or Russian or Austrian rule, met in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on December 20 and 21, 1919 thus establishing the Polish Football Association
Polish Football Association
The Polish Football Association is the governing body of football in Poland. It organizes the Polish football leagues , the Polish Cup, the Polish SuperCup, the Polish League Cup, and the Polish national football team...
.
Preparations for the game
In the years 1919 and 1920 Poland fought several wars with its neighbors (see: Polish-Soviet WarPolish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
, Polish-Ukrainian War
Polish-Ukrainian War
The Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
, Polish-Lithuanian War
Polish-Lithuanian War
The Polish–Lithuanian War was an armed conflict between newly independent Lithuania and Poland in the aftermath of World War I. The conflict primarily concerned territorial control of the Vilnius Region, including Vilnius , and the Suwałki Region, including the towns of Suwałki, Augustów, and Sejny...
, Great Poland Uprising
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
, Silesian Uprisings
Silesian Uprisings
The Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed uprisings of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919–1921, against German rule; the resistance hoped to break away from Germany in order to join the Second Polish Republic, which had been established in the wake of World War I...
, Border conflicts between Poland and Czechoslovakia
Border conflicts between Poland and Czechoslovakia
Border conflicts between Poland and Czechoslovakia began in 1918 between the Second Polish Republic and First Czechoslovak Republic, both freshly created states. The conflicts centered on the disputed areas of Cieszyn Silesia, Orava Territory and Spiš...
), so, under the circumstances, no soccer games took place. Only when these conflicts were over, starting in spring of 1921, first games for the Championships of Poland took place (first, historic champion of the country is Cracovia).
To establish itself among other European soccer federations, Polish officials started to look for a potential opponent for a friendly game. This was not easy - relations with almost all neighbors were strained, due to conflicts mentioned above (soccer, like all sports, has never been free from politics). Also, as Polish national team had never before appeared as such on the field, other nations were simply not interested in playing with an unknown opponent (e.g. Polish officials asked the Austrians
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
whether they would be interested in a friendly international, never to receive a response).
Fortunately for the Poles (who also considered playing either France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
), sometime in mid-1921 the Hungarians came forward with an offer, asking whether Poland would like to face their national team around Christmas of 1921. This was happily accepted by the Poles - Hungary in those years was regarded as a strong team. Some speculate that then-Polish coach, Imre Pozsonyi from Hungary, used his influence to convince his fellow countrymen to get in touch with the Poles.
Around the game
In November 1921, Polish officials together with coach Pozsonyi, chose 22 players who became members of first, historic Polish National Team. These players took part in a few warm-up games in KrakówKraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
and after a few weeks 13 players were chosen. These athletes, who in most cases did not know each other, boarded the train on December 16, and after a 36-hour journey, reached Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
(as newly created Polish Football Association was very poor, all Poles - players and officials, traveled in 3rd class cars).
This is the list of players who came to Budapest on December 17, 1921, a few hours before the historic game, the first match of the Polish National Team:
- Jan Loth - goalkeeper (Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
),
- Ludwik Gintel
Ludwik Gintel
Ludwik Gintel was a Polish Jewish soccer player for Cracovia, who played as a defender . He was also capped 12 times for the Poland national football team, including their first ever Olympic appearance at the 1924 Olympic Games...
- defender (Cracovia),
- Artur Marczewski - defender (Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
),
- Zdzisław Styczeń - midfielder (Cracovia),
- Stanisław Cikowski - midfielder (Cracovia),
- Tadeusz Synowiec
Tadeusz Synowiec
Tadeusz Synowiec was a Polish soccer player, midfielder and forward, later a coach and journalist, graduate of Kraków’s Jagiellonian University....
- midfielder (Cracovia),
- Stanisław Mielech - forward (Cracovia),
- Wacław Kuchar - forward (Pogoń Lwów
Pogon Lwów
LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish professional sports club which was located in Lwów , and existed from 1904 until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. It was the second oldest Polish football club behind other teams from Lwów - Czarni and Lechia...
),
- Józef Kałuża - forward (Cracovia),
- Marian Einbacher - forward (Warta Poznań
Warta Poznan
Warta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
),
- Leon Sperling
Leon Sperling
Leon Sperling was a Polish Olympic footballer.Sperling was born in Kraków. He was a football forward, playing on the left wing. Sperling represented Cracovia, the team he led in 1921, 1930, and 1932 to the Championship of Poland. He also played in 16 games for the Polish National Team, including...
- forward (Cracovia).
Players mentioned above created Polish lineup. In reserve there were two additional footballers:
- Stefan Loth (Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
),
- Mieczysław Batsch (Pogoń Lwów
Pogon Lwów
LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish professional sports club which was located in Lwów , and existed from 1904 until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. It was the second oldest Polish football club behind other teams from Lwów - Czarni and Lechia...
).
Apart from players there were some officials: coach Imre Pozsonyi, president of PZPN dr. Edward Cetnarowski
Edward Cetnarowski
Edward Cetnarowski was a Polish sports official, gynaecologist and one of most famous personalities of the sports club Cracovia. He was born October 3, 1877 in Rzeszów and died September 3, 1933 in Kraków....
, PZPN’s prof. Jan Weyssenhof as well as several journalists.
90 historic minutes
For the Hungarians, this was just another friendly game. Their national team had already played (since 1902) about 80 internationals, so the hosts did not treat this match in a special way. For the Poles however, it was a historic 90 minutes - for the first time ever, 11 players dressed in jerseys emblazoned with white eagle were to appear on the field.The game took place on [Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium|Hungaria Stadium]] in Budapest. Fans’ turn-out was not impressive - only around 8000 showed up, which was a disappointment; at previous games there usually were up to 30000 supporters. Perhaps this was due to weather - in Budapest on December 18, 1921 there was some snowfall, which melted, creating slush.
As a result of the weather, the turf was wet and muddy, which proved to be an advantage for the Poles. The Hungarians, regarded as first-quality dribblers, were unable to play their fast, energetic style.
The host team scored the first and lone goal of the game quite fast - in 18th minute, by Jenő Szabó. The Hungarians had another great chance in 41st minute, but Karoly Fogl
Károly Fogl
Károly Fogl, also known as Károly Fogoly, "Károly Újpesti" and "Fogl II" was a Hungarian footballer who played for Újpest FC, as well as representing the Hungarian national football team at the 1924 Summer Olympics.Fogl was born in Újpest, Budapest, Hungary...
’s penalty kick missed the goal. From what can be gathered, home team should have scored more goals than one, but visitor’s goalie played an extraordinary game.
The final blow of the referee, the Czech-German Ernst Gratz, was welcomed with relief by both sides. The Hungarians were happy because they had won, the Poles - because the defeat to a renowned opponent was not as severe as some had predicted.
See also
- History of football in Poland
- The last game: August 27, 1939. Poland - Hungary 4-2
- Polish soccer (football) in interwar periodPolish soccer (football) in interwar periodThe interwar period of Polish football began in the late fall of 1918 after First World War, when Poland regained independence, which had been lost at the end of 18th century . The newly created country soon started to organize its administration and several national organizations...