Wunderteam
Encyclopedia
Wunderteam (ˈvʊndɐˌtiːm; Wonder Team) was the name given to the Austria national football team
of the 1930s. Led by manager Hugo Meisl
, the team had an unbeaten streak of 14 games between April 1931 and December 1932. The style of the team was based on the Scottish school of football that focused on quick passing introduced by Englishman Jimmy Hogan
. The forward line was complemented by wide half-backs and an attacking centre-half. Matthias Sindelar
, Josef Smistik
and Walter Nausch
formed the core of the team that would dominate European football during that era. Matthias Sindelar
, known as Der Papierene (The Papery Man) due to his slight build, was the star and captain of the team.
, a 6-0 victory over Switzerland
, and a 8-2 victory over Hungary
. They also won the Central European International Cup, predecessor of the European Championship
, by beating Italy
4-2 in 1932. The cup was to be Wunderteam's only championship win. They also took the silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
, which was then a football power, and the runner-up in 1938. Like the Golden Team of Hungary 20 years later, Austria failed to lift the World Cup trophy, despite playing beautiful football. They were eliminated by the eventual champion Italy in the semi-final, a match under poor weather conditions that limited their movement of the ball. The only score came when the Austrian goalkeeper was pushed over the line. Referee Ivan Eklind
was criticized for partiality toward the host nation, especially after he also refereed the final which Italy also won. Austria finished fourth after losing 2-3 to Germany in the third place match.
in 1937 marked the beginning of the end. Austria qualified for the 1938 World Cup finals, but they withdrew after the March 1938 Anschluss
to Nazi Germany
. For political reasons, German officials demanded that players from "Hitler's home state" play in the Germany national team
, ordering coach Herberger to change the lineup on short notice. Several Austrian players were capped for the combined team that failed to live up to expectations, as they were eliminated in the first round. That World Cup campaign remains Germany's worst ever World Cup finals performance. Matthias Sindelar
, who did not play for Germany, was found dead in his home in 1939, under circumstances that have been debated since (Further information: Matthias Sindelar#Death and myth).
. It is no coincidence that Ernst Happel, a talented Austrian player in the 1940s and 1950s, was coach in the Netherlands in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He introduced a tougher style of play at the clubs ADO
and Feyenoord, and managed the Netherlands national team in the 1978 World Cup, where they finished as runners-up for the second time in a row.
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
of the 1930s. Led by manager Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl , brother of the journalist Willy Meisl, was the multi-lingual football coach of the famous Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the early 1930s, as well as a referee.-Background:...
, the team had an unbeaten streak of 14 games between April 1931 and December 1932. The style of the team was based on the Scottish school of football that focused on quick passing introduced by Englishman Jimmy Hogan
Jimmy Hogan
James "Jimmy" Hogan was an English football player and coach of Irish descent...
. The forward line was complemented by wide half-backs and an attacking centre-half. Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar was an Austrian footballer.He played centre-forward for the celebrated Austria national team of the early 1930s known as the Wunderteam, which he captained at the 1934 World Cup....
, Josef Smistik
Josef Smistik
Josef Smistik was an Austrian football player and manager.He played for Rapid Wien, ESV Stadlau, FACJosef Smistik was an Austrian football player and manager....
and Walter Nausch
Walter Nausch
Walter Nausch was an Austrian footballer, who later became a football manager.-Club career:Nausch played for FK Austria Wien between 1923-25 and 1929-38, interspersed with a spell at Wiener AC....
formed the core of the team that would dominate European football during that era. Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar was an Austrian footballer.He played centre-forward for the celebrated Austria national team of the early 1930s known as the Wunderteam, which he captained at the 1934 World Cup....
, known as Der Papierene (The Papery Man) due to his slight build, was the star and captain of the team.
Rise to fame and success
In the early 1930s, Austria became a very celebrated team in Europe. They entered the 1934 World Cup as the clear favorites. They had routed many of their opponents, including a 5-0 and a 6-0 victory over GermanyGermany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, a 6-0 victory over Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
, and a 8-2 victory over Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. They also won the Central European International Cup, predecessor of the European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, by beating Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
4-2 in 1932. The cup was to be Wunderteam's only championship win. They also took the silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Olympic football tournament, won by Italy, has come to share an affinity with the political backdrop against which it was being played; in terms of the history of football, however, the tournament suffered as a reaction to the development of the FIFA World Cup.The introduction of the first...
.
1934 World Cup
Austria entered the 1934 World Cup as one of the favorites. In the quarter-final they eliminated HungaryHungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, which was then a football power, and the runner-up in 1938. Like the Golden Team of Hungary 20 years later, Austria failed to lift the World Cup trophy, despite playing beautiful football. They were eliminated by the eventual champion Italy in the semi-final, a match under poor weather conditions that limited their movement of the ball. The only score came when the Austrian goalkeeper was pushed over the line. Referee Ivan Eklind
Ivan Eklind
Ivan Henning Hjalmar Eklind was a football referee from Sweden famous for refereeing the controversial 1934 FIFA World Cup Final between Italy and Czechoslovakia in Rome.-Rene Mercet:...
was criticized for partiality toward the host nation, especially after he also refereed the final which Italy also won. Austria finished fourth after losing 2-3 to Germany in the third place match.
World War II and the end of the team
The death of Hugo MeislHugo Meisl
Hugo Meisl , brother of the journalist Willy Meisl, was the multi-lingual football coach of the famous Austrian 'Wunderteam' of the early 1930s, as well as a referee.-Background:...
in 1937 marked the beginning of the end. Austria qualified for the 1938 World Cup finals, but they withdrew after the March 1938 Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. For political reasons, German officials demanded that players from "Hitler's home state" play in the Germany national team
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, ordering coach Herberger to change the lineup on short notice. Several Austrian players were capped for the combined team that failed to live up to expectations, as they were eliminated in the first round. That World Cup campaign remains Germany's worst ever World Cup finals performance. Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar
Matthias Sindelar was an Austrian footballer.He played centre-forward for the celebrated Austria national team of the early 1930s known as the Wunderteam, which he captained at the 1934 World Cup....
, who did not play for Germany, was found dead in his home in 1939, under circumstances that have been debated since (Further information: Matthias Sindelar#Death and myth).
Influence on Total Football
The ill-fated Austrian Wunderteam is also credited in some circles as being the first national team to play Total FootballTotal Football
"Total Football" is the label given to an influential tactical theory of association football in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. It was pioneered by Dutch football club Ajax from 1969 to 1973, and further used by the Netherlands National Football...
. It is no coincidence that Ernst Happel, a talented Austrian player in the 1940s and 1950s, was coach in the Netherlands in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He introduced a tougher style of play at the clubs ADO
ADO Den Haag
Alles Door Oefening Den Haag , commonly known by the abbreviated name ADO Den Haag , is a Dutch football club from the city of The Hague. The club was for a time known as FC Den Haag , with ADO representing the amateur branch of the club...
and Feyenoord, and managed the Netherlands national team in the 1978 World Cup, where they finished as runners-up for the second time in a row.