football after the war

1930 saw the brainchild of Jules Rimet come to fruition. THE WORLD CUP. THE JULES RIMET TROPHY.
The first tournament only got off the ground due to a lot of hard work by Rimet himself. It was held in Uruguay and consisted of the host nation plus eight other "American" countries. Four European nations were cajoled onto appearing, including France. Various excuses were offered for other countries failure to compete. Mainly political and economic unrest. Plus, of course, it was a three week sailing from Europe the the South Americas at the time.

The hosts won the trophy .Only the French put up any kind of show for the Euro’s. They had the honour of scoring the first ever World Cup goal, thru’ Lucient Laurent. Beating Mexico 4 – 1.  The teams were split into four groups, each group having a seeded team. Three seeds made the Semi-finals. The games were a bit of an anticlimax. Uruguay and Argentina beating Yugoslavia and U.S.A, respectively 6 – 1.

The final was held in Montevideo but not without a little controversy. Who should provide the ball? Common sense came to the fore and EACH country provided a ball. One for each half. The hosts won an eventful match 4 – 2 after being 1 – 2 down. In typical Latin style, the Uruguay nation celebrated and the Argentines rioted.
The U.S.A. had one thing to celebrate. Bert Patenaude scored the first HAT-TRICK in WORLD CUP history. The Yanks beating Paraguay 3 – 0 in a group match.

There were two more World Cup competitions before the next war broke out. Both played against a background of political unrest and intrigue. Firstly Uruguay refused to defend thier title in Europe because of the poor European representation four years earlier. Argentina deliberately sent a weakened team, as Mussolini had poached three Argentine players. Deciding that they had "Italian Lineage".  More were to follow. This time sixteen countries took part. Twelve of these were from Europe. An about face to the previous competition in ’30.

The format was changed to a knock-out competition. Not well received, by and large.  The quarter-finals turned out to be an ALL EUROPEAN affair. There were dissenting  voices to be heard.

Not unnaturally the referees bore the brunt of this. M.Mercet of Switzerland was suspended , eventually, by his own association for blatant bias to the Italians.Swedish referee Eklind was accused of conspiring with Mussolini, before matches.  The Italians were expected, by their own fans , at least, to win the trophy and they went about the task in a very "heavy" way. The home-born Italians very ably abetted by the growing number of Argentine "Italians", battled,  or rather battered, their way past, first Spain and then in the semi, the very talented Austria. Brawn again winning the day.

In the final the football playing Czechoslovakia ran rings round the Italians but taking some seventy minutes to score. With less than ten minutes remaining Orsi, yet another Argentine "Italian" scored a freakish equaliser. In extra time the Czechs ran out of steam and finally Schavio scored Italy’s winner. Mussolini’s propoganda and alleged "referee-plant" had triumphed
                                                                                                                                
The 1938 World Cup in France was a real let-down. Once again political turmoil and the ever increasing prospect of war, dividing alliances. Only fifteen countries sent teams. Twelve from Europe two from the Americas ,(well fancied Brazil and Cuba) and one from Asia, Dutch East Indies. Uruguay still had their knickers in a twist over the supposed European snub eight years earlier. Argentina declined to play because they tried to insist, unsuccessfully, that the World Cup should alternate between The Americas and Europe.True to type, the Argentine people, on hearing that they wouldn’t be taking part, rioted.   The Home Nations were invited to play but all declined.

Once again a knock-out system was employed. This gave Sweden a first round bye.
The tournament itself was more remembered for it’s brutality than it’s football. The Italians were at the forefront of the rougher games and even Brazil were quite out of charactor and had two players "red-carded" in their game with Czechoslovakia. Brazil met Italy in the semi-final and were duly put in their place.

The final, in Paris, should have been a classic. Italy‘s defence against the very skillful Hungarians. It turned out to be another rough-house from the Italians. They just intimidated the Magyars and went in at half-time 3 – 1 to the good. Although the Hungarians tried to play football in the second half the Italians shut-up shop.The Italian defence gifted a second goal to Hungary,then went to the other end to score the goal of the tournament. Thus Italy became the first country to successfully defend their trophy.
The next World Cup Tournament would be twelve years hence. i’m sure we English want to forget that one.

After the end of the Great War sport in general and football in particular tried to return to normal.
For some teams that meant replacing players who had been killed or whose injuries meant they couldn’t return, either.

F.I.F.A. also found things wouldn’t run smoothly.
Before start of the war they had expanded into the Americas and Africa. New members were Canada, United States, a couple from South America and South Africa. The travel restrictions prevented many Internationals from being played. The hoped for nurturing of a greater grouping had to be put on hold.

The biggest blow of all, for F.I.F.A. was the death in October 1918 of it’s President D.B.Woolfall.
It wasn’t far off extinction but somehow survived under the Presidentship of Dutchman Carl Hirschmann. However trouble continued to dog the association and in 1920/21 the Football Association of the Irish Free State was formed to oversee the game in Southern Ireland. Leaving the Irish Football Association as the governing body of the Six Counties. Not really a problem for F.I.F.A. except that the Home Countries PLUS Northern Ireland promptly resigned from the Association. They wouldn’t take part in the Association which included enemies from the recent war. (Germany, Austria and Hungary). The Home Countries plus Begium, Luxembourg and France called for the "Enemies" to be expelled. Their wish wasn’t granted so the Home Countries broke away from F.i.F.A.This situation was to look like an on-off engagement between two temperamental suitors. In 1924 they were enticed  back into the F.I.F.A. fold.

Forward four years and they broke-up once again. This time over players being paid, "Broken Time" money in the 1928 Olympic Games Tournament. So for around 20  years their main competition was the Home Championship which had re-started in 1919. Even so England played many internatioal matches whilst not affiliated. Fairly regularly playing  France and Belgium, whom they seemed to use for shooting practice.  It was at this time that Scotland began to take the unofficial title of Best British Side. Unfortunately England could only lay claim to being third out of the four countries. Wales at this time were beginning to show their true worth. They started the campaign with a 2 – 1 victory over England at the home of Arsenal. The following season. They drew 0 – 0 at Ninian Park in Cardiff.

Of the twenty Championships up to the start of the Second World War England managed just three outright wins and three shared. Whereas Wales won six outright and shared one Scotland’s record over the same period was seven outright and four shared.
Every Scotsman will of course point to the 1928 game at WEMBLEY as Scotland’s FINEST HOUR. In this game, Scotlands forward line of Alex Jackson,( 3 goals) James Dunn, Hughie Gallacher, Alex James( 2 goals) and Alan Morton, ran the English defence ragged. England’s consolation goal, in a 5 – 1 hammering game with virtually the last kick of the game.For many years the Scotland side were lovingly referred to as THE WEMBLEY WIZARDS. Not just by the Scots, either.

As the 1930′s dawned so did the World Cup. This was the brain child of Frenchman Jules Rimet. He was President of F.I.F.A. and must be given much praise  for this innovation and for his work in helping to enlarge the membership to  more than quadruple it’s 1920 figure by the time he retired in 1954.

Referees, Again.
It would appear that our much hated card flourisher Mike Riley is to put his whistle away for good. Keith Hackett the chief of the PROFESSIONAL GAME MATCHDAY OFFICIAL is going into retirement and will be succeeded by Mr Riley.  The pair will work in tandem for the final six months of Mr Hacketts contract, to ensure a smooth transition.