FIFA World cup history: Italy 1934

Why Italy?

The decision to hold the 1934 World Cup in Italy was made by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body of soccer. At the time, Italy was seen as a strong and influential footballing nation, and the country had a long history of hosting major sports events, including the 1906 Olympic Games and the 1927 European Athletics Championships.

There were several other contenders to host the 1934 World Cup, including Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria. However, Italy was ultimately chosen due to its strong infrastructure, including well-developed transportation systems and high-quality facilities for hosting sports events.

Additionally, Italy's political climate at the time may have also played a role in the decision. The country was ruled by the fascist government of Benito Mussolini, and hosting the World Cup was seen as an opportunity for the government to showcase the strength and power of the Italian state.

Overall, the decision to hold the 1934 World Cup in Italy was based on a combination of the country's strong footballing reputation, its well-developed infrastructure, and its political climate.

Tournament Format

The tournament format for the 1934 World Cup was as follows:

1. Group Stage: The 16 teams were divided into four groups of four teams each, with each team playing the other three teams in their group once. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage.
2. Knockout Stage: The eight remaining teams were divided into two groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
3. Semi-finals: The four remaining teams played two semi-final matches, with the winners advancing to the final.
4. Final: The two remaining teams played in the final to determine the overall winner of the tournament.

Stadiums

The 1934 World Cup was held in four different stadiums in Italy. These stadiums were:

1. Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan: This stadium, also known as the San Siro, was the largest of the four World Cup stadiums, with a capacity of 85,000 spectators. It was the venue for the final match between Italy and Czechoslovakia.
2. Stadio Nazionale PNF in Rome: This stadium, also known as the Stadio Flaminio, had a capacity of 35,000 spectators and was used for several group stage matches, as well as the semi-final between Italy and Austria.
3. Stadio Comunale in Turin: This stadium, also known as the Stadio Filadelfia, had a capacity of 45,000 spectators and was used for several group stage matches.
4. Stadio Benito Mussolini in Bologna: This stadium, also known as the Stadio Littoriale, had a capacity of 55,000 spectators and was used for several group stage matches.

All four of these stadiums were located in major cities in Italy and were considered state-of-the-art at the time. They were chosen for their large capacity and excellent facilities, including seating areas for spectators, media centers, and VIP areas.

Top contenders and their figures

The 1934 World Cup featured 16 teams from around the world, but there were a few standout contenders that were expected to perform well in the tournament. These teams included:

1. Italy: As the host nation, Italy was considered one of the top contenders for the 1934 World Cup. The team was led by star player Giuseppe Meazza and ultimately went on to win the tournament, defeating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final.
2. Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia was another strong contender in the 1934 World Cup, finishing as the runner-up after losing to Italy in the final. The team was led by star player Antonin Puc and had a solid defense, only conceding one goal in the entire tournament.
3. Austria: Austria was another strong team in the 1934 World Cup, finishing in third place after losing to Italy in the semi-finals. The team was led by star player Matthias Sindelar and had a strong attack, scoring eight goals in the tournament.
4. Hungary: Hungary was another top contender in the 1934 World Cup, finishing in fourth place after losing to Czechoslovakia in the semi-finals. The team was led by star player Gyorgy Sarosi and had a solid defense, only conceding three goals in the tournament.

The road to the championship of the Italian team

The Italian team's road to the championship in the 1934 World Cup was a difficult and challenging one. In the group stage, Italy was placed in Group A and faced off against Spain, Brazil, and the United States. The team won all three of its matches, defeating Spain 3-1, Brazil 2-1, and the United States 7-1.

In the knockout stage, Italy was placed in Group 2 with Austria and Czechoslovakia. The team won its first match against Czechoslovakia 3-2, but lost its second match against Austria 1-0. However, Italy was still able to advance to the semi-finals due to its superior goal difference.

In the semi-finals, Italy faced off against Austria and won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Giovanni Ferrari. This victory secured Italy's place in the final, where they faced off against Czechoslovakia.

The final was a closely contested match, with both teams evenly matched. However, Italy was able to come out on top, thanks to two goals from Angelo Schiavio and Raimundo Orsi. The final score was 2-1 in favor of Italy, securing the team's first-ever World Cup championship.

Other facts about the 1934 world cup:

1. The 1934 World Cup was the second edition of the tournament and the first to feature a knockout stage.
2. A total of 16 teams participated in the tournament, representing 14 different countries. This was the largest number of teams to participate in a World Cup at the time.
3. The tournament was held in four different cities in Italy: Milan, Rome, Turin, and Bologna.
4. The 1934 World Cup saw the introduction of the golden goal rule, which allowed matches to be decided by a goal scored in extra time. This rule was later abolished in 2004.
5. Italy's victory in the 1934 World Cup was their first-ever World Cup championship. They would go on to win the tournament again in 1938 and 1982.
6. The 1934 World Cup saw the emergence of several star players, including Giuseppe Meazza of Italy and Matthias Sindelar of Austria. Both players are considered among the all-time greats of the sport.

Continue reading about the history of the FIFA world cup:

FIFA World cup history: Uruguay 1930