On June 10, 1934, more than 50,000 people poured into the Stade Nationale in Rome to watch the World Cup finals in Italy and Czechoslovakia. At the time, dictator Mussolini was supervising the battle in the stadium's grandstand box.
Before the final, Mussolini forced Italy to win the World Cup and told all the players in a threatening tone: "It's just a choice, either win the championship or die." ”
Pure football spirit, always do not want to bring politics into the green field, but the political elements are always pervasive, its behind-the-scenes manipulators unscrupulously infiltrate their ambitions into the football game, the high-profile World Cup has never been separated from politics from the beginning.
In 1930, when Uruguay's first World Cup was held, European countries were in a period of economic depression and boycotted the competition. Later, after the diplomatic activities of FIFA President Remitt, 4 European countries were involved.
In the end, Uruguay in South America beat Argentina 4-2, becoming the first champion in World Cup history.
Uruguay, the first World Cup winner in 1930
Despite the modest size of the inaugural World Cup, the new global soccer tournament shook Italy on the Apennines.
As a football fanatic, Mussolini personally ordered the successful application and acquisition of the right to host the second World Cup by the national football association.
Dictator Mussolini not only had to dominate the arena, but more importantly, he wanted to use the World Cup to show how united and invincible the Great Roman Empire was under his leadership.
Benito Mussolini, one of the culprits of World War II. In October 1922, he staged a military coup and climbed to the position of Prime Minister. In 1928, he began to impose a fascist dictatorship.
Mussolini and Hitler
In 1933, Hitler and Mussolini jointly established the military and political center of Berlin and Rome. Italy was experiencing an economic crisis when it bid for the World Cup.
Mussolini believes that as long as he wins the World Cup, he can get more popular support, and he vowed to tell FIFA that he will host a grand event that makes the world jealous at all costs.
In view of the gradual expansion of fascism, most of the European countries adopted a policy of appeasement. In the end, FIFA gave italy the right to host the World Cup.
Mussolini then began building stadiums throughout Italy. In just a few years, 3,000 football pitches have sprung up.
Giuseppe Meazza
At that time, Italian football had great strength, especially center Giuseppe Meazza, which was already a household name. However, Giuseppe Meazza is an outspoken fascist, shouting Mussolini's name every time he scores a goal.
Just as Italy was preparing for the World Cup, there was news that South America had collectively boycotted the Italian World Cup. Because the first World Cup was held in Uruguay, South America, and at that time, European countries boycotted it and refused to participate.
As a retaliation, when the second World Cup was held in Italy in Europe, Uruguay and other countries also refused to participate. While Uruguay's defending battle was avoided, countries such as Hungary, Spain and Argentina were strong contenders.
In order to ensure the victory, Mussolini ordered the search for outstanding footballers around the world and stipulated that only a change of nationality was required to play for Italy.
Luis Monti
Under this policy, Argentina's home players were unexpectedly emptied, and many players such as Luis Monti joined. The improvised Italian team cut off any contact with the outside world and was secretly sent to the mountains and forests for intensive training, a move that set a precedent for a long period of closed training.
In the 1930s, football training was not standardized, most players were in a loose, amateur state, so this intensive, semi-military, professional training for the quality of players is extremely obvious, coupled with the addition of excellent players from all over the world, undoubtedly doubled the strength of the Italian team.
In addition to co-opting the players, Mussolini and Hitler also "pointed fingers" at the referees and put pressure on the referees through behind-the-scenes deals. At that time, the World Cup format was not yet standardized, and Mussolini intervened and arranged a number of referees.
After the opening of the World Cup, meeting in the final became the common dream of the fascist countries of Italy and Germany.
In the second World Cup of 1934, Italy vs Spain
The quarter-finals of the second World Cup were held in Fiorentina, with Italy facing The Cowman Spain, the first uphill battle the hosts had since the start of the tournament.
Dressed in a blue jersey personally chosen by Mussolini, the Italian players launched a fierce attack on the Spanish team amid the cheers of the domestic audience.
In this match, 7 Spanish players were kicked and injured, 4 Italians were tied, and the score of 1-1 was maintained until the end of extra time.
It is worth mentioning that the Italian team scored a goal after injuring the opposing goalkeeper Zamora, and the Swiss referee Messette judged the goal to be valid.
According to the format at the time, the two teams began a rematch the next day, and the two teams changed blood. Twelve minutes into the opening, when Meazza once again fouled Spanish substitute goalkeeper Nux, referee Messette closed his eyes.
Just as the Spanish fans were angry, a dramatic scene took place.
When Italy led 1-0, Spain also scored a goal, but what people never expected was that referee Messser actually fished the ball out of the goal and invalidated the goal on the grounds of "the ball out of bounds", which may be the most bizarre and absurd penalty in the history of the World Cup.
Rayner Messett
The on-duty referee, Rena Messser, was just one of the many referees appointed by Mussolini, which was also the result of the Nazis' involvement in the World Cup.
Spain's goal hero Luis Regueiro complained: "The referees have been told that Italy must win and the fascist regime needs it. ”
Although Mussolini has repeatedly declared to the world that this World Cup strives to be fair and equitable, his behind-the-scenes manipulation has been spurned by people all over the world.
On 3 June, Milan's San Siro Stadium welcomed the semi-finals between Italy and Austria. As it had just rained before the race, the venue was very muddy.
Under Mussolini's gaze, the Italian team stubbornly chained defense, making it impossible for the Austrian genius player Sindrar, known as the "paper man", to play.
2nd World Cup 1934, Italy vs Austria
In the 19th minute of the opening round, Italian centre-forward Meazza charged the Austrian goalkeeper and lost the ball, and Anrique Guata scored the ball in a brutal snatch, making it 1-0 to advance to the final.
On the same day, Czechoslovakia defeated Germany 3-1, and Germany stopped in the semi-finals, failing to fulfill the illusion of meeting Italy in the final.
On June 10, 1934, at the National Stadium in Rome, everyone was looking forward to the final between Italy and Czechoslovakia.
In Mussolini's view, Czechoslovakia was nothing more than a small, weak country that had not been established for a long time, and could not be compared with Italy at all.
Mussolini even thought that it was just a joke for Italy to face such a small country in such an important World Cup final.
On that day, Mussolini sat in the box as usual, and the Italian team raised their right hands from the center of the field to salute the grandstand in fascist manners.
Mussolini called referee Swede Ivan Eklinde to his side, and by the 30th minute of the game, Czech left winger Puck took advantage of a corner kick opportunity to open the record, and the stadium fell silent.
Mussolini was annoyed, but only 6 minutes later, Italy's Orsi equalised a goal, dragging the match into extra time.
Shortly after extra time began, Italy suffered a severe blow, with the main scorer Meazza injured in the scramble, but he quickly returned to the game.
In the 95th minute of extra time, with the assistance of Meazza, teammate Schiavio scored the winning goal, and Italy won the championship in a wild way amid the roar of the crowd shouting "leader". However, 11 czechoslovak players were all injured.
The Italian flag fluttered in the wind, and the center Meazza shouted the name of the leader Mussolini, once again becoming a star in the spotlight.
Italy won the championship
For Mussolini, the mission of the World Cup has been completed, and he has successfully won the hearts and minds of the people and turned Italy into a fascist empire like a fake bag.
Remit, then president of FIFA, later said: "The second World Cup should be renamed, called the Fascist World Cup." ”
When the time came to 1938, the third World Cup was held in France. However, this World Cup is still shrouded in the haze of fascism.
In 1938, Europe was already black clouds, Hitler and Mussolini plotted to start World War II, and Germany, known as the "Third Reich", annexed Austria on March 12, which is the famous German-Austrian merger. At this time, the ambitious Hitler ordered that all the best Players from Austria be included in the German team.
In the 1930s, Austria was a very strong team. Before the start of the third World Cup, Austria had already qualified for the qualifiers and could fully reach the finals. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, Germany annexed Austrian territory, and austrian teams were forced to be incorporated into the German team.
Sindrar
Sindrar, the soul of the Austrian team, is known as "Mozart on the pitch" and his dribbling technique is fascinating, and he expresses his determination not to go along with fascism and refuses to play for the newly formed German team.
Unfortunately, Sindrar, a Jew, died mysteriously at home. After the scene investigation, the police gave the statement that "Sindrar died of gas poisoning". However, this conclusion is not convincing, and the real cause of Sindrar's death has become a historical suspense.
The Austrians regarded Sindrar as an anti-Nazi hero, and on the day of his funeral, the number of volunteers reached 20,000.
On 4 June 1938, the Aude Imperial and Swiss teams kicked off the World Cup in a very unfriendly atmosphere. Under the obscenity of fascism, 8 Austrian players put on sportswear with fascist motifs.
The Ord Imperial Team gave a Nazi salute to the podium
When the Ode Reich players gave a Nazi salute to the podium before kick-off and shouted "Hitler" in their mouths, the French audience booed. Compared to the enthusiasm of the French fans in the stands, the whole game was very dull.
Although the Austrian Reich team concentrated the German and Austrian football elite, the German coach was never able to integrate the two football styles.
The Austrian players were absent-minded, while the German players were demoralized without a manager. In the 23rd minute, a goal was scored by German Player Joseph Gaucher of TheOderReich, and Switzerland drew the score at a 1-1 draw in the 43rd minute.
Since then, the two sides have not scored a goal, and after extra time, they are still tied.
On 9 June, the Order Empire and Switzerland played again. After leading by two points, eight players from Austria began to fight passively, and the Swiss team took the opportunity to fight back.
Half an hour later, the Odd Empire lost 2-4 to the small swiss country. Suddenly, almost all the parisians of the city were cheering and celebrating.
1938 third World Cup, Aude Imperial vs Swiss
In order to suppress the arrogance of Nazi Germany, fans and spectators around the world are looking forward to any team that can beat the Ord Reichs on the field.
On 19 June 1938, Italy and Hungary competed for the third World Cup. Before the game, Mussolini declared: "Victory is winning, failure is death." ”
In order to force the Italian team to compete for the World Cup title, Mussolini also personally led the heavily armed military police to wait outside the field, and if he lost the game, he would order the shooting of all Italian players participating in the game.
Just six minutes into the game, Italy's Claussi opened the scoring with a volley. Two minutes later, Hungary equalised.
In the end, Italy beat Hungary 4-2 with the excellent performance of goalscorer Piola and center Meazza, and successfully won the World Cup championship.
Hungarian goalkeeper Szapo said after the match: "Although we lost the game, we saved the lives of 22 footballers. ”
In the two World Cups of 1934 and 1938, italy won the championship, but in a deeper sense, the gold content of these two World Cups was greatly reduced, and even this is a stain on the history of Italian football that can never be erased.
In 1938, just one year after the end of the World Cup in France, the German-Italian fascists had long planned the Outbreak of World War II, which swept the world.
Although Germany, Brazil and other countries submitted reports to bid for the World Cup, FIFA decided to terminate the World Cup that was supposed to be held in 1942.
During World War II, FIFA President Remitt was on the run to ensure that the spirit of football did not die, and he worked hard to persuade the media to continue to talk about football and talk about the free spirit of the World Cup.
Remitt (first from left) presents the trophy to uruguay, the first World Cup winner
On 9 April 1945, the Allies launched a general offensive against Italy, and Mussolini fled Milan after issuing an order refusing to surrender.
On 27 April, Mussolini and his mistress Clara Betasi were captured by the guerrillas on their way to escape and executed the next day.
On 30 April, when the Red Army captured Berlin, Hitler committed suicide in the basement with his wife, Eva Braun.
The evil lives of the two fascist tyrants came to an end. After the war, FIFA returned to normal operations.
During the Allied occupation of Italy, the World Cup trophy was stored in a safe in Rome by the president of the Italian Football Association, Barassi, and then hidden in a shoe box under his bed, so as to avoid destruction.
World Cup trophy: Remit Cup
As Europe was in ruins, it would take time to recover from the wounds of war. On the contrary, South America, which was saved in a corner of the world war, has made great progress in football, especially brazil.
Brazil announced it will start construction of the world's largest Stadium in Maracanã, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. As a result, FIFA granted Brazil the right to host the fourth World Cup.
Due to the subsequent effects of World War II, Germany has split into East and West Germany, and none of them have signed up for the qualifiers, and all Eastern European countries have withdrawn from the World Cup. As the champions of the last two terms, italy's battle to defend their title in this World Cup is also extremely difficult.
More importantly, in 1949, just before the Start of the World Cup, Italy's best team, Turin, suffered an air crash.
On 4 May 1949, all the players of Italy's first strongest team, Turin FC, were lost in an air crash, including eight members of the Italian national team, which reduced Italy's strength sharply.
The plane that was killed by the Italian Turin team
At this World Cup, the Italian team refused to fly to the competition, but arrived in Brazil after several weeks of drifting, which greatly reduced the status of the Italian players.
In the end, Italy lost 2-3 to Sweden in the group stage, and winning the championship became a shattered dream.
The rise and fall of a team depends largely on the number and quality of stars, and even at some point, a star can top a team.
Italy, the defeated country, has been seriously affected in all aspects, with political instability, economic regression, and even football. And the 1950 World Cup, in a way, was the beginning of a new era of football.
It is worth mentioning that in all the matches of this World Cup, not a single player has been sent off the field. Perhaps because after the baptism of World War II, people cherished the hard-won peace even more. After the end of World War II, the pattern of world football also changed.
World Cup trophy: Hercules Cup
Brazil rose to prominence, winning the title three times in 1958, 1962 and 1970, thus permanently occupying the Remit Cup.
To that end, FIFA remade a new World Cup, now the Hercules Cup. The Italian team suffered a major injury after the air crash in 1949, and failed to achieve a breakthrough for 10 years.
Germany split into East and West Germany after the war, and although west Germany soon performed the Bern miracle at the 1954 World Cup and won the championship, the East German football team remained unknown.
After the end of World War II, the brief peace did not last long. When football is at war again, what kind of competition will the players on the football field play for us?
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