World Cup 1934 Italy - Review & History
The Italians went into the tournament as clear favourites and did not disappoint, winning the trophy and becoming the second host country to lift the top prize. A trio of Argentinians - Enrico Guaita, Luisito Monti and Raimondo Orsi - defected to join up with the Italians and form the nucleus of a strong side under the shrewd leadership of Vittorio Pozzo.
The format of the tournament differed from that seen in Uruguay, with the group stages abandoned in preference for a straight knock-out system. This proved costly for both Brazil and Argentina who had sailed 8,000 miles to take part, only for the two sides to lose their first-round matches.
Hugo Meisl's Austria were said to be Italy's biggest rivals and they came head to head at the semi-final stage. A heavy pitch prevented two footballing sides from playing an attractive passing game and it took a solitary strike from Guaita to settle the tie. Czechoslovakia booked their place in the final with a 3-1 victory against Germany. Oldrich Nejedly netted twice as he ended the tournament as leading scorer with five. Italy were 2-1 victors in the final, coming from behind to grab a dramatic winner in extra-time through Angelo Schiavio.
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World Cup 1934 results (Held in Italy)
Semi-finals
Czechoslovakia 3-1 Germany
Italy 1-0 Austria
FINAL - Stadio Torino, Roma
Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia
TOP SCORERS World Cup 1934
Angelo Schiavio (Italy) 4
Oldrich Nejedly (Czechoslovakia) 4
Edmund Conen (Germany) 4
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