Soccer Nostalgia: Soccer at the Olympics-Part 6 (1936-Berlin, Germany)

Following Uruguay’s second consecutive Olympics triumph in 1928, it would be another eight years for Soccer to appear in the Olympics. For the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, the organizers did not include Soccer as part of the Games.

By 1936 the Football and Geopolitical landscape had considerably changed. Two World Cups in 1930 and 1934 had already taken place.

The 1936 Olympics were to take place in Berlin, Germany just a few years after Adolf Hitler and the Nazis had taken over control of the Nation.

While the Great War was only short few years away, it certainly did not appear a certainty at this point. Nevertheless, the Nazis were intent to use these Games for Propaganda purposes to show their racial superiority.

In all there would be 16 Nations for these Games.

The Germans were still under the Management of Dr. Otto Nerz and included some future 1938 World Cup players such as Urban, Gauchel and Reinhold Munzenberg among others.

They were expected to be Champions as hosts by the Nazi hierarchy.

The other favorites were Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy. He had managed Italy to World Cup success just two years prior. For the spirit of the games, he chose to select a novice squad of young uncapped players who were actually mostly students. The standouts among them were the Juventus defensive pair of Alfredo Foni and Pietro Rava, as well as Annibale Frossi of Internazionale Milano upfront. Frossi would be distinctive for wearing eyeglasses attached with an elastic band.

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(Vittorio Pozzo and Italian players)

The British Nations, though still at odds with FIFA, presented a combined Amateur team of Great Britain with Englishmen and a handful of Scottish and Northern Irishmen.

As professionalism had already been established in Austria and Hungary, the teams were entirely made up of Amateur players and as a result weakened.

Finland, Poland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Turkey and Norway rounded out the European competitors.

Norway in particular would give an indication of things to come for 1938 World Cup.

Egypt (present in the 1934 World Cup) represented the continent of Africa, while the United States of America represented the North America.

The Imperial Japan and China were the representatives of the Asian continent.

South American presence was only limited to Peru, managed by Alberto Denegri (who had played in the 1930 World Cup).

The continent’s main sides, Uruguay (double Olympic Champions), Argentina (Finalist in the 1928 Games) and Brazil were missing.

Uruguay had already boycotted the 1934 World Cup as a protest for the many European absences in the 1930 World Cup and perhaps this was the reason for their absence for 1936 as well.

Other Notable absences included the likes of Belgium, Holland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. It was thought they had refused participation on Political grounds.

The First Round of matches took place between August 3^rd and August 6^th.

On August 3^rd, Italy took on the United States, while Norway faced Turkey.

For the 1934 World Cup, Italians had also kicked off the Tournament against the Americans and had ran out (7-1) winners and were perhaps expecting a similar outcome. The disjointed Italians who had not played together before (every Italian player was earning his first presence) struggled for cohesion and the match was a scrappy affair. The Italians only won (1-0) through a Frossi strike in the 58^th minute. Just five minutes prior, Italy’s Pietro Rava had been expelled after kicking the American George Menchik in the stomach. Rava became the first Italian player ever to be sent off in International play.

They were lucky not to lose another man as German Referee Karl Weingärtner was about to sent off Achille Piccini, after his brutal foul tore the ligaments of Bill Fiedler. However, Weingärtner gave up on the idea under the barrage of furious Italian protests.

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 33, August 2000

(Annibale Frossi, August 3, 1936, Olympics, Italy 1-USA 0)

As for Norway, they were comfortable winners (4-0) against Turkey and advanced.

The first surprise of the Tournament took place on the following day as Japan faced Sweden. The more experienced Swedes were expected to win and took a (2-0) lead in the first half. However, Japan stormed back in the second half and scored three answered goals in the second half. Two of Japan’s goalscorers’: Tokutaro Ukon and Akira Matsunaga would be killed in the fighting during World War II.

Photo From: IFFHS-Norge (1908-1940), Suomi (1911-1940)-Essti (1920-1940)

(August 3, 1936, Olympics, Norway 4-Turkey 0)

Photo From: år med Svensk Fotboll 1904-84, Author Glanell Thomas red

(August 4, 1936, Olympics, Japan 3-Sweden 2)

On the same day, the German hosts took on Luxembourg and comfortably won (9-0) as was to be expected. Adolf Urban (another casualty of World War II) and Wilhelm Simetsreiter had hat tricks each, while Josef Gauchel notched a double.

Photo From: Kicker Sportsmagazin Edition, 100 Jahre Deutsche Landerspiele

(August 4, 1936, Olympics, Germany 9-Luxembourg 0)

On the next day, August 5^th, the Austrian Amateurs eliminated Egypt (3-1), while Poland eliminated the Hungarian Amateurs (3-0).

IFFHS-Russia (1912-1920), Soviet Union (1923-1940), Polska (1921-1940), Lietuva (1923-1940)

(Poland squad, August 5, 1936, Olympics, Poland 3-Hungary 0)

On the last day of the First Round, August 6^th, Great Britain made its entry and eliminated China (2-0).

On the same day, the surprising Peruvians defeated Finland (7-3) to advance to the next round.

Photo From: IFFHS-Olympic Football Tournaments (1908-1936)

(August 6, 1936, Olympics, Great Britain 2-China 0)

The Second Round matches took place on August 7^th and 8^th.

Following Italy’s dismal performance vs. USA, their Manager Vittorio Pozzo had apparently laid down the law that night in their team talk and forced his squad to face their responsibilities. This appeared to have paid dividends as on August 7^th, the Italians faced Japan. The Italians found their cohesion and were dominant in every aspect as they won (8-0) with Carlo Biagi scoring four goals and Frossi scoring three of his own.

On the same day, Germany faced Norway under the watchful eye of the Nazi top brass including Hitler himself. Nothing but a German victory was expected but Norway surprised the hosts with better tactics and won (2-0) through an early and late double strike from Magnar Isaksen.

Photo From: Landslaget, Det Norske Fotballandslagets Historie, authors Egil Olsen, Arne Scheie, Per Jorsett, Otto Ulseth, 1997

(August 7, 1936, Olympics, Germany 0-Norway 2)

Photo From: IFFHS-Norge (1908-1940), Suomi (1911-1940)-Essti (1920-1940)

(Norway squad, August 7, 1936, Olympics, Germany 0-Norway 2)

Germany Manager Otto Nerz had made the mistake of resting many of his players (as many as five changes from his squad vs. Luxembourg).

The result was nothing short of catastrophic for Germany. Dr. Otto Nerz was dismissed as Manager shortly thereafter (to be replaced by his Assistant Sepp Herberger, who would remain in his post for 28!! years until 1964).

As a member of the Nazi Party, Nerz would be arrested at the end of the War and would die in a Soviet POW camp in 1949.

It was said that this was the last ever Football Match that Hitler watched.

On the next day, August 8^th, Poland sprung a surprise of their own by defeating Great Britain (5-4). The Poles were leading (5-1) at one stage before the British scored a few consolation goals.

Photo From: IFFHS-Russia (1912-1920), Soviet Union (1923-1940), Polska (1921-1940), Lietuva (1923-1940)

(August 8, 1936, Olympics, Poland 5-Great Britain 4)

On the same day, the most entertaining match of the Round (perhaps the whole Tournament) took place as Peru faced the Austrian amateurs.

Austria had taken a two-goal lead and were seemingly headed for victory before Peru tied the match with two late goals. The match had to go to extra time, where Peru scored twice. However, after Peru’s fourth goal, Peru reserve players, coaching staff and even fans invaded the pitch to celebrate, under the furious protest of the Austrians. The Austrians officially lodged a protest and FIFA agreed with them and ordered the replay. However, the Peruvians’ entire Olympic Delegation refused and left the Tournament in protest and the Austrians were declared as winners.

The Semifinals took place on August 10^th and 11^th at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

The now more confident Italians faced Norway, the surprise winners over Germany. The match would be similar to their clash in two years in the World Cup as the Italians won though through great difficulty. Frossi would score the Italians’ winner (2-1) in the extra time to advance to the Final.

Photo From: Il Libro Azzurro del Calcio Italiano, Authors Pericle Pratelli, Pasquale Scardillo, 1974

(Italy squad taking on the field, August 10, 1936, Olympics, Italy 2-Norway 1)

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(August 10, 1936, Olympics, Italy 2-Norway 1)

Photo From: IFFHS-Norge (1908-1940), Suomi (1911-1940)-Essti (1920-1940)

(August 10, 1936, Olympics, Italy 2-Norway 1)

Following the match, both teams were waiting for their bus. Norway’s bus did not arrive and as a sign of sportsmanship, Vittorio Pozzo offered the Norwegians to join the Italians in their bus. The German Sergeant in charge of the bus did not want responsibility for two teams in same bus and opposed this gesture. Pozzo shouted in German and convinced him.

Italy’s Bertoni had been injured in the match and to heal him in time for the Final, Pozzo enlisted the help of Dr Zezi of Italy’s Rowing Team.

On the next day, the Austrian Amateurs, whom many felt should have been eliminated, defeated Poland (3-1) to face Italy in the Final.

On August 13^th, Norway defeated Poland (3-2) to claim the Bronze Medal for the Nation’s most successful Generation (until at least Egil Olsen’s 1990s Generation).

Photo From: IFFHS-Russia (1912-1920), Soviet Union (1923-1940), Polska (1921-1940), Lietuva (1923-1940)

(August 13, 1936, Olympics, Norway 3-Poland 2)

On August 15^th, the 1934 World Cup winners Italy took on Austria hoping to emulate Uruguay as World Cup and Olympic winners.

The Italians had gradually improved after their poor opening match vs. USA and were confident against an Austrian side that had the German crowd on its side.

In the end it turned out to be a boring and defensive Final. Frossi broke the deadlock with twenty minutes left, picking up a rebound after Eduard Kainberger had parried Bertoni’s shot.

Eduard Kainberger’s forward brother Karl tied the match in the 80^th minute and the match went into extra time.

Just two minutes into extra time, Frossi volleyed in Italy’s winner from a cross from the left side by Gabriotti. Frossi ended as top goalscorer and Italy had become Olympic Champions, two years after winning the Olympic and thus matching Uruguay’s feat.

Even more significantly, Vittorio Pozzo had managed World Cup and Olympic winning sides (he would also go on and manage and win the 1938 World Cup as well).

The Italians’ defensive partnership of Foni and Rava would be the mainstay of the National Team for the upcoming years and the duo along with Ugo Locatelli and Sergio Bertoni would be part of the Italian squad that would win the 1938 World Cup. These four players are the only four Italian players to have won the World Cup and the Olympics Title.

These Games marked the end of the Pre-War era (as far as Olympics are concerned).

Little did people know that the next Soccer Olympics would be in over a decade’s time in 1948.

The World would be engulfed in a War with untold losses and would include some players that actually participated in these 1936 Games.