Compendium to Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 92-Matches of Italian National team during the 1939/40 season.

 

Italy National Team matches during the 1939/40 Season.

 

November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1 (Numa Monnard 5, Georges Aeby 61, 88 / Ettore Puricelli 28)

November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2 (Franz Binder 20, 36, 84 pen, Ernst Lehner Lehner 65, Edmund Conen 67 / Giacomo Neri 15, Attilio Demaria 27 pen)

March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1 (Guido Corbelli 36 / Alfred Bickel 20)

April 14, 1940, Roma, Italy 2-Romania 1 (Amedeo Biavati 61, Silvio Piola 78 / Iuliu Baratky 48)

May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2 (Gino Colaussi 17, Sergio Bertoni I 25, Amedeo Biavati 58    / Franz Binder 28, 52)

 

 

Date: November 12, 1939

Competition: Friendly

Result: Switzerland 3-Italy 1

Venue: Zürich –Hardturm Stadion (Grasshoppers-Club Zürich)

Attendance: 10,000

Referee: Louis Baert (Belgium)

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Switzerland): Numa Monnard 5, Georges Aeby 61, 88

(Italy): Ettore Puricelli 28

Summary of goals:

1:0 (5^th minute, Switzerland): -

1:1 (28^th minute, Italy): -

2:1 (61^st minute, Switzerland): -

3:1 (88^th minute, Switzerland): -

Lineups:

Switzerland:

Gustavo Schlegel (Football Club Young Fellows Zürich)

Severino Minelli (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

August Lehmann (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

Hermann ‘Mandi’ Springer (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

Franco Andreoli (Football Club Lugano)

Jean Bichsel (Football Club Lausanne-Sports)

Alfred Bickel (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

Paul Aebi (Fußball Club Grenchen)

Numa Monnard (Servette Football Club- Genève)

Lauro Amado (Football Club Lugano)

Georges Aeby (Servette Football Club- Genève)

 

Coach: Federation’s Technical Commission.

 

Team Captain: Severino Minelli

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

 

Italy:

Guido Masetti (Associazione Sportiva Roma)      

Alfredo Foni (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)              

Pietro Rava (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)      

Teobaldo Depetrini (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)             

Michele Andreolo (Bologna Football Club)   

Giovanni Varglien II (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)            

Giacomo Neri (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Mario Perazzolo (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Ettore Puricelli (Bologna Football Club)   

Attilio Demaria (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)  

Pietro Ferraris II (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

 

Coach: Vittorio Pozzo

 

Team Captain: Pietro Rava

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-Final cap for Guido Masetti (2/0) (1936-1939).

2-Final cap for Giovanni Varglien II (3/0) (1936-1939).

3-First cap for Giacomo Neri.

4- First and only cap and only goal for Ettore Puricelli (1/1) (1939).

 

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno IX - 46 14 Novembre 1939

(November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1)

 

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno IX - 46 14 Novembre 1939

(November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1)

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1)

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

(November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1)

 

Date: November 26, 1939

Competition: Friendly

Result: Germany 5-Italy 2

Venue: Berlin -Olympia Stadion

Attendance: 45,000

Referee: Pedro Escartin (Spain)

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Germany): Franz Binder 20, 36, 84 pen, Ernst Lehner Lehner 65, Edmund Conen 67

(Italy): Giacomo Neri 15, Attilio Demaria 27 pen

Summary of goals:

0:1 (15^th minute, Italy): -

1:1 (20^th minute, Germany): -

1:2 (27^th minute, Italy): -

2:2 (36^th minute, Germany): -

3:2 (65^th minute, Germany): -

4:2 (67^th minute, Germany): -

5:2 (84^th minute, Germany): -

Lineups:

Germany:

Rudolf Raftl (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

Paul Janes (Düsseldorfer Turn-und Sportverein Fortuna 1895 e.V.)        

Willi Billmann (1.Fußball-Club Nürnberg - Verein für Leibesübungen e.V. )       

Andreas Kupfer (1.Fußball-Club Schweinfurt 05 e.V. - Verein für Leibesübungen)

Hans Rohde (Eimsbüttler Turnverband e.V.-Hamburg)

Albin Kitzinger (1.Fußball-Club Schweinfurt 05 e.V. - Verein für Leibesübungen)

Ernst Lehner (Turn- und Sport-Verein 1847 Schwaben Augsburg e.V.)

Wilhelm Hahnemann (Sport Klub Admira Wien) 

Edmund Conen (Sportverein Stuttgarter Kickers e.V.)

Franz Binder (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

Hans Pesser (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

 

Coach: Josef ‘Sepp’ Herberger

 

Team Captain: Paul Janes

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-(Sportklub Rapid Wien), (Sport Klub Admira Wien), are Austrian teams, now part of Germany after the Anschlus.

 

Italy:

Aldo Olivieri (Associazione Calcio Torino)    

Sergio Marchi (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Vittorio Sardelli (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Mario Genta (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)   

Giovanni Battistoni (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Mario Perazzolo (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Giacomo Neri (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)   

Attilio Demaria (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)  

Aldo Boffi (Associazione Calcio Milano)    

Luigi Scarabello (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Luigi ‘Gino’ Colaussi (Unione Sportiva Triestina)

 

Coach: Vittorio Pozzo

 

Team Captain: Luigi ‘Gino’ Colaussi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-Final cap for Mario Perazzolo (8/0) (1936-1939).

2-One and only cap for Sergio Marchi (1/0) (1939).

3- One and only cap for Vittorio Sardelli (1/0) (1939).

3-Final cap for Mario Genta (2/0) (1939).

4- Final cap for Giovanni Battistoni (2/0) (1939).

5- Final cap for Aldo Boffi (2/0) (1938-1939).

6- Final cap for Luigi Scarabello (2/0) (1936-1939).

 

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno IX - 48 28 Novembre 1939

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno IX - 48 28 Novembre 1939

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

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

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

Photo From: Deutschlands Fussball Landerspiele, Eine Dokumentation von 1908-1989

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

 

Photo From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

 

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 17, March 1999

(Germany squad, November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

Date: March 3, 1940

Competition: Friendly

Result: Italy 1- Switzerland 1

Venue: Torino -Stadio Municipale ‘Benito Mussolini’

Attendance: 40,000

Referee: Alois Beranek (Austria)

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Italy): Guido Corbelli 36          

(Switzerland): Alfred Bickel 20 

Summary of goals:

0:1 (20^th minute, Switzerland): -

1:1 (36^th minute, Italy): -

Lineups:

Italy:

Aldo Olivieri (Associazione Calcio Torino)    

Alfredo Foni (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)              

Pietro Rava (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)       

Teobaldo Depetrini (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)              

Michele Andreolo (Bologna Football Club)   

Ugo Locatelli (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

Giacomo Neri (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Bruno Arcari IV (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Silvio Piola (Società Sportiva Lazio-Roma)   

Guido Corbelli (Associazione Calcio Venezia)  

Pietro Ferraris II (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

 

Coach: Vittorio Pozzo

 

Team Captain: Silvio Piola

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-Final cap for Giacomo Neri (2/0) (1939-1940).

2-One and only cap for Bruno Arcari IV (1/0) (1940).

3-One and only cap and only goal for Guido Corbelli (1/1) (1940).

 

Switzerland:

Erwin Ballabio (Fußball Club Grenchen)

Severino Minelli (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

August Lehmann (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

Hermann ‘Mandi’ Springer (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

Franco Andreoli (Football Club Lugano)

Jean Bichsel (Football Club Lausanne-Sports)

Alfred Bickel (Grasshopper-Club Zürich)

Andre ‘Trello’ Abegglen (Servette Football Club- Genève)

Numa Monnard (Servette Football Club- Genève)

Lauro Amado (Football Club Lugano)

Georges Aeby (Servette Football Club- Genève)

 

Coach: Federation's Technical Commission.

 

Team Captain: Severino Minelli

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

 

 

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno X - 10 - 05 Marzo 1940

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno X - 10 - 05 Marzo 1940

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

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

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

Photo From: IFFHS, Schweiz,Suisse, Svizzera (1905-1940) 

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

Photo From: IFFHS, Schweiz,Suisse, Svizzera (1905-1940) 

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

Date: April 14, 1940

Competition: Friendly

Result: Italy 2- Romania 1

Venue: Roma -Stadio Nazionale del P.N.F. (Partito Nazionale Fascista)

Attendance: 25,000

Referee: Alois Beranek (Austria)

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Italy): Amedeo Biavati 61, Silvio Piola 78    

(Romania): Iuliu Baratky 48      

Summary of goals:

0:1 (48^th minute, Romania): -

1:1 (61^st minute, Italy): -

2:1 (78^th minute, Italy): -

Lineups:

Italy:

Aldo Olivieri (Associazione Calcio Torino)    

Mario Pagotto (Bologna Football Club)   

Secondo Ricci (Bologna Football Club)   

Ugo Locatelli (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

Renato Olmi (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

Aldo Campatelli (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

Amedeo Biavati (Bologna Football Club)   

Silvio Piola (Società Sportiva Lazio-Roma)   

Sergio Bertoni I (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Attilio Demaria (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)  

Carlo Reguzzoni (Bologna Football Club)   

 

Coach: Vittorio Pozzo

 

Team Captain: Silvio Piola

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-Final cap for Attilio Demaria (13/3) (1932-1940).

2-First and only cap for Mario Pagotto (1/0) (1940).

3-First and only cap for Secondo Ricci (1/0) (1940).

4-First cap for Renato Olmi.

5- First and only cap for Carlo Reguzzoni (1/0) (1940).

 

Romania:

Mircea David (Venus Athletic Sport Club Bucureşti)   

Lazar Sfera (Venus Athletic Sport Club Bucureşti)   

Iosif Lengheriu (Fotbal Club Rapid Bucureşti)   

Vintila Cossini (Fotbal Club Rapid Bucureşti)   

Augustin Juhasz (Venus Athletic Sport Club Bucureşti)   

Ion Lupas (Venus Athletic Sport Club Bucureşti)   

Silviu Bindea (CAMT -Clubul Atletic Muncitoresc Timisoara)  

Ion ‘Michi’ Mihailescu (Sportul Studentesc- Bucureşti)   

Iuliu Baratky (Fotbal Club Rapid Bucureşti)   

Nicolae Reuter (CAMT -Clubul Atletic Muncitoresc Timisoara)  

Gheorghe Popescu (Sportul Studentesc- Bucureşti)   

 

Coach: Virgil Economu

 

Team Captain: Lazar Sfera

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

 

 

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno X - 16 - 16 Aprile 1940

(April 14, 1940, Roma, Italy 2-Romania 1)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno X - 16 - 16 Aprile 1940

(April 14, 1940, Roma, Italy 2-Romania 1)

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(April 14, 1940, Roma, Italy 2-Romania 1)

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

(April 14, 1940, Roma, Italy 2-Romania 1)

 

 

Date: May 5, 1940

Competition: Friendly

Result: Italy 3-Germany 2

Venue: Milano -Stadio Comunale, San Siro

Attendance: 65,000

Referee: Mihaly Ivancsis (Hungary)

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Italy): Gino Colaussi 17, Sergio Bertoni I 25, Amedeo Biavati 58

(Germany): Franz Binder 28, 52

Summary of goals:

1:0 (17^th minute, Italy): -

2:0 (25^th minute, Italy): -

2:1 (28^th minute, Germany): -

2:2 (52^nd minute, Germany): -

3:2 (58^th minute, Italy): -

Lineups:

Italy:

Aldo Olivieri (Associazione Calcio Torino)    

Alfredo Foni (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)              

Pietro Rava (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)       

Teobaldo Depetrini (Foot Ball Club Juventus-Torino)             

Renato Olmi (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

Aldo Campatelli (Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana -Inter- Milano)   

Amedeo Biavati (Bologna Football Club)   

Silvio Piola (Società Sportiva Lazio-Roma)   

Sergio Bertoni I (Genova 1893 Associazione Calcio)    

Guglielmo Trevisan (Unione Sportiva Triestina)

Gino Colaussi (Unione Sportiva Triestina)

 

Coach: Vittorio Pozzo

 

Team Captain: Silvio Piola

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-Final cap for Aldo Olivieri (24/0) (1936-1940).

2-Final cap for Luigi ‘Gino’ Colaussi (26/15) (1935-1940).

3-First cap for Guglielmo Trevisan.

 

Germany:

Hans Klodt (Fußball Club Schalke von 1904 e.V.- Gelsenkirchen)

Paul Janes (Düsseldorfer Turn-und Sportverein Fortuna 1895 e.V.)        

Willi Billmann (1.Fußball-Club Nürnberg - Verein für Leibesübungen e.V. )       

Andreas Kupfer (1.Fußball-Club Schweinfurt 05 e.V. - Verein für Leibesübungen)

Hans Rohde (Eimsbüttler Turnverband e.V.-Hamburg)

Albin Kitzinger (1.Fußball-Club Schweinfurt 05 e.V. - Verein für Leibesübungen)

Ernst Lehner (Turn- und Sport-Verein 1847 Schwaben Augsburg e.V.)            

Wilhelm Hahnemann (Sport Klub Admira Wien) 

Franz Binder (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

Adolf Urban (Fußball Club Schalke von 1904 e.V.- Gelsenkirchen)

Hans Pesser (Sportklub Rapid Wien)

 

Coach: Josef ‘Sepp’ Herberger

 

Team Captain: Paul Janes

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: - Shirts, - Shorts, - Socks

Note:

1-(Sportklub Rapid Wien), (Sport Klub Admira Wien), are Austrian teams, now part of Germany after the Anschlus.

 

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno X - 19 - 07 Maggio 1940

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

 

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

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

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

Photo From: Il Libro Azzuro, Author Walter Perosino, 1998

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

Photo From: Deutschlands Fussball Landerspiele, Eine Dokumentation von 1908-1989

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

Photo From: Chronik des deutschen fussballs, 2005

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

 

 

The Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 92- Interview with Italian Author and former Freelance Journalist Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota on Vittorio Pozzo’s era as Italy National Team Manager, 1939 /40 Season.

 

The Soccernostalgia Interview-Part 92- Interview with Italian Author and former Freelance Journalist Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota on Vittorio Pozzo’s era as Italy National Team Manager, 1939 /40 Season.

 

For this interview, I continue to look back at Vittorio Pozzo’s era as Italy National Team Manager, with the 1939/40 season.

This will be a semi-regular and continuous series.

The Interview in in English as well as Italian.

The Interviewee is:

Italian Author Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota

 

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota is a former freelance journalist in Biella (Italy), living in Odense (Denmark) from 2013, working as a language teacher.

 

He is the author of “Danmark (1908-2018)” chronicling the history of the Danish National Team.

 

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s contact info:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davide.rota.311

 

Link to his book:

https://www.soccer-books.co.uk/acatalog/Danmark-1908-2018-Landsholdets-Historie--Denmark-National-Team-Statistics--10493.html

 

 

 

Interview conducted in English and Italian:

 

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): Qual era la situazione della Nazionale all'inizio del 1939/40 con Vittorio Pozzo alla guida?

Soccernostalgia Question: What were the state of the affairs of the National Team in the beginning of 1939/40 with Vittorio Pozzo at the helm?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): L´Italia arrivava all´inizio del 1939 con statistiche favorevolissime: 30 gare di imbattibilita, con appena 6 pareggi, 2 successi Mondiali e 1 oro olimpico. La nazionale B aveva sostentuto 15 incontri, vincendone 10, pareggiandone 3 e perdendone solo 2. Il calcio italiano era insomma ai vertici del mondo.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: Italy arrived at the beginning of 1939 with very favorable statistics: 30 unbeaten matches, with just 6 draws, 2 World Cup successes and 1 Olympic gold. The B national team had played 15 matches, winning 10, drawing 3 and losing only 2. In short, Italian football was at the top of the world.

 

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): Questa stagione è iniziata due mesi dopo l'inizio della guerra. Che effetto ha avuto questo su Pozzo e sulla Nazionale?

Soccernostalgia Question: This season started two months after the start of the War. How did this affect Pozzo and the National team?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Il 1939 segna l´inizio del declino degli azzurri di Pozzo. Non perche´ manchino talenti che possano ricambiare la squadra campione mondiale 1938, ma perche´ i venti di guerra limitano le scelte del commissario tecnico. Spesso infatti si viaggiava all´ estero senza giocatori di valore, bloccati a casa dal mancato permesso di espatrio. Si trattava di giovani elementi in eta´ militare.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: 1939 marks the beginning of the decline of Pozzo's Azzurri. Not because there is a lack of talents who could reciprocate the 1938 world champion team, but because the winds of war limit the choices of the coach. In fact, we often traveled abroad without valuable players, stuck at home due to the lack of an expatriation permit. They were young elements of military age.

 

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): La prima partita della stagione 1939/40 fu a Zurigo, il 12 novembre 1939. La Svizzera sconfisse l'Italia (3-1) in una partita deludente per gli Azzurri. All'Italia mancavano alcuni clienti abituali. C’era un po’ di disinteresse a causa della guerra?

Soccernostalgia Question: The first match of the 1939/40 season was at Zürich, on November 12, 1939. Switzerland defeated Italy (3-1) in a disappointing match for the Azzurri. Italy were missing some regulars. Was there some disinterest because of the war?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Ben 9 cambi rispetto all´ultima gara e assenze importanti come quelle di Meazza e Piola. Sul campo del Grasshoppers, l´Italia cede alla distanza, causa anche du errori madornali di Andreolo e Foni

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: As many as 9 changes compared to the last match and important absences such as those of Meazza and Piola. On the Grasshoppers pitch, Italy gives in at a distance, also causing two huge errors by Andreolo and Foni

 

Photo From:  Calcio 2000, Issue 10, July 1998

(Guido Masetti, Giovanni Varglien II, Giacomo Neri, Ettore Puricelli)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno IX - 46 14 Novembre 1939

(November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno IX - 46 14 Novembre 1939

(November 12, 1939, Zürich, Switzerland 3-Italy 1)

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): La partita successiva dell'Italia fu un'amichevole contro la Germania a Berlino il 26 novembre 1939. La Germania sconfisse l'Italia (5-2) in una squadra italiana che comprendeva alcuni nuovi arrivati ​​e molti giocatori inesperti. È stato questo il motivo della pesante perdita?

Soccernostalgia Question: Italy’s next match was a friendly match against Germany at Berlin on November 26^th, 1939. Germany defeated Italy (5-2) in an Italian side that included some newcomers and many inexperienced players. Was this the reason for the heavy loss?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Si, in quella gara Pozzo volle per una volta scendere a compromessi con i suoi assistenti Barbieri e Burlando e cambiare modulo tattico. Ancora una volta penalizzato dalle numerose assenze, il ct azzurro scelse di cambiare modulo tattico e di giocare con il “sistema”, schirando ben 7 elementi del Genoa, club che in campionato praticava quel tipo di gioco e stava facendo bene. Quasi tutti (Marchi, Sardelli, Genta, Battistoni, Perazzolo, Neri e Scarabello) avevano giocato pochissime gare internazionali. Dopo un primo tempo ben giocato (2-2) l´Italia crollo´ nella ripresa e perse in maniera pesante.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: Yes, in that match Pozzo wanted to compromise for once with his assistants Barbieri and Burlando and change the tactical module. Once again penalized by the numerous absences, the Italian coach chose to change the tactical module and play with the "sistema", eliminating 7 elements of Genoa, a club that practiced that type of game in the championship and was doing well. Almost all of them (Marchi, Sardelli, Genta, Battistoni, Perazzolo, Neri and Scarabello) had played very few international matches. After a well played first half (2-2) Italy collapsed in the second half and lost heavily.

 

Photo From:  Calcio 2000, Issue 10, July 1998

(Mario Perazzolo, Sergio Marchi, Vittorio Sardelli, Mario Genta, Giovanni Battistoni, Aldo Boffi, Luigi Scarabello)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno IX - 48 28 Novembre 1939

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

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

(November 26, 1939, Berlin, Germany 5-Italy 2)

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian):
La prima partita dell'Italia dell'anno 1940 fu un'amichevole contro la Svizzera a Torino il 3 marzo 1940. L'Italia riuscì a pareggiare (1-1), un miglioramento rispetto ai risultati precedenti. Pozzo ha cambiato tattica per questo nuovo anno?

Soccernostalgia Question: Italy’s first match of the year 1940 was a friendly against Switzerland at Torino on March 3, 1940. Italy managed a (1-1) tie, which was an improvement to previous results. Did Pozzo change tactics for this new year?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Si, stavolta preferi´ tornare al passato, anche perche´ vari giocatori (Foni, Rava, Andreolo, Locatelli e Piola) erano recuperati. La Svizzera, guidata da Rappan, si chiuse in difesa, in onore al famoso “verrou”m che in Italia sarebbe diventato famoso come “catenaccio”.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: Yes, this time he preferred to go back to the past, also because various players (Foni, Rava, Andreolo, Locatelli and Piola) had recovered. Switzerland, led by Rappan, closed in on defense, in honor of the famous "verrou" which in Italy would become known as "catenaccio".

 

Photo From:  Calcio 2000, Issue 10, July 1998

(Bruno Arcari IV, Guido Corbelli)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno X - 10 - 05 Marzo 1940

(March 3, 1940, Torino, Italy 1-Switzerland 1)

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian):
La partita successiva dell'Italia, nonché la prima vittoria stagionale, fu l'amichevole contro la Romania (2-1) il 14 aprile 1940, a Roma. Pozzo ha selezionato quattro nuovi arrivati. È stata una decisione consapevole quella di Pozzo rinnovare la rosa?

Soccernostalgia Question: Italy’s next match and the first victory of the season was a friendly against Romania (2-1) on April 14, 1940, at Roma. Pozzo selected four newcomers. Was it a conscious decision by Pozzo to renew the squad?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Gli esordienti erano soprattutto in difesa: i terzini Pagotto e Ricci e il centromediano Olmi. Il quarto era il bolognese Carlo Reguzzoni, ala sinistra. La scelta fu ancora una vota dettata dalle assenze, anche se Pozzo, fiducioso, guardava al futuro prossimo e pensava a rinnovare la rosa in vista dei Mondiali del 1942, che si sarebbe dovuto disputare in una di queste tre nazioni: Argentina, Brasile e Germania.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: The debutants were mainly in defence: the full-backs Pagotto and Ricci and the centre-half Olmi. The fourth was Carlo Reguzzoni from Bologna, left wing. The choice was once again dictated by the absences, even if Pozzo, confident, looked to the near future and thought about renewing the squad in view of the 1942 World Cup, which should have been played in one of these three nations: Argentina, Brazil and Germany .

 

Photo From:  Calcio 2000, Issue 10, July 1998

(Attilio Demaria, Mario Pagotto, Secondo Ricci, Renato Olmi, Reguzzoni)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO, Anno X - 16 - 16 Aprile 1940

(April 14, 1940, Roma, Italy 2-Romania 1)

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): L'Italia concluse la stagione in modo positivo battendo la Germania (3-2) il 5 maggio 1940 a Milano. Pozzo aveva ritrovato l'equilibrio alla fine di questa stagione difficile?

Soccernostalgia Question: Italy ended the season in positive fashion as they defeated Germany (3-2) on May 5, 1940, at Milano. Had Pozzo found a balanced side by the end of this difficult season?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Pozzo aveva scelto di schierare tre mediani dello stesso club: Campatelli, Olmi e Locatelli, tutti dell´Ambrosiana e la loro intesa fu decisiva. La Germania era una squadra solida, che con gli innesti di Hahnemann, Binder e Pesser, tutti ex nazionali austriaci, si era rinforzata parecchio. Il 2-5 di Berlino era riscattato, ma bisognava lavorare ancora molto per tornare ai livelli precedenti.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: Pozzo had chosen to field three midfielders from the same club: Campatelli, Olmi and Locatelli, all from Ambrosiana and their understanding was decisive. Germany was a solid team, which had strengthened a lot with the additions of Hahnemann, Binder and Pesser, all former Austrian internationals. The 2-5 in Berlin was redeemed, but a lot of work still needed to be done to return to previous levels.

Photo From:  Calcio 2000, Issue 10, July 1998

(Aldo Olivieri, Luigi ‘Gino’ Colaussi, Guglielmo Trevisan)

Photo From:  IL CALCIO ILUSTRATO,Anno X - 19 - 07 Maggio 1940

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(May 5, 1940, Milano, Italy 3-Germany 2)

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): Due campioni del 1938, Aldo Olivieri e Gino Colaussi, giocarono le loro ultime partite con la maglia dell'Italia. Qual è stata la loro eredità con l’Italia?

Soccernostalgia Question: Two 1938 champions Aldo Olivieri and Gino Colaussi, played their last matches for Italy. What was their legacy with Italy?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): Olivieri, riflessi felini e grandi mezzi atletici, era molto agile tra i pali. Aveva raccontato di aver studiato gli allenamenti delle ballerine e in partciolare i loro piccoli passi, che permettevano equilibrio e agilita´ allo stesso tempo. Non ebbe una carriera lunghissima e chiuse in serie A a 32 anni, non troppi per un portiere. Ma viene ricordato come uno dei mioglio di tutti i tempi. Nel Mondiale del 38 fu decisivo sul norvegese Brynhildsen.

Colaussi, dopo il successo di parigi, aveva ottenuto un buon contratto, passando dalla Triestina alla Juventus, ma a Torino non si ambiento´ e dopo due stagioni anonime, decise di chiudere nel Vicenza. Ala ambidestra, veloce e cinico sottoporta (15 reti in 26 presenze azzurre), fu tra i migliori talenti del calcio italiano.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: Olivieri, with cat-like reflexes and great athleticism, was very agile between the posts. He said he had studied the dancers' workouts and in particular their small steps, which allowed balance and agility at the same time. He didn't have a very long career and ended up in Serie A at 32, not too old for a goalkeeper. But he is remembered as one of the best of all time. In the 1938 World Cup he was decisive against the Norwegian Brynhildsen.

Colaussi, after the success in Paris, had obtained a good contract, moving from Triestina to Juventus, but he didn't settle in Turin and after two anonymous seasons, he decided to leave for Vicenza. Ambidextrous winger, fast and cynical in front of goal (15 goals in 26 appearances for the Azzurri), he was among the best talents in Italian football.

 

Soccernostalgia Question (In Italian): In chiusura, qual è il tuo bilancio di questa stagione 1939-40 per la Nazionale?

 Soccernostalgia Question: In closing, what is your analysis of this season 1939-40 for the National Team?

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response (In Italian): L´inizio di un inevitabile declino, anche a causa di fattori esterni. L´Italia si ritrovava una nazionale indebolita, anche e soprattutto per colpa della guerra. La nazione stessa era in ginocchio. Lo sport puo´ spesso fare dei favori alla politica, ma la politica, questa e´ la lezione della storia, ha fatto spesso danni irreparabili allo sport.

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s response: The beginning of an inevitable decline, also due to external factors. Italy found itself a weakened national team, also and above all due to the war. The nation itself was on its knees. Sport can often do favors for politics, but politics, this is the lesson of history, has often done irreparable damage to sport.