This article is part of some columns regarding the Mitropa Cup 1933 events according to Prof. Willy Schmieger. This collection of columns presents some of Schmieger's experiences and insights from the tournament. Click here to view all the columns written by Schmieger regarding the topic.

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A SAMPLE OF STRONGER NERVES
— Prof. Willy Schmieger | 16/07/1933 —

Austria started the long journey to Turin on Thursday evening in order to play the second leg of the Central European Cup against F. C. Juventus tomorrow, Sunday, at half past four in the afternoon. The game is being awaited with great excitement by the sporting world outside the countries involved in the Mitropa Cup, which is why Ravag has decided to broadcast the second half of the game on all Austrian channels.

The Austrians left in good spirits. A three-goal lead is something to be proud of. Of course, there is no question of already being well off. Slavia went to Turin last year with four goals in their pockets and we still remember what came out of it: rioting and disqualification.

I am of the opinion that the outcome of tomorrow's match will depend first and foremost on which of the two opponents has the stronger nerves.

If the situation at Austria were still as it has been for many years and as it was until a few weeks ago, one would have to look forward to the game with the greatest concern for the Viennese. If there was a Viennese team at all, then Austria was always a company of spoilt and nervous people, who immediately slackened off if everything did not go according to plan.

Today things have changed, Pepi Blum's steel fist has intervened in the turbulent life at Austria and brought about a great change there in just a few weeks. I have already said here that he has not taught the people better ball technique, but that he has instilled in the whole team an excellent fighting morale, a fighting morale that enabled them to achieve the two great victories over Slavia and Juventus.

Who knows what will become of the Central European Cup next year! Everywhere, the green table is busy complicating and watering down the conditions under which the competition is to be held. The number of participating clubs is to be increased, and these are to be determined in God knows what complicated way. For my part, I do not think much of this innovation, at least as far as the Central European Cup is concerned. We will see how it will affect the domestic championship.

In any case, the Vienna Cup is completely devalued and can be consigned to the scrap heap.

That is why — and apparently this has already been recognised "upstairs" — the entire Viennese Cup will be played in winter, so that no one will have to watch from the outset.

So what will become of the beautiful cup of Central Europe next year, which was only ever beautiful for two clubs, is not yet known. So let us look forward to this year's competition, which will be held as quickly and smoothly as never before.

And let us hope that Austria will emerge victorious from this perhaps last undiluted competition.

The last difficult hurdle will probably be tomorrow. Once Juventus has been overcome, the winner of the game Ambrosiana against Sparta will certainly be much less to fear. This match will also take place tomorrow, in Prague. The score of the first game was 4:1 in favour of the Milanese, so Sparta have an opponent's lead of three goals to make up on home soil. It seems to me very unlikely that the Czechs will succeed in this with their present poor condition.

Austria will of course play in Turin with the same line-up in which they won in Vienna. There is no reason to make a change. They are taking a substitute with them, but only in case something should happen to one of the players on the trip. The entry of a man during the match is not permitted under the cup regulations. Over the course of the week, Austria have had another light training session, more to get exercise than for any other reason. As far as possible, everything is done to bring the team to the start in the best possible condition, the journey having been made with the appropriate comfort in mind. By the time these lines reach the reader, Austria will have arrived in Turin — hopefully nothing will interfere — and they will be accompanied by me, who has been given the task of describing the course of the second half of the match on the radio.

The Italians will play without their centre-half Monti, who was suspended by the cup committee for Sunday's match, which was indeed hard to avoid after his renewed exclusion. Monti is considered to be one of the strongest pillars of his team and his absence certainly means an advantage for the Viennese, which, however, must not be overestimated. Perhaps a somewhat weaker but more level-headed player will do the same for the Turin team as the tall, fresh-faced centre-half.

That the Italians can do a lot was seen on Sunday in Vienna. They did not show their true ability throughout the game, but only during part of the second half. However, the Italians can certainly be tackled from the mental side, i.e. it is possible to take the fight out of them.

You have to reckon with the fact that this time they will go under the pressure of a fanatical crowd, but if they see that you are not afraid of them, that you do not let yourself be intimidated even by the greatest rage of the spectators, but keep your nerves and your calm, then they will become smaller again. But the referee has to be on his toes. The giant Cejnar from Prague makes a calming impression right from the start, I think he will keep the game firmly in his hands. It would be a real pity if there were to be any unpleasant scenes.

The game is scheduled to start at 17:30, but it is likely to be delayed by about a quarter of an hour. The second half (and thus the radio broadcast) will therefore start at around half past five.