Considered as one of the main teams on the continent, therefore one of the favorites in the Olympic tournament, Czechoslovakia, with exceptional players, such as the centre-half captain of A.C. Sparta, Karel Pešek-Káďa, arrived in Paris to compete in the VIII. Olympic Games. This was the second edition played by Czechoslovakia. In the previous edition, the Czechs performed exceptionally and did not reflect any doubts about their football potential, but the national team was marked by a controversy involving refereeing. This time, however, even though it was still a great team, the splendid football presented in the past was no longer seen. Czechsolovakia, moreover, had changed its style and was not as physically fit as before. Consequently, many critics grew doubts in their heads.

The first match was against Turkey, a team without any expression or power in world football. Even facing an opponent considered well below, it was already possible to notice some of the team's flaws, especially the lack of ambition that surrounded them since the preparations. The match, in fact, was disappointing, even with the comprehensive result. It was strange that it was the defense, our the full-backs, who disappointed with the lack of interest, some strange mistakes and unnecessary fouls. However, even without some of its main players and not reflecting football truly consistent with what could have been achieved, through a result of 5:2, Czechoslovakia passed to the next stage of the tournament. Although this was a precarious match in critical terms, the team had a lot to improve in the following stages.

The meeting in the next phase would be against Switzerland, led by the exceptional Max Abegglen, a team that had very different characteristics from Czechoslovakia. On the one hand, Karel Pešek-Káďa's team presented scientific football, returning to refining technical and tactical knowledge. The Swiss dominated in running and overall speed, shooting ability and starting after the ball.

The first match was, in a way, a disappointment on the part of Czechoslovakia, who, even though the game went to an additional thirty minutes, were unable to beat an opponent considered to be inferior. The defensive system did well, especially Josef Sloup-Štaplík, the full-back duo and František Kolenatý. The offensive system was terrible. The Czechs, moreover, ran a high risk of being eliminated in regulation time, as Josef Čapek had been sent off; causing the team to play almost 45 minutes with just ten players.


MATCH REPORT: The game of attack, except for Josef Jelínek and partly Josef Sedláček, is expressed best by the word wretchedness.


For the second match, the Czechoslovakian team was very changed. František Hochmann would make his first match; František Hojer would return to the team; Mahrer would replace Jaroslav Červený. The forward line, moreover, would have its inside trio completely changed. Centre-forward Čapek, who had been sent off in the last match, was completely ruled out of the entire tournament by the Olympic appeal jury. This decision was considered too harsh. Czechoslovakia had just lost its main shooter of the inside trio.

The plot of the first match was repeated, with Czechoslovakia's defence being excellent, but the offensive system being very poor, especially due to the changes made. The finishing power and infiltration were very poor. The tactical reading of the opponent's defensive system were not carried out by the Czech vanguard. Nevertheless, Czechoslovakia were quite dominant throughout the match, but a virtuoso attack from Switzerland, in the 87th minute, was enough to eliminate them.


MATCH REPORT: They (the forward line) did not score goals. After all, the lack of penetrating and shooting forwards has been a lingering disease of our football ever since Sparta's famous attacking line got old.

A single scorer of Jan Dvořáček's type would have been enough even today for Switzerland to leave defeated by a difference of 3 goals.


In terms of fighting spirit, Czechoslovakia had improved a lot compared to the last matches. The Czechs, however, were unable to convert their superiority into goals. The constant change of the vanguard aligned with forwards of lower capacity made many experts miss Vaník and Dvořáček, as well as great forwards who no longer had space, due to their eventual decline, such as Václav Pilát and Antonín Janda, for instance.

No Swiss team had managed to win against any of the leading Czechoslovak clubs, either at home or in Prague; this was the first time it happened.


CONCLUSION

What was feared by most Czechs actually happened. The lack of preparation combined with the already low performance of some of the main players meant that the Czechoslovakia team disappointed the public in the tournament. There were no performances consistent with the former fame of Czech football, but there were inaccuracies in actions, especially in the well-known aspect, a characteristic trait of Czechoslovakia: the constant and precise shooting. Furthermore, there were several negative points characteristic of some players within the trio, such as inaccuracy in actions and fouls or a delay in making decisions.

The defensive system, in turn, was highlighted above the vanguard, especially due to the actions of wing half-back Kolenatý. The first match was reflected through mistakes made by Antonín Hojer. The A.C. Sparta full-back, however, performed well in both matches against Switzerland. Others like Emil Seifert and goalkeeper Josef Sloup did very well, too. Káďa performed below what he could demonstrate. At the vanguarda, the wingers were superior to the inside forwards, especially Sedláček.

About the national team's final performance, a Czech chronicler wrote:


— We had the courage to say, knowing that the preparation of our team was sloppy, that the team would not be sent to Paris. When our appeals remained in vain, we wanted to improve the situation by alerting the responsible officials for the addition of player Karel Koželuh, when Vaník was not counted. All of this, it seems, was not taken care of. Failure had to happen under such circumstances and Czechoslovakia, which only managed to beat the football-illiterate Turks after a very weak game and then was eliminated by the Swiss.

» It can no longer be overlooked today that Czechoslovakia's football sport has declined and that our representatives, who were taken to Paris, play far below the form of 1920-23.


Overall, this was a disappointing campaign on the part of Czechoslovakia, which only bought the decline of their football compared to recent years, the years of glory that marked the continent.

*   *   *


   
25/05/1924
Czechoslovakia
5:2
Turkey
   
28/05/1924
Switzerland
1:1
Czechoslovakia
   
30/05/1924
Switzerland
1:0
Czechoslovakia