SPAIN BEATEN BY... VALLANA, THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM
— Lucien Gamblin | 26/05/1924 —

The most important thing in the first round of the Olympic Football Tournament saw the defeat of the Spanish team, in whom many saw one of the big favorites of the said Tournament.

This team was unlucky, it is obvious, but they have few excuses, because they continually compromised in their actions. Yesterday, in Colombes, we did not get the impression that the orange and red players were giving their all to snatch a victory which seemed to be theirs.

While on the contrary, the Italians fought desperately, defended fiercely and attacked with frenzy and often very skillfully to win the match.

A team that could have hoped to reach the final has been eliminated, and the elimination system means they have no chance to redeem themselves. It's hard for them, but the rules are the same for everyone and we can only regret their severity.

THE TEAMS.

Italy: De Prà; Rosetta and Caligaris; Barbieri, Burlando and Aliberti; Conti, Baloncini (cap.), Della Vale, Magnozzi and Levratto.

Spain: Zamora; Vallana (cap.), Pasarín; Gamborena, Larraza and Peña; Piera, Samitier, Monjardin, Carmelo and Aguirezabala.

Referee: Mr. Slawick.

THE MATCH.

Spain attacks from the start, and Rosetta saves from a corner. The Italian team is dominated especially since their backs do not seem to be secure. Following a foul by Burlando, Monjardin takes the free kick and kicks out. Spain continues to dominate but does not seriously worry De Pra, who gets out of the situation easily. Italy recovers and attacks, in turn, but its offensive efforts are broken on the Vallana-Pasarín line, which shows a security beyond all praise. On a breakaway and a cross from Aguirrezabala, De Pra grabbed the ball and dodged Samitier, who charged him, but the Italian goalkeeper was hit and remained lying on the ground. This is the beginning of a long series of mistakes, which Mr. Slawick will have difficulty curbing.

Piera, who was very sharp, crossed and Monjardin headed over. De Prà saves for a corner. The Italians came down the left and Levratto shot low and hard; Zamora saved with a smile. The game was level, but the Spaniards were very dangerous on several occasions as Rosetta played badly and committed a number of irregularities that could have cost his team.

Piera dribbled past Aliberti and crossed, Monjardin picked up the ball and charged De Pra, who saved but was again injured. Suddenly, Conti came down, outpaced Peña and passed to Baloncieri, who kicked well wide.

The game was excessively hard, fouls were multiplying, the play was choppy, the crowd was protesting, but Mr. Slawick did not let himself be outflanked. Zamora made a couple of easy saves, and the half-time score was goalless.

AFTER THE RESTART.

Italy went on the attack, Zamora stopped and cleared, his forwards came to worry De Prà, but the attack was stopped by an offside call against Piera. A fine Italian attack looked likely to succeed, Burlando set up Conti who passed to Baloncieri who kicked hard and just wide. Piera, who was showing himself to be very dangerous, came down and crossed, Aguirrezabala picked up the rebound and fired hard against the post. Piera again distinguished himself with a series of remarkable dribbles, but the blues defended superbly and saved their goal, which at that moment was very much in danger. Larraza set up Monjardin, but the Madrid player stopped the ball with his hand. Carmelo, well placed, shot just over. Italy combined nicely and Baloncieri outpaced the opposition at the back but passed to Della Valle, who was offside.

At that moment Larraza fell, dragging Della Valle down with him, and as he got up the Spaniard trampled on the Italian player. The referee ordered Larraza off the pitch; cheers, applause and whistles greeted this energetic act by the referee.

The Spaniards continued to dominate, however, and the Italian defence had to work hard. Piera kicked from distance, De Prà was unable to stop it and the ball went for a corner, but it was to no avail.

Monjardin dribbled past three players but was stopped as he kicked. Conti broke free and crossed, Baloncieri picked up the rebound but shot wide. Immediately afterwards Burlando passed to Magnozzi, who evaded Gamborena, who had taken Larraza's place, while Samitier played as right half-back, but the little Italian inside forward dribbled too long and Vallana was able to clear. A moment later came the incident that decided the fate of the game. Burlando sent Conti clear and instead of crossing, he passed to Baloncieri, who got past Pasarin and shot. The ball looked like it was going to go out when Vallana touched the ball and deflected it into the right-hand corner of the net. Zamora tore his hair out while the Spanish captain collapsed in the goal and cried like a child.

The Spaniards were dismayed, but rallied and until the end the Italians were reduced to defending themselves. De Prà stood out, the blues played touch, which did not please the crowd, and the end came with no change to the score.

CONSIDERATIONS.

The game played by both teams was of good quality, but too often stopped for ‘fouls’. The players' nervousness had something to do with it, of course. But footballers of the class of Samitier and Rosetta, who were the most guilty, should be able to contain themselves and not set an example of such infringements of the rules of the game.

The Italians' attacks were more classic than those of their opponents, especially from the point of view of the whole team. Baloncieri was the heart and soul of a forward line that was highly commendable, but where the lack of shooters was noticeable.

Only the Samitier-Piera wing showed good understanding; Monjardin was the hole in this line and was unable to combine the two excellent wings alongside him. Burlando can stand comparison with them. Of the two back lines, the red and gold is far superior to its rival. Vallana did a lot of valuable work.

Zamora seemed safer than De Prà, who only made one mistake, on a shot from Piera in the second half.

For the winners, the best were De Prà, Burlando, Baloncieri and Conti, and for the Spaniards: Zamora, who had little to do; Vallana, Larraza, Samitier and Piera.