SOME GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE SEMI-FINAL MEETINGS
— Lluís Aymamí | 06/06/1924 — 

Undoubtedly, Sweden and Uruguay have made us savor the two best football exhibitions of the current Olympics. Both deserve to compete in the final and it would be a real shame if the draw for the semifinals forced them to eliminate each other, in which case the final would lose all interest since both Uruguay and Sweden are capable of taking on the remaining teams that have not been eliminated until today. Except, of course, new surprises, so abundant in this tournament.

Uruguay's victory over France classifies them as a semi-finalist, as well as Sweden's victory over Egypt (achieved yesterday by 5:0) also classifies the Scandinavians.

Today, Monday, Italy-Switzerland and Holland-Ireland must play. Two other semi-finalists will be classified from them. If we assume that Switzerland and the Netherlands triumph, Uruguay, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands will be proclaimed semi-finalists. Tonight the draw must be verified and if its result means that Uruguay and Sweden do not meet, we predict a memorable, formidable, epic final.

On the other hand, if the draw eliminates Uruguay and Sweden and Switzerland and Holland (assuming they are winners today or, in another case, Italy-Ireland), the final between one of the first two and one of the remaining teams will have no interest. It is to be hoped that this does not happen. Neither Uruguay nor Sweden deserve it.

Before finishing we will note a curious coincidence. Since football has been part of the Olympic Games, that is, since 1908 (V Olympiad), the Netherlands has always been classified in third place.

And currently in the VIII Olympiad, Holland is in a position to win third place for the fourth consecutive time. You couldn't ask for greater regularity.

The Swedes, against Belgium, demonstrated a complete knowledge of the game of football. They are calm, fast and display an extremely serious and thoughtful sober technique.

Uruguayans are true magicians. They dribble with amazing ease, they draw passes and they play with both their heels and their heads. Their individual advances are very dangerous, even if, as happened in the match against France, three or four opponents are chasing the same player. They overcome obstacles by improvising wonderful plays.

We don't know which made a greater impression on us, Sweden or Uruguay. Both are, indisputably, despite the misfortunes or surprises that some teams have encountered, such as Spain, for example, the best elevens of the VIII Olympiad.

We still have to learn a lot to match them.