URUGUAY EASILY BEATS FRANCE 5-1 WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT
— José Torrens | 01/06/1924 —

The impression made by the Uruguayans in their first match in which they showed their great class and the fact that the French national eleven was their opponent today were reasons enough for there to be enormous expectation for this match, an expectation that has translated into a formidable full house, as could not be expected, since more than 60,000 souls have filled the magnificent Colombes stadium, so much so that there was no room for anyone else, the most flattering forecasts having been exceeded.

At four in the afternoon and in the midst of inexplicable expectation, the teams line up under the orders of the Norwegian referee Mr. Anderson, in the following way:

France: Chayriguès — Gravier, Domergue — Parachini, Batmale, Bonnardel — Devaquez, Boyer, Nicolas, Crut, Dubly.

Uruguay: Mazali — Nasazzi, Arispe — Andrade, Zibechi, Ghierra — Naya, Scarone, Petrone, Cea, Romano.

The game begins and immediately the superiority of the South Americans is revealed, and after four minutes, they achieve the first goal, from a quick escape, by Scarone, which is finished off with a perfect low shot. But fifteen minutes into the game there is a magnificent center from Devaquez, which is taken advantage of by Nicolas to equalize with a formidable shot.

This tie encourages the Uruguayans who, advancing in colossal, incomprehensible combinations, score a new goal, also by the work of Scarone. Once the initial advantage had been acquired again, the Uruguayans did not press the certainty by playing without great interest and this gave rise to the French attacks occurring more frequently.

And the first half ends with an attack by the Uruguayan forward line who advances in combat formation and with overwhelming impetus, but the shot of such a magnificent play, which is a formidable shot by Petrone, hits the post.

After the break, the Americans come out ready to show how much they are worth and demonstrate a precise and delicate game that, without fear of being denied, we assure that it has been the best of the Olympics so far.

Fourteen minutes into the game, Petrone, in a personal advance, sends a formidable shot from just over midfield that earns his team the third goal. The brilliant Uruguayan attacks follow one another without interruption, and the plays are each better. Scarone, perhaps the most fearsome of the Uruguayan forwards, lavishes his shots, which provide Chayrigués with tremendous work. One of his phenomenal shots hits the post, when we all thought we were seeing a new goal.

The Uruguayans are convinced that victory is theirs without being able to escape them, since their superiority is so great that they will score when they want and how they want, they show that they play without major disagreements and thus the French can attack from time to time, but without success, as all their attempts crashed against the South Americans' half-back and full-back lines.

Towards the end of the match, Andrade, the formidable coloured player, advanced alone, avoiding all the obstacles in front of him, and made a well-placed pass to Petrone, who with astonishing ease spliced in one of his unstoppable shots and scored the fourth goal.

And just a minute later Romano scores the fifth. The panic in the French ranks is formidable and despite the Uruguayans not giving their maximum performance, far from it, having lasted 10 minutes longer, the Americans would have scored as many times as they wanted.

The sensation caused by the display of those who, as of today, are considered the most likely candidates to win this formidable world tournament, is enormous, despite the fact that, as we say, at no time did they give the impression that they were at their best.

Nicolas, Domergue and Bonnardel were the best of the French.

No distinction can be made between the Uruguayans. They all played tremendously, as they wanted to, despite fielding an eleven with substitutes, confirming the impression of the first day.