AFTER NORMANDY-URUGUAY
— A. Lysdedd | 17/03/1925 —

The wonderful exhibition provided by the “Nacional de Montevideo” will leave a deep memory in the minds and all the players who attended the match will not fail to learn something useful from it. The main conclusion to make is that, in association football, skill takes precedence over strength, especially if it is served by superior speed. It is nonetheless true that the Uruguayans are splendid athletes and the less powerful are very seriously muscular. However, their game does not appear complete because the individual exploit takes precedence over the overall combination. They only pass when they have to and only their centre-half Zibechi regularly uses the classic pass in the hole. Their full-backs, also very flexible on the ball, generally clear high and hard but hardly try to fuel the attack. We know that the latter was constantly caught being offside. This is why during the second half the Blancs were advised to rush alone (solo) to the goal. And as individual exploits are in their way, they did not make a mistake. However, only Petrone proved capable of adjusting unstoppable shots. It was he who scored the five goals with the mastery that we admired.

And ours? what do they get on occasion? They showed the best energy but were facing too strong a game to give the impression of playing well. They were very often beaten quickly on the ball that the Blancs blew under their noses to then deceive them with the brilliance and felinity that they possess to an incomparable degree. Those of ours who have the most decision on the ball sometimes managed to take the best, notably Coquin and Witty but they also sometimes seemed very embarrassed to then use the ball especially when it came to initiating an offensive movement. It is perhaps in the head game that ours competed best with the Americans, but the latter are very dexterous both on the head and on the feet.

The Norman defensive trio played an excellent match. Barnes, despite some hesitations caused by excessive feints, was remarkable and avoided a heavier score. Coquin intervened with decision and address; Canthelou lived up to his partners: attacking full-back, he was sometimes overwhelmed in defence but he knew how to initiate a few attacks. The half-backs overloaded with defensive work, notably Witty opposite Romano and Castro, served by Andrade, Morel with Zibechi and Petrone, Cantais in front of Barlocco and Carreras traveled a lot in vain. It took them inexhaustible strength to hold on so well until the end, but they could hardly support the attack which, left to its own devices, nevertheless made some good breakthroughs which put the opposing defence to the test. The best attempt made was a shot from Renier in the first half which required the masterful intervention of Mazali to avoid turning into a goal.

There is therefore reason to be satisfied with the day, especially since the match was an example of the most perfect correction from all points of view.

After the match, the visitors did not fail to point out that the Norman players had indeed been eminently correct and they declared themselves delighted with their opponents, the pitch and, in particular, the public, in whom they recognized perfect sportsmanship and a lot of competence.