THE IMPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST MATCHES
— Maurice Pefferkorn | 26/05/1924 —

Nearly twenty thousand spectators in Colombes, eight thousand in Pershing, about the same in Bergeyre, or in all 35,000 football enthusiasts, among whom obviously a certain number of curious people, such was, from a public point of view, the results of the first day of the football tournament!

But when it comes to the game we also have reason to rejoice. The match between Italy and Spain, which was the highlight of the day, delivered everything it promised, and even better. We actually expected to see Spain win quite clearly. It did not happen. On the contrary, it was Italy which won the victory, thanks to remarkable bite, team spirit and skill.

However, it cannot be said that the Italians were superior. On the contrary, in the whole game the Spaniards dominated most of the time, but they came up against an extremely brilliant Italian defence. The match was fiercely contested. We felt that the 22 players on the field were imbued with the importance of this meeting which unfairly pitted them against each other from the first round. For a long time it looked like the two teams were going to finish tied; an unfortunate interception by the Spanish captain, who sent the ball into his own goal, decided the victory. This was heartbreaking for the Spaniards; but we cannot say that the Italians did not deserve to win.

The two teams operated in a rather different style. On both sides there were remarkable defenses: that of Spain, more classic, more solid, more self-possessed, and also, it must be said, generally less strongly pressed, was impeccable. And the unfortunate goal they scored against themselves cannot diminish it. The Italian defence showed itself to be more mobile, more capable of dealing with unexpected situations unexpectedly and therefore showed more brilliance. Their goalkeeper was particularly noted. This defence surpassed itself on many occasions and accomplished real feats. In a word, there were four full-backs and two very classy goalkeepers on the field.

Against these defences, attacks systematically failed. And yet we saw many who were conducted masterfully. Spain played classically, shot more frequently and appeared more often in a position to score, thanks to the drilling of its central men, who were also superior in heading play. But how pleasant was the manner of Italy! She played in a more artistic way. No doubt it appeared less sustained, more intermittent; but the passes, the dribblings, the crosses, all of this was of rare precision. She always tried to keep the game on the ground, feeling her inferiority in the game in the air. It was also served by a very skilful and catchy line of halfbacks, knowing how to vary their game and move it around.

Triumph of the Latin game! The word is not too strong. Because it is a football different from that practiced in England or Czechoslovakia, this lively and ardent game, full of unexpectedness and happy improvisation. The French public knew how to appreciate it. They enjoyed it as a game consistent with their aspirations and superior, moreover, to the one he usually sees their people playing. Although they were impartial in the circumstances, they became enthusiastic and vibrated as if their nationals were in a race. This is the highest praise that can be given to the game.

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The other meetings took place as planned. Czechoslovakia, however, found resistance in Turkey that it probably did not expect. The famous Czechs perhaps did not exert themselves to their fullest; nor had they put all of their best players. But if we remember that Turkey has only recently come to football, that it has neither the profession, nor the tradition, nor the opportunities to train of the Czechoslovakia, we must pay tribute to it, without reserves, for his part, all of courage, from which science was in no way absent. But, understandably, there are holes in its team. Its recruitment is restricted. Let us congratulate the Turks for not being discouraged at any time. They could have withdrawn, knowing fifteen days in advance the name of the formidable adversary that fate provided them. They wanted to defend their chance, sportingly, completely. Let them take this into account!

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The two matches at Pershing Stadium had a different fate. We wondered what the value of Esthonia, of Lithuania, which were completely unknown to us, could be.

There was a tendency to judge them equal, whatever the degree of their knowledge. It is not so. The Lithuanians did not exist against Switzerland. Switzerland is certainly something, but the Lithuanian technique seemed so rudimentary that we were a little disappointed. Certainly the lesson will benefit; but in the end it was a very obscure match.

It was quite different with the Esthonians. Small and stocky players, playing a lot with finesse, but afflicted with a particular inefficiency in front of goals, they dominated the United States in science, superb athletes, but with a primitive game. It was only from the penalty spot that the Americans scored. Their game is rough and fiery. They might be hard to beat. But they do not seem capable of winning a tournament where science will ultimately have the last word.