SWITZERLAND-CZECHOSLOVAKIA
— Gautier-Chaumet | 30/05/1924 —

It is certain that the Stade Bergeyre will still be too small this afternoon for the second meeting between Switzerland and Czechoslovakia.

Every day of this tournament is full of sporting excitement. It seems that this fierce clash between the two famous teams, so worthy of each other, will be one of the finest memories of the 1924 Games.

After the failure of predictions established by yesterday's matches, it becomes very difficult to risk an assessment of the probable outcome of a match. However, I want to say how much I believe in the victory of Switzerland, faster, more ardent, more spontaneous.

In truth, the Czechs are men to pull themselves together and, taught by experience, they will, have no doubt, do the impossible to stay in the race for the quarter-finals.

They were quite saddened by the attitude of the French public who, somewhat lightly, judged them on their reputation for brutality and often unfairly assessed their actions on the ground. We therefore appeal to the best feelings of the spectators of this decisive meeting.

The Czechs are already harshly punished, since the Olympic appeal jury has just, with inexplicable severity, suspended centre-forward Čapek, sent off by the referee on Wednesday, for the entire tournament. That is to say that, even if they are victorious, the Czechs will no longer be able to use the brilliant qualities of their best shooter.

Again they were victims of their reputation, as Pulver was also guilty in the incident.

That said, the fact remains that we will be very happy with a Swiss success. Our neighbors have always been a bit of our home and their victory would be a bit of ours.

We must also be content with the victories of the nations whose game is most similar to that of our players, because we will perhaps no longer have the opportunity to rejoice in a victory of our own...