AND IN THE MORNING THE WOLF ATE HER
— Gautier-Chaumet | 02/06/1924 —

The French football team yesterday played the role of Mr. Seguin's goat. They had a very honorable first half and really shone during the first quarter of an hour of the second. Then, they collapsed, and the Uruguayans regained all their virtuosity to literally knock out our eleven.

Around 45,000 spectators packed the Olympic Stadium and almost filled it; the view was magnificent.

All revenue records have been shattered. We collected 300,000 francs at the counters. The Stade de Colombes will be too small on the day of the final, or more precisely on the day of Sweden-Uruguay, this match truly constituting the decisive encounter.

We were beaten regularly, fairly, by an opponent who plays infinitely more complete football, who has far superior tactics and a much less rudimentary tactical mind. Uruguay players can be compared to British professionals. We are only students among them.

However, there can be no question of despair. I've seen just about every great team that competes in this great tournament. There is only one that can claim to compete for the prize with the South Americans: that of Sweden, I repeat.

Apart from the canary and blue players, all the others will have had or will have to bow to the prestigious directors who are Petrone, Scarone, Romano and Cea.

We could have done better. Our exhibition in front of the England representative team was better. We have seen better-looking French teams.

But yesterday's eleven French could also have been outclassed from start to finish, putting in a bad exhibition for an hour and a half. They defended themselves, on the contrary, to the limit of their strength. They frequently seriously threatened their winners, and it was only when they were exhausted by the incessant pursuit of an elusive ball — since it was monopolized by outstanding footballers — that it was only then that they admitted defeat in the last half hour of play.

They fought heroically, but in the end the Uruguayans triumphed, because, in sporting terms, they were the best.

And in the morning the blow devoured her.

Was anyone ever angry with Mr. Seguin's goat?