"BICAN AND THE OTHERS"

Another edition of the Mitropa Cup. Josef Bican, the top scorer of Státní Liga, who had played his first full season for S.K. Slavia, returned to the Mitropa Cup after missing the previous edition. The first meeting, against Beogradski, was the first time that the oustanding Austrian played in the tournament wearing the S.K. Slavia jersey. 

It was a seemingly easy match in the first half. However, the home team managed to reduce S.K. Slavia's large lead. This match was truly tough for Bican, as he was constantly watched and guarded.

Much more was expected in the second match, in Prague, against Beogradski. The match, however, reflected a Slavia team that was far below par, especially the attack, which was not performing well, making simple actions difficult, and the team's physical condition was poor. Bican, on the other hand, did not do the opposite of what was said. Much was expected of the S.K. Slavia forward, but he played very weakly.

The red and white team from Prague advanced to the next round. This, however, would be against the champions of the Prima Divisione, A.S. Ambrosiana-Inter, Giuseppe's Meazza side.

The match in Prague can be very well reflected in the distinction of both halves. In the first half, although with a good advantage, the forward line was not at its best.

BOMBARDMENT.

After Bican swapped positions with Vojtěch Bradáč, thus playing as a centre-forward, seven goals were scored in the second half: Bican, three; Vytlačil, two; Bradáč, one; Horák, one. Bican was constantly finishing and feeding the wings, and was the nec plus ultra of the forward line.

Ambrosiana could do nothing to undo what was one of the biggest disasters of the Mitropa Cup. Bican, above all, was magnificent, in splendid, incomparable form, thus causing his team's offensive actions. Although S.K. Slavia scored several goals, it was exclusively, according to the critics, the work of Bican's advances, who, in an outstanding day, scored four goals and produced others. In addition to consecrating himself individually, his football boosted the performances of his teammates.

Nothing could have been expected from the second match. According to Vittorio Pozzo himself, the coach of Italy, the result would have been useless: L'inutile vittoria dei nero azzuri.

Bican, once again, towered over his surroundings considerably. He did not score, but put the ball in front of the unmarked Vytlačil in such a way that a shot was inevitable — which was Slavia's only goal.

The semi-finals against F.C. Genova promised another interesting clash. After all, the Italian team, which was in exceptional form, had eliminated A.C. Sparta.

The Italians achieved a great result in the first leg — 4:2. Bican, like both outside forwards, was one of the standouts. He did not score any goals, but he was constantly operating the attacks on his side. His calm, technical and sober manner shaped the intelligence of Prague's attack, but his teammates' shots were not exactly accurate. Regarding this statement, the Italian journalist Luigi Cavallero commented:


Bican, for example, would start by heading straight for the full-backs, as if he wanted to collide with them. Then, having come into contact with them, he would stop suddenly, feint to the right or left, and then the path would open up for him in the area. Genta would go crazy for the entire first half trying to understand how he, so fast, could not prevail against that colossus who operated so calmly.


After some positional changes between Bican and Bradáč, if Jiří Sobotka — an axis of a more technical side — was not to be played, it became clear that Bican would play as a centre-forward. After all, S.K. Slavia's best performance was seen with him as the attacking leader.



Confirming previous performances with Bican as centre-forward, Slavia's attack in Prague was overwhelming against the Italians. Bican, above all, demonstrated another great performance, not only as an attack leader and scorer of all four goals, but also constantly fighting for the ball.


MATCH REPORT (CZECHOSLOVAKIA): Bican and Nožiř were the masterminds of yesterday's result.


After such an extraordinary performance, Slavia were through to the final stage of the tournament for the second time. This time, it would not be Újpest, but Ferencváros, led by Dr. György Sárosi.

The centre-forward of the red and white team from Prague was under surveillance and was constantly nullified by Béla Sárosi. Bican, consequently, could benefit very little in the match for this reason, in addition to receiving too many passes. After the break, he fell back heavily.

Despite being marked too much, the competition's top scorer added another goal to his collection.


JOSEF BICAN: I got very few balls and that was the problem.

MATCH REPORT (CEZCHOSLOVAKIA): Bican, not having the support behind him, not getting a clever pass and not having a player on his wings, naturally couldn't do miracles. He was well guarded by at least two players.


This performance meant a lot to many and shook up expectations. After all, Ferencváros could have won the match in Prague. It would have been very difficult to get a result in Budapest.

The second match, played at Üllői út, featured a different version of Bican; the centre-forward was organising his team's attacking actions. Bican didn't score, it's true, because he wasn't finishing as well as before, but he was able to free his comrades and pass the ball to them with precision and punctuality.

The tournament was over: S.K. Slavia were champions and Josef Bican was the tournament's top scorer. Interestingly, Bican only scored while playing in Prague. In a way, this made up for — and to a large extent — the lack of goals scored while away.

His best performances, as expected: were in both matches in Prague against the Italians. He was also one of the most important names on his team, alongside Daučík and Nožíř.