Defeat of the forwards
Jean Eskenazi | 21/06/1937

This meeting was, in short, an interlude. We cannot say more. The sports lessons which ensue are arbitrary.

Of the match itself, we can say that it was won by the best footballers, by the best tacticians. The players of Central Europe were more economical of their forces than the players of the Western team, more courageous, more voluntary, but who, intrinsically, were far from worth them.

The meeting was interesting, but nothing more.

And I repeat that it is difficult to expand and make long comments on this game intended to feed the funds of the F.I.F.A. All we can say is that he is happy that technique has finally won the day.

But, from this match, we must remember the particularly brilliant play of the Belgian Raymond Braine, who was the best man on the field and who demonstrated that it was possible to both possess the finesse of the Central, with the physical qualities in addition.


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The score of 3 to 1 is a bit harsh for the players of the West team which dominated most of the time. Everyone agrees that a single goal difference would have better reflected the face of the game.

The Western European team made up for their technical inferiority with greater cohesion and if Bakhuys, their centre-forward, had played in his best form, it is certain that the game would have been more contested, because the centrals gave the impression of not engaging in the greater part of their means.

Far too many players of the Central European squad were tired from the Central European Cup matches, it is to its freshness and cohesion, let us repeat, that the Western European team had to lead the operations most often.

Delfour, who was the only French player in the match, made an excellent impression and Dutch journalists, like all international critics, agree in seeing him as one of the best men in the Western European team, his second half in particular was remarkable.

How they played

Western team:


Jakob had nothing to be ashamed of. He had splendid saves on difficult balls. Paverick held his place very well until his injury. His replacement was honest.

Caldenhove had a terrific first half, but fell a bit later.

Kitzinger had brilliant interventions and he was often invaluable in attack.

Goldbrunner did what he had to do well. He had to mark Piola who rarely had a clear path. But, of course, with this tactic, he could not fully engage in the attack.

Delfour had an honorable first half, and his second half was even better. He held his place very well and we must be grateful to him for having represented French football well.

Lehner, provided with plenty of bullets, was unhappy in everything he undertook. Braine was the best man on the field, he worked tirelessly, had precise openings, tremendous shots and his game was beautiful.

Bakhuys, the centre-forward, was a big disappointment. He was a shadow of himself and he never took a truly dangerous shot.

Smit did a fine job in the style of a British player. He had good shots, well placed and precise passes.

Left winger Van den Eynde was very average.


The Central European team:


Olivieri was absolutely transcendent and he did not commit the slightest mistake. Sesta was the bulwark of defense. He didn't make the slightest mistake, either.

Schmaus had started well and his replacement Rava, who again last year featured in the Olympic Games for the Italian team, is an athlete who has held his place brilliantly.

Serantoni played mainly in defense, he was ordinary; Andreolo played with great efficiency and great wisdom.

Lázár, after an erased start to the game, recovered and his end of the game was very good. ,

Sas had the merit of scoring two goals; thereafter, he did not insist much. He is a high class player, very quickly, an excellent ball handler who is in the best tradition of Hungarian football.

Meazza did not do much, he has a few pounds to lose.

Piola was a revelation for those who did not know him; it is really the great player that we announced, very marked he knew how to play his partners.

Sárosi, who was actually a second center-half, was skillful in his passing but often played better too; finally, the left ally Nejedlý, at a post unknown to him, did what he had to do.