Two nations that fought exceptional battles in the 1920s, rivals, but always learning from each other's football, mainly Austria through the teachings of Kálmán Konrád, Jenő Konrád and Alfréd Schaffer. Matches played on both Hungarian and Austrian soil were two of the main events of the year across Central Europe, through their artistic styles; always focused on the show with players of the highest world level. The public would stop to watch some of the best footballers in Europe.

After a noticeable drop in the performance of Hungarian football — later, towards the end of the decade, a football recovery within Central Europe, and a growing quality of Austrian football, the 1930s were marked by interesting clashes between Hungary and Austria. The decade begin with a invencibility for Hungary, still building on the period it hit in the late 1920s. Austria, on the other hand, with its new school, was still looking for a National Team capable of reflecting its refined school.

DAS WUNDERTEAM.

After a long time trying to adjust a team, even though some football formulas and player combinations had not worked out, Hugo Meisl finally managed to put together a team that reached the main shelf of world football. Already in 1931, in the match against Scotland, the Wunderteam is created, thus the apex of the Austrian team was shaped. The team, according to Hugo Meisl himself, was formed by the main names of the Vienna school, the most prominent apprentices of the old Scottish style.

This team was known for its artistic, elegant style of play, refined on the basis of scientific, positional and offensive play — the best defense was the attack. With exceptional football presented across the continent, the team managed to enchant even more than in the early days of continental football; when the Austrian teams glimpsed Switzerland and Germany.

During the period when Hugo Meisl's Wunderteam reigned on continental soil, a specific match was very etched in Hungarian memory: the 8:2 at Hohe Warte. This was one of the greatest performances ever seen in that same terrain, with Matthias Sindelar being the apex, the axis of that team. This was the most notorious clash between the two teams in the 1930s, even though other major battles had been fought.

After the creation of the Wunderteam, Hungary could not beat Austria until 05/31/1934, a match valid for the 1934 World Cup, quarter-final, which was marked by controversy.

AUSTRIA'S DOWNFALL; HUNGARY RISES.

Although the Wunderteam was in full force during 1931 and 1933, gradually the level of their football was declining, due to several factors, the main one being the drop in performance of Friedrich Gschweidl and Matthias Sindelar. Already in 1932, Hugo Meisl himself, before the match against England, commented that the Wunderteam was no longer at its peak. Already in 1933 and 1934, it was reported that the team was no longer able to present the same football that it presented in 1932 and, mainly, 1931. As Austria's performances dropped, Hungary improved its football.

Hungary had a notorious fall, but with well-known names in continental football, such as György Sárosi, Gyula Lázár and among others. The National Team, however, did not achieve the expected results, as many believed that Hungary needed more incisiveness, more effectiveness in its actions. Consequently, right after the II. World Cup, a lot was discussed about Hungarian football; be it style of play and even the tactics used and certain players. This was reflected only nearly five months later when Hungary broke Austria's unbeaten run in the clash. Hungarian football had again achieved more results than Austrian football.

In a general sense of the 1930s, Austria reached a peak far above what Hungary reached, both in terms of style and in terms of efficiency. However, the regularity was quite divided between the two teams. And this was already notorious in 1934, through the club tournament called Húsvéti Torna, which made it clear that the Hungarians were in transition, therefore, apparently, the future looked better than the last few years for the Hungarians, despite the result of 15/04/1934 was a complete disaster.

Results

Hungary - Austria 2:1, 01/06/1930
Austria - Hungary 2:3, 21/09/1930

Austria - Hungary 0:0, 03/05/1931
Hungary - Austria 2:2, 04/10/1931

Austria - Hungary 8:2, 24/04/1932
Hungary - Austria 2:3, 02/10/1932

Hungary - Austria 1:1, 30/04/1933
Austria - Hungary 2:2, 01/10/1933

Austria - Hungary 5:2, 15/04/1934
Austria - Hungary 2:1, 31/05/1934 #FIFA World Cup match.
Hungary - Austria 3:1, 07/10/1934

Hungary - Austria 6:3, 12/05/1935
Austria - Hungary 4:4, 10/06/1935

Austria - Hungary 3:5, 05/04/1936
Hungary - Austria 5:3, 27/09/1936

Hungary - Austria 2:2, 23/05/1937
Austria - Hungary 1:2, 10/10/1937 #Last match before Anschluss.