A great century of people's game

For one hundred years FIFA has been historical epicentre for the global spread of soccer

The year 2004 marks the 100th birthday of FIFA. For a century FIFA has been the historical epicentre for the global spread of the modern game.
In Europe, there has been plenty of mob soccer played throughout history with some vaguely resembling the game that we know and love today.
In Florence, Italy they still play something called Calcio Storico. It's not directly related to modern soccer. It's 27 a side for a start, the ball can be something of an afterthought, and the referee is armed with a sword, just in case!
But the style of soccer that developed in England was different. It may have been grounded in local pastimes, but the rules struck a chord with everyone. It was more fun, and though physical, it was certainly less dangerous than the violent mob games.
In the late 19th century, as this virus spread around the world, it found fertile ground in mainland Europe. From the 1880s onwards, clubs started to develop, along with regional and national associations. By 1900 there were international club matches across Europe.
And, while the British associations accepted that other nations enjoyed this sport, they were not especially interested in helping out. So, what would be the next step?
In order to further their sport, and set up the framework for international relations, the Europeans would have to do it themselves.
Robert Guerin, President of the French Soccer Association, invited representatives from across Europe to 229 Rue St Honore in Paris on May 21st 1904. Today it's a shoe-shop, but almost a century ago, it was the birthplace of one of the most influential bodies in world sport.
Seven nations were there. A club side represented Spain, Madrid FC who have since become Real Madrid. The setting up of FIFA provided national associations and their constituent clubs with an international framework. Within in a year 15 nations were represented across Europe including the British.
These associations developed at both international and club level. The first world war severely held back the development of the game, though such was the popularity of soccer, international matches were still played between the European powers on neutral territory.
By the end of the war Soccer was still the number one sport in all of FIFA's original member countries. Now the Nations of Europe could start challenging Britain's continued domination of the game.
South America had already laid down the gauntlet with Uruguay winning the Olympic soccer title in 1924 and 1928, and most importantly the first FIFA World Cup, a tournament they themselves hosted.
The first serious challenge to emerge within continental Europe was from Austria. After the war the Austrian national team manager Hugo Meisl and his English coach Jimmy Hogan formed an unlikely alliance.
Together these two like-minded gentlemen created a football team that could take on the world. Step forth the Wunderteam.
Although they suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat against England at Stamford Bridge in 1929, in a game they should have won, the Wunderteam dominated the late '20s and early '30s with impressive victories over Hungary, Germany and Italy.
Austria, under Meisl, had something of a monopoly on European football's bragging rights for over a decade. But all that was soon to change
From his base in Turin, northern Italy, a good friend of Meisl's was waiting for his own team's chance to shine. Vittorio Pozzo was Italy's national coach between 1927 and 1948. Pozzo was a keen student of the game who learnt his trade in England, and an imposing father figure to players of the 1930 Azzurri squad.
When Italy staged the 1934 FIFA World Cup, the hosts finally overcame Austria as mainland Europe's top nation, beating them 1-0 in the semi final.
In the final, Pozzo's men met another strong nation from central Europe, Czechoslovakia. In front of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, Italy were the firm favourites playing on home soil in Rome, which was just as well as Il Duce had stressed 'win or die' in a telegram to Pozzo prior to the game.
The Czechs took the lead, but couldn't hold on. Goals from Orsi and an extra time strike from Schiavio saw Pozzo's side emerge 2-1 victors. Unlike four years previously the Europeans had made a big impact on the FIFA World Cup.
Italy had to defend their title four years later in France. The Wunderteam had raised European soccer to new levels but had failed to win the ultimate prize. The Italians on the other hand had already done it once and after making it to the 1938 FIFA World Cup final Pozzo's men were on the verge of doing it again.
They took on Hungary in the Stade Colombes, Paris. It would prove to be Pozzo's, and at that time, Calcio's, finest hour.
Although there were only two survivors from the side that won the tournament in 1934 they still managed a convincing 4-2 victory. Pozzo remains the only coach in history to lead his side to two consecutive FIFA World Cups.
It was the high-water mark of Pozzo's tenure as coach. Sadly the war intervened and the Italian side of the time, still to reach its prime, were unable to shine on the big stage again.
Then, as the clouds of war lifted there came another tragedy. Italian champions Torino were widely regarded as the best club side in Europe.
On May 4th 1949 Il Grande Torino were on their way back from Lisbon after friendly match with Benfica, when their plane crashed in fog into the Superga Basilica on the outskirts of Turin.
All on board were killed including the backbone of the Italian national side. The whole country was sent into mourning.
The death toll included captain Valentino Mazzola whose son Sandro also went on to represent his country 70 times, becoming one of Italy's finest players.
"My father used to take me to play soccer with him. He actually said I would become a soccer player, but I found this out later in life. He said even from a very young age I had the potential. My passion for the game definitely came from him," said Sandro Mazzola. "My mother on the other hand didn't want me to become a soccer player because she didn't want to lose her son in the way she lost her husband. But I managed to convince her and she let me get on with what I wanted to do."
While the Turin tragedy cast a dark shadow over the first half century of world soccer, the game's romance mesmerized fans around the globe as nations far and beyond adapted soccer as their number one sport.
In the second part of this piece, we will recap the highlights of the second half century of world soccer when developing nations started challenging traditional European and South American power houses.

Publication Date: 2003-12-21
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3489