1934 FIFA World Cup Final: Italy’s Historic Comeback Victory Against Czechoslovakia
The 1934 FIFA World Cup final showdown between Italy and Czechoslovakia
The second edition of the esteemed football competition took place in Rome’s Stadio Nazionale PNF on June 10, 1934, and featured the 1934 FIFA World Cup final. Italy defeated Czechoslovakia 2-1 in a thrilling encounter played in record-breaking 40°C (104°F) heat. The contest was a fight to determine the world champion. Italy’s first World Cup triumph was guaranteed with this win.
Match Scorecard
- Italy 2 (Orsi 81′, Schiavio 95′)
- Czechoslovakia 1 (Puc 71′)
There was controversy around the 1934 World Cup. The defending champions, Uruguay, withdrew from the competition in protest over the absence of European teams from the 1930 edition. Another footballing giant, Argentina, was ousted by Sweden early in the first round.
This was Czechoslovakia’s and Italy’s first FIFA World Cup ever. Their paths had already crossed, most notably in Florence during Italy’s 2-0 victory in the 1933–1935 Central European International Cup. This was the 11th time that the two countries had faced off, with a prior record of three victories apiece and four draws.
Road to the Final:
Italy
Italy dominated the United States in the Preliminary Round with a remarkable 7-1 victory. Then they overcame Spain with a 1-1 draw followed by a 1-0 win in the replay in the Quarter-finals. Then a narrow 1-0 victory against Austria secured their place in the final of 1934 FIFA World Cup final.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia edged past Romania with a 2-1 win in the Preliminary Round. Then they defeated Switzerland 3-2 in a tightly contested Quarter-final match. Then in the Semi-finals Round, a commanding 3-1 victory over Germany sent them through to the final.
Final Match Analysis
Italy’s Remarkable Comeback
Czechoslovakia’s Antonin Puc opened the scoring in the 71 minutes, ten minutes later, Italy’s Raimundo Orsi equalized the score. Angelo Schiavio scored the game-winning goal five minutes into extra time, securing Italy’s victory as the match entered extra time—the first time an extra time was needed in a World Cup final.
Italy’s ability and tenacity are remembered from the 1934 FIFA World Cup final. Under head coach Vittorio Pozzo, the competition also signaled Italy’s emergence as a global football force. The only player still alive from this historic event was the Czechoslovakian goalie Frantisek Planicka, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 92.
