#OnThisDay: 10th June 1934, Italy win their first World Cup thanks to a goal from Schiavio
Italy and Czechoslovakia took to the pitch for the 1934 World Cup final at the Stadio del Partito Nazionale Fascista in Rome on the 10th June 1934. The capital was in the middle of a scorching heat with temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees. The stadium’s gallery hosted Benito Mussolini, Jules Rimet and the Savoy princesses Maria Francesca and Mafalda among others.
Czechoslovakia were clearly the better team in the first stages of the game thanks to their untarnished Slavia Prague contingent, a team capable of dominating their domestic league since 1929. After hitting the woodwork twice, the Czechs deservedly took the lead in the 71st minute through Puc as he got away from Ferraris IV and Monzeglio before beating Combi with a low shot.
Pozzo opted for some tactical changes and inverted the attacking positions with Schiavio playing on the wing and Guaita as centre-forward. In the end, Orsi found the net with a few minutes left and sent the game to extra time. It was then that our own Schiavio took over and scored the winner with one of his great plays. Ferraris IV put the ball through for Guaita, who immediately assisted Schiavio in the box. He dribbled past two Czech players at once and beat Planicka. Italy took the lead and maintained this advantage until the final whistle, lifting the trophy for the first time in their history. After getting onto the scoresheet, Angelo fainted for a few seconds, maybe due to the heat or his emotions. Nevertheless, it took him just a few days to restart scoring, since he led Bologna during their triumphant campaign at the Central European Cup a week later.
10th June 1934, World Cup, Final
Rome, Stadio del Partito Nazionale Fascista
ITALY 2-1 CZECHOSLOVAKIA (after extra time)
ITALY: Combi, Monzeglio, Allemandi, Ferraris IV, Monti, Bertolini, Guaita, Meazza, Ferrari, Schiavio, Orsi. Coach: Pozzo.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Planicka, Ctyroky, Zenisek, Krcil, Cambal, Kostalek, Puc, Nejedly, Sobotka, Svoboda, Junek. Coach: Petru.
REFEREE: Eklind (Sweden).
SCORERS: 71′ Puc (C), 81′ Orsi (I), 95′ Schiavio (I).
