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| Hugo Meisl and his Wunderteam |
Football has not always been kind to some of the legendary International teams. The free-flowing Brazilian side of 1982, the Total Football inspired Dutch side of 1974, and the Magnificient Hungarian side fo 1954 are some of the prime examples. All these teams have revolutionized football in many ways and have mesmerized the fans and critics alike. Unlike the names mentioned above who have made their presence felt in modern football, the Austrian side of the 1934 World Cup remains relatively unknown.
The early 1930s saw Austria emerging as a powerhouse in European football. Inspired by the ideas of legendary English coach Jimmy Hogan and under the watchful gaze of Hugo Meisl, Austria developed one of the first super-teams in the history of the sport. At the focal point of the Austrian team was the 'Mozart of Football' himself, Matthias Sindelar.
Playing Style
Hugo Meisl structured his 'Wunderteam' based on the technically gifted Rangers side of the 1900s that toured his home nation. With the help of his friend Hogan, the Austrian developed his team based on the quick passing game introduced by the Englishman. The new revolutionary formation saw Austria lining up in a 2-3-5 formation with the front five interchanging positions between them.
Rudi Hiden, one of the greatest pre-war goalkeepers, guarded the Austrian posts while Josef Smistik pulled the strings in midfield. One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Smistik's quickness, vision, and ability to pick a player made him an integral part of the Wunderteam midfield.
The star act belonged to Mattias Sindelar. One of the greatest ever to play the game, Der Papierene's fantastic technical and creative ability made him a nightmare for his opposition. Along with a supporting cast of Josef Bican, Antonn Schall, Johann Horvath, and Karl Zischek, the Austrians ruled central Europe during the early 1930s.
Rise of the Wunderteam
The emergence of the Wunderteam coincided with the formation of the Mitropa Cup - the first major international European club competition - and the Central Europe International Cup. The competitiveness and the exposure helped Austria develop their squad into football superstars.
During the late 1920s, Austria had some of the best individual talents in World Football. Despite the world-class talents at their disposal, the Wunderteam was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. The much robust Joseph Uridil lacked the technical ability to play the way Meisl wanted his side to play. The country's best forward Matthias Sindelar was cast aside for 'The Tank" following confrontations with Austrian coach. The Wunderteam finally started to shape up after the retirement of Uridil in 1930, and the reintroduction of Sindelar.
On the 16th of May 1931, Hugo Meisl fielded the Wunderteam for the very first time against unbeaten Scotland. The result was never in doubt, Meisl's Wunderteam struck five past the hapless Scotts, announcing their arrival. The win was the first of a 14 match unbeaten streak - including a successful Central European International Cup campaign - for the Austrians.
The almost two-year-long run would end at the feet of the mighty English. Despite losing 4-3 at Stamford Bridge, Meisl's team would garner applause from the English press for their style of play. It would take another 20 years before the Mighty Magyars hand a thrashing defeat to the English.
1934 FIFA World Cup and the demise of the Wunderteam
Hugo Meisl and his team entered the 1934 FIFA World Cup as one of the favorites to win the tournament. Despite being a little past their peak, Austria edged past France and Hungary before facing host Italy in the semifinals of the competition. In a match that showed clear signs of Benito Mussolini's influence on the officials, Austria controversially lost by one goal. The winner scored by Enrique Guaita showed clear evidence of a foul committed on Austrian goalkeeper Peter Platzer during the build-up. The Azzurri's went on to win the World Cup while Meisl's men finished fourth. The Italians would play spoilsport one more time in the 1936 Olympics, edging Austria for the gold in the finals.
Sadly, 1934 would remain the only World Cup that saw the Wunderteam. The death of Hugo Meisl in 1937 put the first nail in the coffin before the Nazi invasion in 1938 resulted in the Austrian football team forced into playing along with the Germans. The death of Matthias Sindelar on the 23rd of January 1939 struck the final nail in the coffin. Just 36, at the time of his death, Sindelar died in his apartment under mysterious circumstances.
In all their glory, Meisl and his Austrian side have a single Central European International Cup in their trophy cabinet. Despite their lack of success, Austria's Wunderteam deserves mentioning in the same breath as the 82 Brazilians, 74 Dutch, and the 54 Hungarians.
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