Paul Rouse

Austrian and Hungarian coaches were coming to Italy to coach the players in Italy, but no foreign players beyond the Argentine or the South Americans were allowed to play in the Italian competition.

So what did the Italians do?

Well, they bolstered their squad with five rimpatriati.

Oh, South Americans in Italy.

South Americans into the Italian team who were brilliant players.

And that was crucial.

So they had a technical ability that was outstanding.

Second of all, they had themselves a brilliant coach in Pozzo who had devoted himself to the construction of the teams.

And although Pozzo wrote a letter

after the semi-final to the best Austrian player, Sindelar, who does seem to have been kicked around the place during that game, a letter of apology to him.

The reality of it was he did what he needed to do to win, which was to make it a really physical game against Austria and to squeeze out a 1-0 victory.

And there's been all sorts, all sorts of comment about Eklund

The Swedish referee who also reffed in the 38th and 1950 finals, it should be said as well.

So this was a man who is devoted to soccer.

There's a whole world of difference between pushing to have a referee who suits your style referee in the final and buying off that referee on the way.

And this is like so many of the supposed bribery stories in the World Cup or the so many stories of chicanery.

It remains case unproven and probably unprovable.

So first of all, it's a knockout competition.

So they're only playing four games.

We have no video footage worthy of the name of that survives.