Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1920 Men's Olympic Football Tournament
Olympic rings without rims.svg
Tournament details
Host countryBelgium
Dates28 August – 5 September 1920
Teams15 (from 2 confederations)
Venue(s)4 (in 3 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Belgium (1st title)
Runners-up Spain
Third place Netherlands
Fourth place Italy
Tournament statistics
Matches played17
Goals scored70 (4.12 per match)
Attendance150,600 (8,859 per match)
Top scorer(s)Sweden Herbert Carlsson
(7 goals)
← 1912
1924 →
Football at the
1920 Summer Olympics
Football pictogram.svg
Tournament
men's tournament
Squads
squads
  • v
  • t

Football was one of the 154 events at the 1920 Summer Olympics, held in Antwerp, Belgium. It was the fifth time association football was on the Olympic schedule. The tournament was expanded to 14 countries, including a non-European nation (Egypt) for the first time.[1]

As these were the first Olympics after World War I, Central Power countries involved in the conflict (Germany, Austria, Hungary, and their allies Bulgaria and Turkey) were not invited. The English FA had withdrawn from FIFA (together with the associations of the other UK nations, Scotland, Ireland and Wales) after their demand that the federations of Germany, Austria and Hungary be excluded had been rejected. FIFA nevertheless accepted the entry of a Great Britain football team, judging that countries entering the Olympic Games in other sports should not be hindered from entering the football tournament.[2]

However, the gold medalists of the previous two Olympic football tournaments would not enjoy their participation long, as they were defeated 1–3 in the first round by Norway, who thus celebrated one of their iconic victories (to be followed by the elimination of Nazi Germany at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the 1993 win over England in World Cup qualifying, and the 2–1 defeat of reigning world champions Brazil at the 1998 World Cup).

The final (and gold) was won by host Belgium against Czechoslovakia (which participated in an international competition for the first time in their history) after the Czechoslovaks walked off to protest the officiating, and were subsequently disqualified from the tournament.[1]

Since Belgium had received a first-round bye, the tournament to determine the silver and bronze medalists had the beaten quarter-finalists (Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden) facing each other to determine who would play the Netherlands, now assured of a medal.

The tournament ended with Spain winning the silver medal match, while the Netherlands won the bronze.[3][4][2]

Venues[]

Antwerp
Antwerp
Olympisch Stadion Stadion Broodstraat
Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: Not known
Olympisch Stadion Antwerp 2.jpg
Ghent Brussels
Jules Ottenstadion Stade Joseph Marien
Capacity: Not known Capacity: Not known
Gentbruggeottenstadion 16072009.jpg Stade Joseph Marien.JPG

Squads[]

Main article: Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads

Tournament[]

15 teams entered the competition, which was organized on a knockout basis, but Switzerland withdrew on the morning before the first round due to internal dissent, meaning France were given a first-round forfeit.

As such, 12 teams entered the first round, with the winners joining host Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Norway defeated Great Britain in the first round, considered by Elo as one of the greatest football upsets of all time.[5]

Czechoslovakia, participating in their first international tournament, made it to the final, beating Yugoslavia (who also played their first ever international match in the competition), Norway, and France, while Belgium, after their first-round bye, beat Spain and the Netherlands to qualify for the final.

The final was abandoned in the 39th minute and Belgium were awarded the gold medal after Czechoslovakia walked off to protest the performance of the English referee, John Lewis and his linesmen.[6]

A form of the Bergvall System[7] was used to determine second and third places. Firstly, the beaten quarter-finalists played off, and Spain emerged triumphant, overcoming Sweden 2-1 and Italy 2-0.

Under the original format, Spain would have played off against the teams beaten in the main tournament by gold medalists Belgium, with the winners playing off for second and third, but Czechoslovakia had been disqualified, and Belgium had received a first-round bye.

Therefore, Spain advanced straight to the silver medal match against the Netherlands, who had been beaten by Belgium in their semi-final. Spain won 3–1.

Exhibition match[]

This match was not part of the tournament, but was organised after both teams were eliminated. Some sources erroneously refer to this as an eighth-place match or as part of the silver and bronze medal tournament.

Egypt 4–2Kingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of SCS
Abaza Goal 43', ??'
Allouba Goal ??'
Hegazi Goal ??'		 Report Dubravčić Goal ??'
Ružić Goal ??'
Attendance: 500
Referee: (NED)

Results[]

Original Bracket[]

First round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
        
 Belgium Bye
 
 Belgium 3
 Spain 1
 Spain 1
 Denmark 0
 Belgium 3
 Netherlands 0
 Sweden 9
 Greece 0
 Sweden 4
 Netherlands (a.e.t.) 5
 Luxembourg 0
 Netherlands 3
 Belgium 2
 Czechoslovakia 0
 France 2
  Switzerland 0
 France 3
 Italy 1
 Italy 2
 Egypt 1
 France 1
 Czechoslovakia 4
 Czechoslovakia 7
 Yugoslavia 0
 Czechoslovakia 4
 Norway 0
 Great Britain 1
 Norway 3

First round[]

Belgium Bye
Czechoslovakia 7–0Kingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of SCS
Vanik Goal 20', 46', 79'
Janda Goal 34', 50', 75'
Sedláček Goal 43'		 Report
Attendance: 600
Referee: (BEL)
Spain 1–0 Denmark
Arabolaza Goal 54' Report
La Butte, Brussels
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: (NED)
Italy 2–1 Egypt
Baloncieri Goal 25'
Brezzi Goal 57'		 Report Osman Goal 30'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: (BEL)
Norway 3–1 Great Britain
Gundersen Goal 13', 51'
Wilhelms Goal 63'		 Report Nicholas Goal 25'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Johannes Mutters (NED)
Netherlands 3–0 Luxembourg
J. Bulder Goal 30'
Groosjohan Goal 47', 85'		 Report
La Butte, Brussels
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: (BEL)
France 2–0
Awarded		  Switzerland
Sweden 9–0 Greece
Olsson Goal 4', 79'
Karlsson Goal 15', 20', 21', 51', 85'
Wicksell Goal 25'
Dahl Goal 31'		 Report
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: (BEL)

Quarter-finals[]

Netherlands 5–4 (a.e.t.) Sweden
Groosjohan Goal 10', 57'
J. Bulder Goal 44', 88' (pen.)
De Natris Goal 115'		 Report Karlsson Goal 16', 32'
Olsson Goal 20'
Dahl Goal 72'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: (TCH)
Czechoslovakia 4–0 Norway
Vanik Goal 8'
Janda Goal 17', 66', 77'		 Report
La Butte, Brussels
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: (BEL)
France 3–1 Italy
Boyer Goal 10'
Nicolas Goal 14'
Bard Goal 54'		 Report Brezzi Goal 33' (pen.)
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Henri Christophe (BEL)
Belgium 3–1 Spain
Coppée Goal 11', 52', 55' Report Arrate Goal 62' (pen.)
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Johannes Mutters (NED)

Semi-finals[]

Czechoslovakia 4–1 France
Mazal Goal 18', 75', 87'
Steiner Goal 70'		 Report Boyer Goal 79'
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Johannes Mutters (NED)
Belgium 3–0 Netherlands
Larnoe Goal 46'
Van Hege Goal 55'
Bragard Goal 85'		 Report
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: John Lewis (GBR)

Gold medal match[]

Belgian striker Robert Coppée opens the scoring of the final, with a penalty kick against goalkeeper Rudolf Klapka

The final was highly controversial, and is the only time as of 2021 that an international final has been abandoned. Belgium were awarded the gold medal by default after Czechoslovakia walked off the field in the 39th minute (with Belgium leading 2-0) to protest the officiating after Czechoslovak left-back Karel Steiner was ejected for assaulting Robert Coppée.

The Czechoslovaks were also unhappy with the performance of the 65-year-old English referee, John Lewis, who had already refereed the Belgian semi-final victory over the Netherlands, a match observed by the Czechoslovaks (it had taken place on the same day and in the same stadium as their own victory against France), as well as the English linesmen, Charles Wreford-Brown and A. Knight, who had allowed a contentious second Belgian goal in the 30th minute that Henri Larnoe had converted.

The Czechoslovaks immediately protested the result of the final, [note 1] but their protest was dismissed, and the Czechoslovak team was disqualified from the tournament.

1920 Summer Olympics Football Final
Belgium 2–0 Czechoslovakia
Coppée Goal 6' (pen.)
Larnoe Goal 30'		 Report
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: John Lewis (GBR)

Silver medal tournament[]

Repechage bracket[]

The original format had a knockout tournament between the four teams eliminated during the quarter-finals, with the winner of that tournament playing off against the teams beaten in the main tournament by gold medalists Belgium, and the winners of these matches playing off for silver and bronze medals.

However, since Czechoslovakia had been disqualified and Belgium had received a first-round bye, the third round was scratched and Spain automatically advanced to the silver and bronze medal match against the Netherlands.

  First round     Second round     Silver/Bronze medal match
                           
  QF  Italy (a.e.t.) 2  
  QF  Norway 1         SF  Netherlands 1
        QF  Italy 0     QF  Spain 3
        QF  Spain 2  
  QF  Spain 2    
  QF  Sweden 1  

First round[]

Italy 2–1[note 2] (a.e.t.) Norway
Sardi Goal 46'
Badini Goal 123'		 Report Andersen Goal 41'
Attendance: 500
Referee: Louis Fourgous (France)
Spain 2–1 Sweden
Belauste Goal 51'
Acedo Goal 53'		 Report Dahl Goal 28'
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Giovanni Mauro (Italy)

Second round[]

Spain 2–0 Italy
Sesúmaga Goal 43', 72' Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Paul Putz (Belgium)

Silver/Bronze medal match[]

Spain 3–1 Netherlands
Sesúmaga Goal 7', 35'
Pichichi Goal 72'		 Report Groosjohan Goal 68'
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Paul Putz (Belgium)

Final ranking[]

Final positions:[2][8]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Result
1st place, gold medalist(s)  Belgium 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 6
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Spain 5 4 0 1 8 3 +5 8
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Netherlands 4 2 0 2 9 10 −1 4
4  Italy 4 2 0 2 5 7 −2 4 Eliminated in playoffs
5  Sweden 3 1 0 2 14 7 +7 2
6  France 2 1 0 1 4 5 −1 2
7  Norway 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 2
8  Egypt 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0 Eliminated in first round
9  Denmark 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
10  Great Britain 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0
11  Luxembourg 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0
12 Kingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of SCS 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 0
13  Greece 1 0 0 1 0 9 −9 0
DSQ  Czechoslovakia 4 3 0 1 15 3 +12 6 Disqualified
Source:[citation needed]

Medalists[]

Hosts and tournament winners Belgium before the final
Team of Spain, silver medalist
Gold Silver Bronze
 Belgium

Coach: Raoul Daufresne

 Spain

Coach: Francisco Bru

 Netherlands

Coach: Fred Warburton

Goalscorers[]

Topscorer Herbert Carlsson
7 goals
  • Sweden Herbert Carlsson (Sweden)
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Notes[]

  1. ^ Their protests, translated from the original French, were as follows:
    1. We were allocated an English linesman, which is in contradiction with the rules which state that each participating nation has the right to one of both linesman. This violation of the rules was prejudicial to us during the game, because the English linesman was not impartial and this is why we seek the cancellation of the match. Immediately after the game we brought this notice to the attention of M. Rodolphe Seeldrayers.
    2. The majority of the decisions of the referee Mr. Lewis were wrong and it was obvious that it gave the public the wrong impression about our game. Also both Belgian goals were the result of incorrect decisions of the referee and we seek a rigorous investigation on that point.
    3. During the match, Belgian soldiers were introduced to the crowd until they circled the pitch and because of their provocative presence our players were unable to play their normal game. As a result of the very regrettable incident at the end of the match when there was a pitch invasion led by the soldiers and our national flag was insulted we will not participate until we have received an apology from the (Belgian) soldiers.[7]
  2. ^ After 120 minutes expired with the score tied at 1–1, both captains and the referee agreed to play a second extra time of 2x15 minutes, meaning this match lasted 150 minutes.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Olympic Football Tournament, Antwerp 1920 - Overview on FIFA.com
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c VII. Olympiad Antwerp 1920 Football Tournament by Karel Stokkermans on the RSSSF
  3. ^ THE VIIth SUMMER GAMES - Football Archived 22 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine on MarcOlympics.org
  4. ^ "Football at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  5. ^ World Football Elo Ratings: Biggest Upsets
  6. ^ "VII. Olympiad Antwerp 1920 Football Tournament". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b VIIeme Olympiade, Anvers 1920: Official report on LA84 Digital Library Collection
  8. ^ 1920 Antwerp Olympic Football Tournament on Football Mundial.com


Retrieved from ""