The 1934 World Cup will forever be associated with the political climate surrounding it. Italy, the host nation, was under the rule of dictator Benito Mussolini, who saw the tournament as an opportunity to showcase fascist power and prestige. Il Duce was determined not only for Italy to win, but to make sure the world took notice — even if that meant influencing decisions behind the scenes, including the choice of referee for the final. To be fair, Italy already entered as one of the favourites. Alongside home advantage, the Azzurri boasted a strong squad led by star forward Giuseppe Meazza and reinforced by four players originally from Argentina, among them winger Raimundo Orsi and midfield anchor Luis Monti— the latter having been key to Argentina’s run to the 1930 final. Meanwhile, Uruguay, the defending champions, declined to participate in protest at the lack of European representation four years earlier. Key Notes from the 1934 World Cup * For the first time, *every* ...
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