Match No. 224 - Saturday, 13th May 1939

  • Amedeo Biavati, 48'
  • Silvio Piola, 64'
    • GK
    • Aldo OlivieriAldo Olivieri.
      Born 2nd Oct 1910, Verona.
    • RB
    • Alfredo FoniAlfredo Foni.
      Born 20th Jan 1911, Udine.
    • LB
    • Pietro RavaPietro Rava.
      Born 21st Jan 1916, Cassine.
    • HB
    • Teobaldo DepetriniTeobaldo Depetrini.
      Born 12th Mar 1914, Vercelli.
    • HB
    • Michele AndreoloMiguel Ángel Andriolo Frodella.
      Born 6th Sep 1912, Dolores, Uruguay.
    • HB
    • Ugo LocatelliUgo Locatelli.
      Born 5th Feb 1916, Toscolano-Maderno.
    • OR
    • Amedeo BiavatiAmedeo Biavati.
      Born 4th Apr 1915, Bologna.
    • IR
    • Pietro SerantoniPietro Serantoni.
      Born 12th Dec 1906, Venice.
    • CF
    • Silvio PiolaSilvio Piola.
      Born 23rd Sep 1913, Robbio.
    • IL
    • Giuseppe MeazzaGiuseppe Meazza.
      Born 23rd Aug 1910, Milan.
       (c)
    • OL
    • Gino ColaussiLuigi Colausig.
      Born 4th Mar 1914, Gradisca d'Isonzo.
  • Assist: Stanley Matthews. "Foni, under severe pressure, conceded a corner on the right. Matthews took the kick, and Olivieri, who appeared to be unsighted, was beaten by a header from Lawton." Tommy Lawton6th of 22 goals. , 19'
  • "Hall found an opening for a shot which beat Olivieri, who was apparently unsighted again." Willie Hall9th of 9 goals. , 77'
    • 1
    • Vic WoodleyChelsea, 17th of 19 caps
      29 years, 2 months, 15 days
    • 2
    • George MaleArsenal, 17th of 19 caps
      29 years, 0 months, 5 days
    • 3
    • Eddie HapgoodArsenal, 29th of 30 caps
      30 years, 7 months, 19 days       (c)20th captaincy
    • 4
    • Ken WillinghamHuddersfield, 11th of 12 caps
      26 years, 5 months, 12 days
    • 5
    • Stan CullisWolves, 10th of 12 caps
      22 years, 6 months, 19 days
    • 6
    • Joe MercerEverton, 3rd of 5 caps
      24 years, 9 months, 4 days
    • 8
    • Willie HallSpurs, 9th of 10 caps
      27 years, 2 months, 1 day
    • 9
    • Tommy LawtonEverton, 6th of 23 caps
      19 years, 7 months, 7 days
    • 10
    • Len GouldenWest Ham, 12th of 14 caps
      26 years, 9 months, 28 days
    • 11
    • Frank BroomeAston Villa, 5th of 7 caps
      23 years, 11 month, 2 days

Notes

  • Match InfoEngland's first game of their European tour which would also see visits to Yugoslvia and Romania.
  • Match InfoThomas Whittaker was nominated as head coach but did not select the team.
  • Controversial GoalMost press sources indicate and newsreel footage suggests that Piola controlled the ball with his hand to score Italy's second goal. Despite protests from the English players, Bauwens consulted with his linesman and gave the goal. According to the Daily Telegraph, Victor Emmanuel III, the Italian Crown Prince was infuriated and demanded that play was stopped so he could talk to Bauwens. He was eventually discouraged from doing so by Stanley Rous.
  • Post MatchDiscussions continued after the full time whistle about Italy's controversial goal. There was "vehement discussion" between the England players and Dr Bauwens. He was described in the English press as being "pro-Mussolini".

Sources

Previous Match

Next Match

Managers

Referee

  • Germany Dr Peco Bauwens

Attendance

  • 60,000

Half Time Score

ELO Ratings

  • No change in rank, gaining 6 ranking points to 1977 points England - 4th
  • Italy - 1st