VITTORIO POZZO

Coached the Italian Olympic team and national team.

In the history of world football Italian Vittorio Pozzo became the only coach, been able to bring his team to two victories at the world championships - in 1934 and 1938. Also among the Championships he won and at the XI Olympic Games, held in 1936 in Berlin.

But the first coach Vittorio Pozzo experience dates back to 1912, when he was twenty-six years. Before that he managed to play two Italian clubs, and the Swiss "Grasshoperse", though not for long. Football games Pozzo carried away when he was in England, and well-studied manner of playing British teams. Given his English experience, and his appointed coach of the Italian Olympic team, going on a game V Olympiad in Stockholm. But the laurels for the Italians did not have won - easily won the Olympic tournament England. Twelve years later, Pozzo again led by the Italian Olympic team at the games VIII Olympiad in Paris, but it was a year of team of Uruguay.

Truly Italian soccer has gained momentum only in early 1930. Only in 1929 was finally created by the Italian Football Association, where Pozzo worked as a secretary, and in 1930 the National League. Until that time the national championship was not, "private" disputes were between a club who have served in various regional leagues, so teams of northern industrial cities of Milan and Turin. Championship in 1930 won the Inter Milan, which at that time called "Ambrozianoy", and the best sniper championship with 31 bare as his striker Giuseppe Meazza.

Football quickly became Italy′s number one sport. Appeared in the country and the national team. Trainer her again appointed Vittorio Pozzo. In 1934, Italy was elected to host the II World Cup, and from the national team had expected only victory.

A lot of thinking over the principles of acquisition team, Pozzo came to the conclusion that it must build on the basis of only a few clubs and take out to play well with each other players are ready "blocks. " The main base for the team was team Juventus Turin, which, since 1931, each season, became the champion of the country. From there to the national team came seven players, including goalkeeper estate and forwards Ferrari and Orsi. From "Ambrosiana" - Meazza and Allemande.

Photo — «Vittorio Pozzo»

But there were club "Single" - a central striker Schiavio of "Bologna" and the extreme right of the "Roma" Guaita.

In the early 1930′s to Italy had already reached an invention of Herbert Chapman - the system of "double-ve" and that it has adopted Vittorio Pozzo, because Chapman was his unquestioned authority. In the center of the attack acted Angelo Schiavio, at the edges - Enrico Guaita and Raimundo Orsi, and in the role of insider were swept Giuseppe Meazza and Giovanni Ferrari. But this tactical scheme Pozzo filled with your own content, and sometimes even modify, placing players on the circuit 2-4-4 or 3-3-4. In the first case, one of four midfielders in the defense stepped back, becoming the third defender, and the second through the nomination forward midfielders Pozzo markedly increased the attack.

Home bet Pozzo is on speed and precise interaction attacking each other. All the attackers were technically, especially Raimundo Orsi, Argentine-born. The attacks were allowed to carry them without much regard for his own goal, because Pozzo relied on the reliability of their defensive lines.

However, Pozzo became perhaps the first of the coaches, who gave his team at every game specific installation. To do this, he always tried to explore the future of the opponent, using every opportunity to see it in action. Accordingly, in training specifically simulated situations that could arise in the game.

By world championship team Vittorio Pozzo went beautifully played, very powerful in attacking football ensemble. Important role in the team had, and personal qualities Pozzo - he was a brilliant psychologist who knew how to reach out to any player and encourage him to play, and at the same time, the dictator, forcing all steadily implement its orders. In 1933, the team defeated Italy in a friendly match teams of Germany, Belgium, Hungary, second only to match the Austrian national team, at that time the strongest team in Europe.

At the first world championships there was no group stage, matches were held on the Olympic system, and the loser immediately drop out of the struggle. The first game of the World Cup in 1934 with the U. S. team for the Italian team was an easy workout. Schiavio scored three goals, two Orsi, and Ferrari and Meazza one.

Photo — «Vittorio Pozzo»

The match ended with the score 7:1.

But the next match against Spain turned out to incredibly heavy. The Spanish team was also very strong, and its gates defended the legendary Ricardo Zamora. Before meeting with the Italians, the Spanish national team beat Brazil, the attack which was led by another legendary player - Leonidas. The Spaniards started the game very strongly and with the national team of Italy, first opened the account. And although the Ferrari finally otkvital ball from 1:1 resist until the end of the main and extra time.

At that time there was no rules for penalty shoot-out, had the next day to make replays. But Zamora, collided in the first game with one of the Italians and severely damaged eyes, in the second match did not participate. At the beginning of the first half after the filing of the angular Meazza scored. And although the Spaniards fought to the last, the score never changed.

The only goal, and again after the filing of a corner, was beaten in the semi-final match against Austria - its author was Guaita. But the most tense and difficult match for the Azzurri was the final match against Czechoslovakia, the gate is defended another brilliant goalkeeper - Frantisek Planichka.

Progress in the final match resembled a duel with Spain. Czechoslovak team first opened the account, and when before the end of the second half was only twenty minutes. At the Roman stadium, attended by Mussolini himself, then deathly silence reigned. Czechoslovak players were able to score another goal, but still ten minutes before the end of the second half Orsi equalized - the ball flew into the goal to Planichki unthinkable trajectory.

Before extra time Pozzo to confuse the opponent, instructed Schiavio and Guaite swapped. In addition, midfielder Monty became increasingly connected to the attack. At the ninety-seventh minute Schiavio scored the winning goal, and the Italian team was in his native walls champion.

At the XI Olympiad, held in 1936 in Berlin, Vittorio Pozzo traveled with a team of Italian students - for professionals to participate in the Olympic Games is not allowed. They became an Olympic champion, easily beating amateur teams in other countries. But after the Olympics several players Pozzo attracted to the national team, is already preparing for the World Cup in 1938, which was to be held in France.

Photo — «Vittorio Pozzo»

In the team had already finished the speech, almost all champions in 1934 - remained only Giuseppe Meazza and Giovanni Ferrari. Team had to build anew, and Pozzo again coped brilliantly with this task. New Frontline was Silvio Piola from Rome Lazio, right winger Amadeo Byavati of "Bologna", the left extreme Gino Kolaussi from "Triestina.

However, the world champion has always played a special mood. It has already proved the first match of the championship in 1938, when the Italian team in Marseille played against Norway. For a long time held a draw - 1:1, and the Italians goalkeeper Aldo Olivieri now and then makes a save after sharp output Norwegian attackers. For the victorious Azzurri goal Piola has scored in extra time.

Easy issued and the next match against France in Paris, if only because the stadium vehemently supported the French players. But the Italian team was noticeably stronger and won - 3:1. Semi-final with Brazil team was not particularly difficult. The Brazilians had met with the team of Czechoslovakia and were only able to win after a replay. Major Brazilian players paid in two matches all the forces on the field against the Italians went seven spare. By the end of the match against Italy led 2:0, and only eighty-seventh minute of Brazil′s national team was able to score a goal prestige.

In the final match against Hungary confirmed that the Azzurri are still the strongest team in the world. The victory was won with a score of 4:2, and the Italians for the second time became the champions of the world.

Hard to say, as would have been the fate of this great team and great coach Vittorio Pozzo, if not the Second World War, which began a year after the World Cup III. The next championship was held only in 1950, and the team of Italy, already, of course, with other players, made it fail - one match won and one lost.

By this time, Vittorio Pozzo two years, I left coaching. It happened after the XIV Olympiad, held in 1948 in London. At this time, led them to Olympic team, too, without success. But leaving Pozzo still a winner - no one else but him, could not lead twice in a row his team to the title of world champion.