The Defining Moment
Czechoslovakia 1934
Czechoslovakia reached the 1934 final as a tactically disciplined and dangerous counter-attacking side. In Rome, before an overwhelmingly Italian crowd and under the political pressure of the fascist regime, the Czechs took the lead in the 76th minute through Antonín Puč. The title was within touching distance, but Italy equalised through Raimundo Orsi and in extra time Angelo Schiavio scored the 2-1 winner. Czechoslovakia fell as runners-up in a hostile arena, but their resistance against Mussolini's Italy stands as one of the bravest performances in early World Cup history.
