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Information About

Hugo Meisl





BACKGROUND

Meisl came from a comfortable background in in Stockholm , Meisl even turned out as a match referee.


INTEREST IN FOOTBALL

Meisl's enthusiasm for the game resulted in the development of a Central European club tournament: the in Italy and Herbert Chapman in England . The Scotsman, Jimmy Hogan , who worked in Vienna helped Meisl develop a technique for dispensing with aerial passing and placing emphasis on groundwork.


AUSTRIAN 'WUNDERTEAM'

Meisl became coach of the Austrian national side in and rightly made the Austrians one of the strong favourites going into the 1934 World Cup .


1934 WORLD CUP

During that tournament Austria renewed their rivalry with their neighbours Hungary in a game that saw one player sent-off, a penalty awarded to Hungary and an injury to Johann Horvath that would rule him out of the semi-final against Italy . The Italians would win that game, an early goal and desperate defending ensuring the hosts won through to the final. A goal would also separate the sides in the Gold-medal match at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin . The second of these games is the only time that Austria have competed in an international final.

Meisl died after suffering a heart-attack in 1937; Nazi Germany annexed the Austrian state and, consequently, the players in 1938.