1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

Had they been opposed by a first class goal-keeper, however, the number of goalsmade against the Russians would have been reduced, as many balls which foundthe net were shot from at distance of 20 or 25 metres.ITALY v. SWEDEN. 1—0Råsunda, Monday, 1 July, 7 p.m.Italy relied on the same team that had been so narrowly beaten by Finland,while Sweden had new men on the inside left, at centre half-back and at leftback, viz. Dahlström (from Eskilstuna), Frykman and Törnqvist. Everyone hadprophesied an easy victory for Sweden, and the team evidently suffered from thefault of making light of its opponents.The Swedes began the game as if it was merely a question of playing withthe other team, but they soon had their eyes opened in a very unpleasant way.Italy knew that it was matched against a team which, on paper, was miles superiorto its own and so it played for all it was worth, and the Swedish defence almostat once found itself in difficulties. Not more than a couple of minutes had elapsedere a ball from the Italian centre found its way into the Swedish net, but Mr. Willing,the referee, disallowed the goal on account of “hands”. The Swedish forwardsplayed very limply, and could not keep the ball going, while, after abouta quarter of an hour’s play the Italian outside right passed very nicely to thecentre, who transferred the ball without any difficulty to the net, this time in aperfectly legitimate manner. For a short time the Swedes played up a bit, butItaly soon began to press again and forced a series of corners. Wicksell was injuredseriously in the back and was obliged to leave the field but, just before half time,Börjesson, the Swedish centre forward, almost succeeded in equalizing with ahard shot.During the second half there was a change in the game. Fatigued by theirexertions during the first 45 minutes, the Italians kept almost entirely on the defensive,while the Swedes did everything in their power to regain the ground theyhad lost. But, apparently as a punishment for their laziness during the first partof the game, Fortune turned its back on them entirely, and although the ball wasas good as always within the penalty sphere in front of the Italian goal, it wasimpossible for the Swedes to equalize. Börjesson, Dahlström and Svensson sentin shot after shot, but the Italian goal-keeper saved brilliantly, and when he wasunable to reach the ball, the Swedes only managed to hit the cross-bar or theside posts. All their efforts were in vain and they had to leave the field, afterhaving had by far the best of the last half of the game, beaten by I-0.Italy won, thanks to the unfailing energy of the team, and to the good fortunethat attended them. The best men on their side were the outside left, the centrehalf-back, the backs and the goal-keeper.The Swedes lost on account of their unaccountable indifference during the firsthalf. Only the right back, Erik Hergström, and the two outside half-backs, Wickselland Gustafsson, maintained their reputations, the play of the other membersof the team being considerably below par.SEMI=FINALS.HUNGARY v. GERMANY. 3—1.Råsunda, Wednesday, 3 July, 3 p.m.There were only a couple of hundred spectators of this match which, however,was one of great interest the whole of the time, and well worth watching.32 Fifth Olympiad.497