England 2-2 Austria (partially found footage of international football match; 1951)
On 28th November 1951, England hosted Austria for a friendly international football match. Occurring in front of a sold-out 100,000 Empire Stadium, the encounter ended 2-2. The match's quality was well-regarded by critics, even leading some to consider it the "match of the century".
Background
Heading into the match, England and Austria had previously faced each other six times.[1][2] The last occurred in Austria's Praterstadion on 6th May 1936, where the hosts won 2-1.[3][1] Repeating this feat would prove a challenge, as England boasted an unbeaten record at home against continental sides. Additionally, Austria had only played England once on English soil, losing 4-3 at Stamford Bridge on 1932.[4][1][2][5] Nevertheless, despite having not competed at the 1950 FIFA World Cup, Austria were still considered a strong team, with Ernst Ocwirk being declared their best player.[6][5][7] England had hoped to combat Ocwirk by placing William Wright as a defensive inside-left, but injuries, including one suffered by Tom Finney, forced changes to occur elsewhere, particularly in the right-wing, left-back, inside-left, and centre-half.[5][6] The Three Lions were also receiving slack for below-average performances, including during its 1951/52 British Home Championship games.[7] Thus, this was viewed as an opportunity to rebuild the home side's reputation.[7][2]
The Match
The match occurred on 28th November in front of a record crowd at the Empire Stadium.[8][9] It was reported that the ground had sold-out, thus reaching around 100,000 spectators in total.[8][9] England started strongly, with Ivor Broadis receiving a shot on-goal following a pass from Arthur Milton.[7] This was saved in the fourth minute by Austrian goalkeeper Walter Zeman, with Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record citing this gave the visitors an advantage considering England typically needed to get on the scoreboard promptly to challenge the international opposition.[7] England nevertheless produced the most opportunities in the first-half, though Adolf Huber, likely via passes from Ocwirk and Ernst Stojaspal, did provide two near-goals for the visitors, prevented only by a save from Gilbert Merrick and a block from Bill Eckersley.[7][6]
In the second-half, Austria began as the better side.[7] Just two minutes into the half, a free kick from Ocwirk was reached by Ernst Melchior that defeated Merrick, putting the visitors 1-0 up.[7][5][2][6][8][9] England fought back with several significant attacks.[7][6] Eventually, with 70 minutes having been completed, Eddie Baily was fouled in the Austrian penalty box, with referee John Alexander Mowat immediately awarding a penalty kick.[7][2][5] Alf Ramsey converted the spot kick to level proceedings.[10][7][5][2][6][8][9] According to Ramsey, he was not as confident as the British newspapers indicated.[10] To maximise his chances of scoring, he placed the ball so that the lace was towards the goalkeeper.[7][10] He stated he became the "happiest man in the world" upon scoring, though did also reflect what would have happened had he missed.[10] Seven minutes later, Ramsey took a free kick that reached the far post; Lofthouse headed the ball in to have the hosts lead 2-1.[7][5][2][6][8][9] The lead lasted until the 88th minute as a header from Huber was blocked by the hand of Eckersley, Austria immediately being awarded a penalty.[7][2][5][6] Stojaspal converted for the equaliser.[7][2][5][6][8][9] Ultimately, neither side managed any further goals, thus resulting in a draw at full-time.[7][2][6][8][9]
The match was critically acclaimed, with the 21st November 1951 issue of the Birmingham Gazette noting several critics had declared it the "match of the century".[11] Others praised both sides for producing aggressive attacks throughout the match, though noted it was ironic that all four goals were from set pieces.[7][5] Payne also believed that this was one of England's better performances, though felt the Three Lions should have emerged victorious had they properly capitalised on Austria's defensive errors.[7] The next match between the two sides occurred at Austria's Praterstadion on 25th May 1952, with England winning 3-2.[12][2][1]
Availability
As noted in Issue 1,463 of Radio Times, the BBC televised the second-half of the game live.[13][14][15] It stated commentary was provided by Jimmy Jewell, though England Football Online states Kenneth Wolstenholme was also present in the booth.[13][14][15][8] Ultimately, the coverage was broadcast live in an era where telerecordings seldom occurred until videotape was perfected in the late-1950s.[16][17] While England's 30th November 1949 clash with Italy was partially recorded, no other matches where Jewell provided commentary on were as lucky, resulting in the coverage becoming permanently missing.[16][17] Nevertheless, highlights can be found in a few newsreels.
Gallery
Videos
Image
See Also
- 1899 FA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1899)
- 1903 FA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1903)
- 1907 Sheriff of London Charity Shield (lost footage of football match; 1907)
- 1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)
- 1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)
- 1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)
- 1947 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1947)
- 1948 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1948)
- 1948 Summer Olympics (partially found television coverage of London Games; 1948)
- 1949 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1949)
- 1950 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1950)
- 1951 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1951)
- 1952 Coupe de France Final (partially found footage of football match; 1952)
- 1952 FA Charity Shield (lost footage of football match; 1952)
- 1955 Scottish Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1955)
- 1956 Southern Junior Floodlight Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1956)
- 1966 FIFA World Cup Final (partially found original colour film of international football match; 1966)
- 1967 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1967)
- 1968 Football League Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1968)
- 1970 FA Cup Final Replay (partially found original ITV coverage of football match; 1970)
- 1971 WFA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1971)
- 1971 Women's World Cup (partially found footage of international football matches; 1971)
- 1973 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1973)
- 1974 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1974)
- 1976 WFA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1976)
- 1977 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1977)
- 1978 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1978)
- 1979 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1979)
- 1980 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1980)
- 1981 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1981)
- 1982 WFA Cup Final (lost footage of football match; 1982)
- 1985-1986 WFA Cup (lost list of entries for football tournament; 1985)
- A Football Match at Newcastle-on-Tyne (lost footage of football match; 1896)
- Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United (lost radio commentary of football match; 1927)
- Arsenal 3-2 Everton (partially found footage of Football League First Division match; 1936)
- Arsenal 7-1 Hibernian (lost footage of charity football match; 1952)
- Arsenal vs Arsenal Reserves (lost footage of early BBC televised football match; 1937)
- Atlético Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid (lost footage of El Derbi Madrileño La Liga football match; 1958)
- Barbados 4–2 Grenada (partially found soccer match footage; 1994)
- Barnet 3-2 Wealdstone (lost footage of Athenian League football match; 1946)
- Bedford Town 1-2 Arsenal (partially found footage of FA Cup match; 1956)
- Blackpool 0-1 Bolton Wanderers (lost footage of Football League First Division match; 1960)
- Brazil 2-0 Italy (lost footage of international football match; 1956)
- Brian Clough's Football Fortunes (lost DOS port of football management game; 1987)
- Carlisle United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle (partially found footage of Football League Third Division match; 1999)
- Charlton Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (lost footage of FA Cup match; 1947)
- Chelsea 1-1 Burnley (partially found footage of FA Cup match; 1956)
- Chelsea 2-0 Sparta Prague (lost footage of international football match; 1957)
- Club América 0-4 Italy (lost footage of international football match; 1970)
- Corinthians 1-3 Newcastle United (lost radio coverage of FA Cup match; 1927)
- England 0-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)
- England 1-0 Scotland (lost footage of Schools' International football match; 1952)
- England 1-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
- England 1-2 Scotland (lost footage of international football match; 1903)
- England 1-3 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1949)
- England 2-0 Italy (partially found footage of international football match; 1949)
- England 2-1 Argentina (partially found footage of international football match; 1951)
- England 2-2 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1951)
- England 2-2 Yugoslavia (partially found footage of international football match; 1950)
- England 3-0 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
- England 3-0 Rest of Europe (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)
- England 6-0 Switzerland (partially found footage of international football match; 1948)
- Falkirk 3-2 Newcastle United (lost footage of football match; 1953)
- FC St. Pauli 3-4 Hamborn 07 (lost footage of DFB-Pokal football match; 1952)
- FIFA Soccer 2002 (lost build of cancelled Game Boy Advance port of football game; existence unconfirmed; 2001-2002)
- France 3-1 West Germany (partially found footage of international football match; 1952)
- France 6-3 Belgium (partially found footage of FIFA World Cup qualifying match; 1956)
- Hallo! Bundesliga (lost GolTV series; mid 2000s-mid 2010s)
- Hamburger SV 4-3 Altona 93 (lost footage of Oberliga Nord football match; 1952)
- Hero to Zero (partially found BBC One children's football drama show; 2000)
- Juventus 1-7 A.C. Milan (partially found footage of Serie A football match; 1950)
- The Kaiser Conspiracy (lost unfinished Dermot Morgan novel; 1990s)
- Liverpool vs Sheffield United (lost footage of FA Cup Semi-Final matches; 1899)
- Lowestoft Town 3-0 AFC Hornchurch (partially found footage of Isthmian League Premier Division play-off final; 2014)
- Manchester United Championship Soccer (lost build of cancelled Sega Mega Drive port of football game; 1995)
- Mexico 2-0 Italy (lost footage of international football match; 1970)
- Miracle of the Magyars (lost Dermot Morgan screenplay of unmade football drama film; 1990s)
- National Professional Soccer League (partially found footage of soccer matches; 1967)
- Netherlands 0-0 Sweden (lost footage of international football match; 1952)
- Premier League All Stars (partially found Sky One charity football tournament; 2007)
- PSV Eindhoven 2-1 E.V.V. Eindhoven (lost footage of Netherlands Football League Championship match; 1950)
- Quiz Ball (partially found BBC One football-based quiz show; 1966-1972)
- Re-united (lost Dermot Morgan script of unmade football sitcom; 1990s)
- Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (partially found footage of El Clásico La Liga football match; 1959)
- Real Madrid 3-0 Racing Santander (lost footage of La Liga football match; 1954)
- San Lorenzo de Almagro 1-1 River Plate (lost footage of Argentine Primera División football match; 1951)
- Scotland 1-2 England (lost radio coverage of international football match; 1927)
- Scottish Universities 1-1 English Universities (lost footage of international football match; 1952)
- Serbia vs Albania (found footage of abandoned UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match; 2014)
- Stade de Reims 2-1 FC Metz (partially found footage of French Division 1 football match; 1956)
- Turkey 1-2 Soviet Union (lost footage of 1962 FIFA World Cup qualifying match; 1961)
- United! (lost British soap opera; 1965-1967)
- Wales 1-1 England (partially found footage of international football match; 1951)
- Walthamstow Avenue 0-2 Queen's Park (lost footage of friendly football match; 1951)
- West Ham United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (partially found footage of FA Cup match; 1956)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 11 vs 11 listing the England-Austria matches. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Glen Isherwood's Wembley: The Complete Record summarising England's record against Austria and the match itself. (report found on England Football Online). Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ England Football Online detailing the 6th May 1936 clash. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ England Football Online detailing the 7th December 1932 clash. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Norman Giller summarising the encounter and team changes made (report found on England Football Online). Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 FA Yearbook 1952-53 detailing the match and the changes made heading in (report found on England Football Online. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record providing a detailed match report (report found on England Football Online). Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 England Football Online detailing the match, its statistics, and reports on it. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 11 vs 11 detailing the result of the match and other statistics. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Alf Ramsey reflecting on the penalty kick (quote found on England Football Online). Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 21st November 1951 issue of Birmingham Gazette noting some declared the encounter the "match of the century" (quote found on England Football Online). Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ England Football Online detailing the 25th May 1952 clash. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 BBC Genome archive of Radio Times issues detailing the BBC's coverage of the match. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Issue 1,463 of Radio Times listing the coverage. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 England Football Online detailing the television coverage of the match. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 BBC Genome Blog noting how almost all football broadcasts featuring Jewell's commentary were never recorded. Retrieved 31st Dec '22
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Web Archive article discussing how most early television is missing due to the lack of directly recording television. Retrieved 31st Dec '22