This is an English translation of the match report that appeared in the Spanish publication El Heraldo de Madrid, on the 16th July 1930, of the game between Argentina and France from the previous day. Technically there are two accounts, the first a short paragraph, signed 'Fabra'. It is not clear if this is the name of the author or a news-agency. The second report is unsigned, however, the Madrid publication had previously picked up dispatches from Associated Press, who employed a local South American journalist who remained uncredited.
Common in many of these contemporary accounts are the misspelling of names, and as such in this google translation, I have remained faithful to original spellings which you can read here. Where there is confusion with the translation I have attempted to offer my own interpretation and readers are welcome to offer contributions to help improve the translation.
In the process of doing research of this World Cup it is ideal to do so using original accounts from the eyewitnesses, be it the players involved, or the journalist who chronicled the event. However, these are not free of errors, and in this account, it states that Alex Thepot, who was injured early in the match, was replaced by the substitute keeper, Tassin. But this is not true, because no substitutes were allowed and in fact Agustin Chantrel, the right back, took over between the post.
El Heraldo de Madrid, 16 July 1930.
Common in many of these contemporary accounts are the misspelling of names, and as such in this google translation, I have remained faithful to original spellings which you can read here. Where there is confusion with the translation I have attempted to offer my own interpretation and readers are welcome to offer contributions to help improve the translation.
In the process of doing research of this World Cup it is ideal to do so using original accounts from the eyewitnesses, be it the players involved, or the journalist who chronicled the event. However, these are not free of errors, and in this account, it states that Alex Thepot, who was injured early in the match, was replaced by the substitute keeper, Tassin. But this is not true, because no substitutes were allowed and in fact Agustin Chantrel, the right back, took over between the post.
El Heraldo de Madrid, 16 July 1930.
Argentina beats France
MONTEVIDEO 16. - Yesterday afternoon they contended before a very large audience the teams of France and Argentina.
Tapa del diario El Día (19/07/1930) inmortalizando a Carlos Gardel en su querido GPC, durante Francia-Argentina. pic.twitter.com/mKV2g1HkGf— Alvaro Paz #18.572 (@PAZBOLSO) October 6, 2013
The performance of the Argentine team disappointed the fans. The French played much better than expected and managed to finish the first half with a goalless draw.
In the second half the Argentines got the only goal of the afternoon, which earned them the victory. - Fabra.
Debut de Argentina, 15/07/1930. Sale el capitán Manuel Ferreira, seguido por el arquero Angel Bossio. 1-0 a Francia. pic.twitter.com/ePOLM97jkR— Mundial Uruguay 1930 (@Mundial1930) April 5, 2014
The great performance of the French.
MONTEVIDEO 16.-The match eliminator or for the soccer world championship played yesterday afternoon between the national teams of France and Argentina were attended by 15,000 spectators.
The Argentine team lined up in the following way:
Bossio; Della Torre, Muttis; Juan Evaristo, Montis, Suarez; Perinetti, Varallo, Ferreyra, Cherro, Manuel Evaristo.
@CIHF_Historia Debut de Argentina en el Mundial de 1930. Francisco Varallo (3º desde la izquierda) tenía 20 años. pic.twitter.com/APSgc1wRCK— Viejos Estadios (@ViejosEstadios) August 30, 2015
Francia en el gran Parque Central partido inaugural mundial 1930 Primer partido de los mundiales de fútbol pic.twitter.com/HCKn8CHFQe— GABRIEL ☭ (@gabo1464) August 4, 2014
The French was composed of Depaud, who replaced Tassin; Capelle, Matler; Chantreg, Pinell, Villaplane; Liberatt,. Delfeur. Machinot, Laurent, Lopgalier.
World Cup 1930 referees #1 @RefereeingBooks Gilberto Rego tosses the coin for the Captains Ferreira & Villaplane - ARG @afa v FRA @FFF (15.07.1930). @FIFAWorldCup #WC1930 #Mundial pic.twitter.com/hW4ex9QT4f— worldcup1930project (@WC1930blogger) December 15, 2017
Despite the fact that the Argentine players did not act in the first half in their usual way, they retained a slight dominance. The French, on the other hand, caused great surprise by developing a game far superior to that of the first game, played with the Mexicans. Especially the forwards made a very fast game, which put several times in danger the Argentine goal. The Argentines failed on several occasions to bounce the ball on the posts and crossbar of the French goal. The French goalkeeper acted lucidly, saving several dangerous situations.
The first half, which was uninteresting due to the indecision of the Argentine defense and the lack of cohesion in both teams, ended with a goalless draw.
The goal is scored in the second half.
The French began the second half animated by the public, who applauded the good plays that made the European players, especially the goalkeeper, who act brilliantly, stopping several formidable shots of the Argentine forwards that seemed unstoppable.
As a result of a collision with one of the Argentine players, the French center forward has to be removed from the field after ten minutes of play.
From this moment on the game acquires great violence, achieving the enthusiasm of two Frenchmen to counter the greater technique of their opponents.
The French forwards play very quickly; but in the twenty minutes they had not managed to overcome the resistance of the Argentine media, nor to throw the ball against the opposite goal.
Meanwhile the Argentines give evidence of greater understanding and repeatedly threaten the French goal. The Europeans charge the body (al cuerpo?), and the Argentines, unaccustomed to this kind of game, are bewildered. The French defense acts with extraordinary violence against the repeated attacks of the Argentine strikers.
At thirty-six minutes of play, the Argentine Monti manages to score the first goal for his team, by launching a '' free-kick ''.
Argentina - France 1-0— david kldiashvili (@davidkldiashvi2) February 26, 2017
WC1930 pic.twitter.com/lDmFIywsE7
The French protest.
When the referee blows the whistle, terminating the game, the French players complain, claiming that the regulation time has not yet ended. The referee calls again to the Argentine players who had retired, so that they play two more minutes.
Argentine player Cherro, furious at the hostile demonstrations of the public, rebukes him, suffering shortly after a nervous attack, and is removed from the field.
The Frenchman Marchinot manages to throw a powerful shot, which passes a few centimeters above the crossbar, and after more time than granted in the extension, the referee ends the match with the victory of the Argentines by a goal to zero.
1º partido de Argentina en un mundial. #Mundial 1930. 15/7/1930.— Torito Casale (@viejocasale) July 15, 2016
Argentina 1 v. Francia 0. https://t.co/agM2AaoQQe pic.twitter.com/EZE1vXWCSk
