ITALIAN VISIT

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 9

ITALIAN VISIT

FOOTBALL TEAM FOR BRITAIN. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLAIM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, Aug. 23. The national football team of Italy has been invited to visit London, and it has eagerly seized the chance to meet England in November. Ac a result . of their victory in the cup competition which was held on the Continent during the summer, the Italians claim to be the champions of the world, but they realise that they cannot really justify the title until they have beaten England. The Italians will be warmly welcomed, and we know them to be a fine side. They played England to a draw in Rome in May, 1933, and in the meantime it is probable that their football has further improved. Owing to peculiar circum-

stances, a big effort will be made to beat them. British teams can no longer visit the Continent believing that they are certain to win. In many countries the standard of, play is as high as our own, irnd owing to the conditions under which the matches take place, our men are placed at a severe disadvantage. They go out at the end of the season when they are tired and have lost their zest for the game. Further, they have usually to play in excessive heat and on iron hard, dusty grounds. These are not the only handicaps. Although the countries of Europe have adopted our code of rules, they do not interpret them an the same way. They carry out a scheme of obstruction which is permitted by the referees, banning, for instance, the shoulder charge, but allowing a man to pull an opponent off the ball by the arm. The difference in the construction put on the rules makes the game exceedingly difficult for the British player and, taking into account the other handicaps, English authorities feel that it is impossible to continue to accept the challenge, of the European countries. Indeed, they would like to abandon their visits to the

Continent unless they can be made during the winter. Unfortunately, this doesx not seem possible. , The clubs would protest against players being taken from them when they are required for their own matches. But’ after the defeats which have been sustained we should be open to a charge of running away if we refused to take part in any more matches. Before there scan be a withdrawal English football must be proved to be definitely superior, and it is on this account that a big effort will be made to gain a decisive victory ' IIM.II .