1930-31 saw Scotland share the British Home Championship with England. Having drawn with Wales and Northern Ireland Scotland had beaten England at Hampden in front of almost 130,000.
7 weeks later Scotland traveled to Vienna where they faced Austria in a friendly. Dr.Hugo Meisl was a great admirer of Scottish football, a passion that dated back to the visit of Glasgow Rangers in 1904.
Scotland's place in the world game was only possible to judge via its relationship to England. Whereas England remained isolated as far as serious international competition was concerned, we can assess the relative strength of English football by the ease with which England Amateurs were able to squash most continental teams in the first third of the century. Given that during the period 1900-30 Scotland beat England 11 times and lost to them 7 times, with 8 draws, it is fair to assume that Scotland were generally the superior team.
However, the summer tour of 1931, like Scotland's previous overseas foray, was not used as an opportunity to steamroller lesser opposition.
Even though the win over Scotland is seen as a central element of the Wunderteam mythology, we should look at the Scotland team that day:
John (Jakey) Jackson* (Partick Thistle)
Daniel Blair [c] (Clyde)
Joseph Nibloe (Kilmarnock)
Colin Duncan McNab (Dundee)
James McDougall* (Liverpool)
George Walker (St Mirren)
Andy Love* (Aberdeen)
James Paterson* (Cowdenbeath)
Jimmy Easson* (Portsmouth)
James Robertson* (Dundee)
Danny Liddle* (East Fife)
Only 3 of the 11 had faced England (Blair, Nibloe and McNab) and there were 7 debutantes. The forward line (all making their fist appearance) went on to make a total of 14 appearances between them, producing just 2 international goals.And there were no Celtic or Rangers players.
What made Austria's demolition of this lightweight Scotland side so poignant was the manner in which it was achieved. The Austrian approach was founded on what had been recognized around the world for 50 years as The Scottish style of football.
Meisl had been impressed by Rangers in 1904, and the Austrian national style had been inspired by Jimmy Hogan, a great believer in the keep it on the carpet short passing game.
Austria, of course were on the up. The previous may they had held England to a 0-0 draw in Vienna.
Scotland's place in the world game was only possible to judge via its relationship to England. Whereas England remained isolated as far as serious international competition was concerned, we can assess the relative strength of English football by the ease with which England Amateurs were able to squash most continental teams in the first third of the century. Given that during the period 1900-30 Scotland beat England 11 times and lost to them 7 times, with 8 draws, it is fair to assume that Scotland were generally the superior team.
However, the summer tour of 1931, like Scotland's previous overseas foray, was not used as an opportunity to steamroller lesser opposition.
Even though the win over Scotland is seen as a central element of the Wunderteam mythology, we should look at the Scotland team that day:
John (Jakey) Jackson* (Partick Thistle)
Daniel Blair [c] (Clyde)
Joseph Nibloe (Kilmarnock)
Colin Duncan McNab (Dundee)
James McDougall* (Liverpool)
George Walker (St Mirren)
Andy Love* (Aberdeen)
James Paterson* (Cowdenbeath)
Jimmy Easson* (Portsmouth)
James Robertson* (Dundee)
Danny Liddle* (East Fife)
Only 3 of the 11 had faced England (Blair, Nibloe and McNab) and there were 7 debutantes. The forward line (all making their fist appearance) went on to make a total of 14 appearances between them, producing just 2 international goals.And there were no Celtic or Rangers players.
What made Austria's demolition of this lightweight Scotland side so poignant was the manner in which it was achieved. The Austrian approach was founded on what had been recognized around the world for 50 years as The Scottish style of football.
Meisl had been impressed by Rangers in 1904, and the Austrian national style had been inspired by Jimmy Hogan, a great believer in the keep it on the carpet short passing game.
Austria, of course were on the up. The previous may they had held England to a 0-0 draw in Vienna.
