die 11 besten Spieler der Schweiz 1908

Germany's first international (Switzerland's 3rd), played at the Stadion Landhof, Basel.

Switzerland

France v Switzerland 1905

Parc des Princes, Paris, 12.02.05. France v Switzerland. 
France won 1-0 thanks to a Gaston Cyprès goal in the 60th minute. 

FC Young Boys Bern

Rudolf Ramseyer

Rudolf 'Ruedi' Ramseyer won 59 caps for Switzerland between 1920 and 1931. He captained the national side 30 times, scored 5 goals in internationals and appeared at the 1924 Olympic Games.
Ramseyer transferred from Young Boys to FC Berne in 1925. He began his career as a winger but then became a successful fullback.
The stunning card was part of a series issued by the Amor Chocolate company of Berne.

FC St. Gallen

St Gallen FC, founded in April 1879,  claims to be the oldest club in continental Europe. The club was founded by young businessmen who had been exposed to football when they studied with English students. 

Although the members played almost daily, the early years saw only casual football and an idiosyncratic set of hybrid rules. It was in 1892 that St Gallen's first documented fixture took place- a visit from Grasshopper Club Zürich, who protested that the goals used in St Gallen were far smaller than the regulation size. The return match in Zurich saw Grasshopper win 6-0 (they had won 1-0 with the mini goals at St Gallen). Following this fixture St Gallen adopted the standard sized goals. 

The club first featured in Swiss Championship in 1899-1900 (the 3rd edition) under their temporary guise of United FC St. Gallen, but finished bottom of their group. They were champions in 1904, a feat they did not repeat for 96  years.

France v Switzerland 1930

The card shows the France team that lined up against Switzerland at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir
(Colombes). 
The match ended in a 3-3 draw. Switzerland were 2-0 in 13 minutes (both goals by Lehmann).Chueva (17 min) and Anatol (34) leveled the score. In the 58th minute  Libérati put France ahead and Romberg  completed the scoring with a 68th minute equalizer. 

France:                                                        Switzerland:

Antonin Lozès	F.C. Sochaux	GK	Charles  Pasche	Grasshopper
Manuel Anatol	R.C. France	RB	Max Weiler	Grasshopper
André Chardar	F.C. Sète	LB	Rudolf Ramseyer	F.C. Bern
Louis Cazal	F.C. Sète	HB	Paul De Lavallaz	Grasshopper
Alexandre Villaplane	R.C. France	HB	Adolfo Spiller	F.C. Zürich
Henri Pavillard	Stade Français	HB	Charles Regamey	Grasshopper
Ernest Libérati	Amiens A.C.	F	Adolf Stelzer	F.C. Zürich
André Cheuva	Olympique Lillois	F	Willy Baumeister	F.C. Zürich
Paul Nicolas	Amiens A.C.	F	Jacques Romberg	F.C. Zürich
André Maschinot	F.C. Sochaux	F	August Lehmann	F.C. Zürich
Pierre Korb	F.C. Mulhouse 93	F	Rene Grimm	F.C. Biel

Villaplane,  Libérati and  Maschinot were in the squad that represented France in the 1930 World Cup.

Alexandre Villaplane was Algeria born. He captained France in Uruguay. As his career waned he became more involved in criminal activities. In 1944 he was executed for  war crimes having collaborated with the Nazis. 

                                                              Switzerland

Sevi

A very heroic photograph.
Severino Minelli  represented Switzerland 80 times (1930-43).

He played for Servette and Grasshopper Club Zürich. When he left home to join Servette as a 19 year old it entailed a 350km cycle ride.
Minelli was the 'verrou' (bolt) in Karl Rappan's system, playing as a sweeper up behind the other defenders. 

Poldi Kielholz

Footballers who wore spectacles. It's been a pet subject of mine for many years. Nearsighted footballers in the pre war years didn't have the option of contact lenses or corrective surgery. If you've ever played with glasses on (and remember these were heavy glass lenses) you'll appreciate what a challenge it is.

It didn't seem to hamper Leopold 'Poldi' Kielholz. He played at the highest level in Switzerland and France for 18 years and appeared at 2 World Cups. In the pre Challenge National era  Kielholz played for BSC Old Boys Basel (1927-28), Black Stars Basel (1928-30) and FC Basel (1930-32). He joined Servette in 1932.

In 1933 the Challenge National kicked off, and Kielholz was top scorer with 40 goals. This haul has never been bettered. In all he played 188 league games, scoring 101 goals.

In 1935 Kielholz became player coach at FC Bern, a role he also undertook at Stade Reims . In 1937 he returned to Switzerland where he played for St. Gallen and later Young Fellows Zurich.

 Kielholz represented Switzerland 17 times, scoring 12 goals.

Germany's simultaneous internationals

On April 4th 1909 Germany played 2 international fixtures on the same day. Prior to this date the Germans had played 3 official internationals, all of which they had lost. 

Germany (standing) v Hungary (seated)

One team traveled overnight by train to Budapest. They played on the grassless Millenáris pálya watched by a crowd of 9,000. Germany came from behind 3 times to secure a 3-3 draw. There were 6 debutantes on the team, including the enigmatic Edwin Dutton, an Anglo-German who played and coached in both Germany and England.  He may well have been born in England, but the evidence is inconclusive. Captain, Camillo Ugi , had spent time in 1905 playing for Sport Club Germânia in São Paulo.

The match was refereed by Herr Hugo Meisl. 

Germany:

Adolf Werner (Holstein Kiel) 

Herbert Hirth (Hertha Berlin)

Heinrich Riso (VfB Leipzig) 

Ernst Poetsch (Union 92 Berlin)

Camillo Ugi (FSV Franfurt)

Paul Hunder (Viktoria 89 Berlin) 

Edwin Dutton (Preußen Berlin)

Leopold Richter (VfB Leipzig)

Willy Worpitzky (Viktoria 89 Berlin)

Richard Queck (Eintracht Braunschweig)

Fritz Schulz (Hertha Berlin)

Germany team for the Switzerland game.

In Karlsruhe 7,000 were present to witness the other Germany team fare even better, securing their first international victory. A 1-0 win came courtesy of a 25th minute goal by Eugen Kipp.   There were 7 debutantes on the team. 

Germany:
Eberhardt Illmer (FV Strassburg) 
Otto Nicodemus (SV Wiesbaden)
Robert Neumaier (Phönix Karlsruhe) 
Karl Burger (SpVgg.Fürth),
Josef Glaser (Freiburger FC)
Arthur Hiller (1.FC Pforzheim) 
Hermann Schweickert (1.FC Pforzheim)
Fritz Förderer (Karlsruher FV)
Otto Löble ( Stuttgart Kickers)
Eugen Kipp (Sportfreunde Stuttgart)
Emil Oberle (Phönix Karlsruhe)

Teddy Duckworth- Switzerland 1924

The 1924 Olympics in Paris marked a high point in the history of Swiss Football. 
In 19 years of international football the Swiss had played 53 matches, recording 15 wins, 9 draws and 29 defeats.
At the tournament they began by smashing Lithuania 9-0. Paul Sturzenegger (FC Zurich) scored 4 and  Max 'Xam' Abegglen (Grasshopper) 3.
In the next round they drew 1-1 with Czechoslovakia, winning the replay 1-0.
The following match saw Sturzenegger and Abegglen score as Vittorio Pozzo's Italy were beaten 2-1.
Abegglen added another 2 goals to his tally as Switzerland beat Sweden 2-1. This game took place on the 5th June, which was also the expiry date for the Swiss party's rail tickets! They considered withdrawing in order to avoid incurring additional costs but a newspaper appeal raised the funds needed to prolong their stay in Paris.  This victory over the Swedes, the surprise package of the games, set up a final against Uruguay.
The Swiss were easily beaten 3-0 in front of a crowd of 60,000. Abegglen finished top scorer with 6 goals (second only to Petrone, on 8) and Sturzenegger scored 5. Xam Abegglen scored 34 goals in 68 appearances for Switzerland , a record that was unequaled until 2001.

The Swiss national team was run by a three man committee known as  the Technical Commission. Each area of the country was represented by a coach. The Swiss favoured this arrangement up until the 1934 World Cup. In this case the trio was Jimmy Hogan (England-Young Boys), Dori Kürschner (Hungary- Grasshopper) and Teddy Duckworth (England- Servette). Hogan, of course, was one of the most influential figures in the development of continental football. Kürschner  had enjoyed success in Hungary, Germany and with Grasshopper- but it was his influence on Brazilian coaching and tactics that later made his name. The triumvirate was headed by Teddy Duckworth.
Duckworth was the man who actually took the team to Paris, and it was he who was awarded a silver medal. 
Duckworth (whose first names were Thomas Crook- Teddy being a nickname) was born in Blackpool, Lancashire. He made his debut for Blackpool FC in 1902. He played at outside right.
He played 9 games in the 1902-03 season before moving to West Ham United of the Southern League. He then joined First Division Blackburn Rovers. His only 1st team appearance in 2 seasons at Rovers came on 1st October 1904, a 1-0 defeat at home to The Wednesday. Duckworth  rejoined Blackpool in 1905-06, making a further 21 appearances for the club.
Duckworth's coaching career appears to have begun in 1919 when he joined Servette. Under his leadership 
Servette won Swiss Série A in 1922,1925, 1926 and 1930. They won the Swiss Cup in 1928.
Duckworth led the Switzerland selection to the Olympics in 1928, but they went out in the first round, beaten 4-0 by Germany. 

Postcards from Amsterdam, 1928

May 27, 1928 Portugal 4 Chile 2.

Before the final:  Captains Nolo Ferreira and José Nasazzi flank the match officials.

Action from the final.

A cigarette card showing Netherlands in action against Switzerland.

Nacional Tour of Europe 1925

Uruguay made a good impression on the European public with their Olympic winning display in 1924, and football fans were keen to see more of the South American style. 

Nacional was invited to make an extensive European tour, playing 38 matches over six months. They must have become experts on European railways!  

Nacional played against both national squads and professional club teams from 9 European countries. 

Nacional won 26 matches, drew 7, and lost 5.

There is a good Spanish  language site on the tour, with line ups, photographs* and match reports here.  

France

08.03.25       Nacional   3-1   Ile de France   (Colombes, Paris: 20,000)
15.03.25       Nacional   5-0  Normandy  (Stade des Bruyères,Rouen: 16,000)
19.03.25       Nacional   0-0   France -30 mins each way (Velódromo Buffalo, Paris: 40,000 )
22.03.25       Nacional   7-0   Roubaix    (Parc Jean Dubrulle, Roubaix: 15,000)
29.03.25       Nacional   4-0   Stade Bordelaise   (Stade de Sainte-Germaine, Bordeaux: 25,000)

Italy

  05.04.25       Nacional   3-0  Genoa FC  (Stadio Marassi, Genoa:18,000)

Spain

11.04.25      Nacional    0-1   Esportiu Europa  (Campo del Guinardó, Barcelona: 9,000)
12.04.25      Nacional    2-2   FC Barcelona  (Las Corts,Barcelona: 50,000)
13.04.25      Nacional    1-2   Catalonia XI (Las Corts, Barcelona: 25,000)
16.04.25      Nacional    1-1    Esportiu Europa (Campo del Guinardó , Barcelona: 11,000)
19.04.25      Nacional    2-2    Valencia XI  (Estadio Municipal, Valencia:15,000)
23.04.25      Nacional   13-1   Manacor FC  (Manacor: 10,000)  
26.4.25      Nacional       6-0      Balearic Isles XI   (Palmas de Mallorca, Palma: 5,000)   
  1.05.25      Nacional    2-1    Rey Alfonso XIII  (Palmas de Mallorca,  Palma: 6,000) 
 3.05.25      Nacional    4-1    Balearic Isles XI (Palmas de Mallorca,  Palma: 6,000)

Netherlands

10.05.25      Nacional    7-0   Netherlands (Schuttersveld, Rotterdam: 20,000)

Czechoslovakia

14.05.25      Nacional    0-1   Sparta  Prague    (Letná Stadium, Prague: 40,000)

France

17.05.25    Nacional  (reserves)    3-0 Franco-Swiss XI        (Paris: 7,000)

Belgium

17.05.25    Nacional    2-1    Brussels XI (Oscar Bossaert Stadium,Brussels:18,000)

France

21.05.25    Nacional    2-1     League of Alsace  (Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg: 12,000)

Belgium

 24.05.25    Nacional    5-1     Belgium        (Brussels: 12,000)   
31.05.25     Nacional    1-2     Belgium        (Olympic Stadium, Antwerp: 55,000)

France

  04.06.25    Nacional     6-0      France         (Stade Bergeyre, París: 12,000)

Switzerland 

  07.06.25   Nacional     5-2     Switzerland     (Landhof, Basel: 12,000)

Austria

11 .06.25   Nacional     1-1     Austria  (Plater, Vienna: 70,000)  
17 .06.25   Nacional     6-0     Tyrol XI  (Innsbruck: 15,000)

 Switzerland 

21 .06.25   Nacional     5-1         Switzerland (Utogrund, Zurich: 15,000)

                                                                          Austria 
25.06.25   Nacional     2-1          Rapid Wien  (Vienna: 25,000)   
28.06.25   Nacional     2-0          Austria  (Vienna: 50,000)

Spain

   05.07.25   Nacional     0-1          Esportiu Europa (Estadio Europa, Barcelona: 25,000)  
   09.07.25   Nacional     4-2          Unión Sportiva  (Gerona: 6,000)
 12.07.25   Nacional     4-0          Catalonia XI (Las Corts, Barcelona: 30,000)

Portugal

 16.07.25   Nacional     7-2         Oporto XI  (Oporto, Porto:15,000)  

 20.07.25   Nacional     5-0         Sporting  (Sporting, Lisbon: 25,000)
 26.07.25   Nacional     5-2        Oporto XI  (Oporto, Porto:15,000)

Spain

    02.08.25   Nacional    2-2         Celta de Vigo  (Riazor, Vigo: 12,000)
    06.08.25   Nacional    0-0         Deportivo La Coruña (Real Deportivo,La Coruña: 20,000)   
   08.08.25   Nacional    3-0         Deportivo La Coruña (Real Deportivo,La Coruña: 20,000)

P	W	D	L	F	A
38	26	7	5	130	30

Héctor  Scarone

Scorers:

Héctor  Scarone 26; Héctor Castro 19; Borjas 17; Pedro Petrone  15; Pedro Cea 13; José Nazzasi, Suffiotti  10; Santos Urdinarán, Cassanello 5; Carlos Scarone 3; Rodolfo Marán 2; Miramontes, Ángel Romano, Ghierra,  Barlocco,  Alfredo Zibechi 1.        

* The photograph accompanying the report of Game 8 shows a ten yard arc on the edge of the penalty area, as does the movie of the Genoa game! The ten yard arc was not introduced until 1937... I'm looking into this.