The Battle of Bordeaux is an informal name for the World Cup football match between Brazil and Czechoslovakia on June 12, 1938 in the Parc Lescure in Bordeaux, France, one of the quarter-finals of the 1938 World Cup finals. The match had a series of brutal fouls by both sides, due to the lax officiating of Hungarian referee Paul von Hertzka.
Brazil took the lead 1-0, with Czechoslovakia equalizing on a penalty kick. Brazilians Machado and Zezé Procópio as well as Czechoslovak Jan Říha were sent off. It was the first time that three players were sent off in a World Cup match, a record that was not exceeded until the 2006 World Cup match between Portugal and Netherlands. Captain František Plánička and Oldřich Nejedlý from Czechoslovakia suffered a broken right arm and right leg respectively in the mayhem. Their teammate Josef Košťálek was injured in the stomach. The match was drawn 1-1 after 90 minutes of full time, and a 30-minute extra time had to be played. Nejedlý had abandoned the game before the end of regulation due to his injury, but Plánička stayed at the Czechoslovak goal in pain through the rest of the second half and the extra time. Three other Brazilians, including Leônidas and Perácio, also left the field with injuries.
The match eventually ended 1-1 after extra time, and had to be replayed 2 days later, with both teams having to field several reserves. Brazil won the replay 2-1, eliminating Czechoslovakia and advancing to semifinals, where they faced eventual champions Italy.
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Famous quotes containing the word battle:
“It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do.”
—Benito Mussolini (1883–1945)