Association Football and How to Play It/Chapter 10
CHAPTER IX.
Continental Football: Its Growth and Possible Developments.
Football on the Continent is undoubtedly developing greatly, and a great deal of credit is due to the enterprise of the English and Scottish clubs. I have played in France, Germany, and Austria, and the enthusiasm displayed by the players and spectators holds forth great hopes of the game becoming as popular on the other side of the Channel as it is here. It is a few years ago since I last played there, and since then great developments have taken place, such as International matches with English and foreign sides. Practically the results have always been in our favour, but gradually the margin in the goals is becoming less. It will take many years yet before we can expect the Continentals to be able to give our English teams a real good game. However, the outlook is very rosy, as the enthusiasm is becoming greater week by week and year after year. The British elevens who used to visit the Continent were inclined to look upon it as a holiday trip.
But after seeing the good done by these visits they have played more earnestly than hitherto. While playing in Austria, I was greatly impressed with the spirit of our opponents. They were keen enough to learn, and wished to know precisely how the game was played. The captain of the native team (by the way, he could speak English) came to our captain and requested him to play the game as it should be played, and get as many goals as we could and not toy with them. We won by at least double figures, but at the finish of the match they called for three cheers for us, and of course we naturally responded. This is the spirit that prevails from my little knowledge of foreign football, and if it is continued there can be no doubt that at a future date they will be able to challenge any English or Scottish teams, and would give them a good game. It is rather awkward not knowing the language when playing on the Continent, as often times one would like to know exactly why such a decision was given. It has often had its ludicrous side, and I have often smiled at the broad Scotchman trying to explain something to a German without any success.
Refereeing is probably the point that wants more cultivating than even playing, and any amount of games have been spoiled by an official coming on to the field, not following the ball, and giving his decisions autocratically. He was generally dressed immaculately, and did not dream of following the run of play, and in many cases he has spoiled what would have been a good game. It is to be regretted that there have been some scenes on the Continent reminiscent of some of our outbreaks on home grounds. In one way this is certainly deplorable, but in another it shows that the game is catching on on the Continent, the players showing a better appreciation of the rules, just as they are able to follow the rules of the game; and now what is wanted is an Association in every country just like the F.A. in England. The International games to be played at the Stadium this year have shown the decided taste of other countries for all kinds of sports that are played here, and as the matter now stands Great Britain should certainly come out first, but it is a matter of great speculation whether Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, or Austria will finish second. The countries mentioned are most enthusiastic about it, and great credit must be given to the F.A. for the magnificent sum they have contributed towards the entertainments of the visitors. In South Africa the game has been played longer than in any country outside the British Isles. The competition there is known as the Donald Currie Cup, and it is nothing unusual for a team to travel a thousand miles to take part in this competition. In conversation the other day with a player who has played a great deal there, he said the English footballer of to-day could not do well there, for the travelling on the rough roads and the hard ground would be quite unlike anything they experience in England. Argentina is a great many miles away, but the game there is also developing rapidly. It is only three years ago since Southampton undertook the long voyage and had a most enjoyable time. It must be said that they astonished the natives, but this missionary effort by one of the leading clubs in the country is making the game popular all over the world. The Corinthians, too, have done a great deal in this way. They have been to Africa, and practically all over the world, and wherever they have been they have given an excellent exposition of how the game should be played. In South Africa they had perhaps to play with more vigour, the ground being as hard as asphalte, and the trying conditions affecting the play, but they nearly always came out top. France is stronger in Rugby than in Association Football, but the International matches between the two countries make the latter more popular with the public. The season in many countries on the Continent is about half as long as ours, and this makes all the difference to them, but it will be a long time before any Continental country will be able to claim supremacy.