The video after the jump is more of a novelty than an exciting watch, but I have it up nonetheless. More interesting is the history behind it which I will quote from World Cup Blog.
Only 16 teams entered the 1934 World Cup proper, but to be amongst those 16 the USA faced a playoff against Mexico three days before the tournament began. The playoff was in Rome, and so to all intents and purposes was part of the World Cup. Except officially it was a qualifier. Imagine if that still happened? If Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland had been three days before World Cup 2010 began? Craziness.The US won the game 4-2, with all four goals coming from Aldo “Buff” Donelli (pictured). I can’t pretend to know anything about Donelli, so will quote from this excellent USSoccer.com article instead:
Donelli wasn’t picked to start, but on the urging of Billy Gonslaves, the team’s biggest star, ‘Buff’ was included in the starting line-up. Gonslaves knew what no one else did – ‘Buff’ could score. Donelli sliced and diced his way through the Mexican defense, netting all four goals for the U.S. in a 4-2 win that propelled them into the World Cup. Donelli opened the scoring with a goal in the 15th minute, and then broke a 1-1 deadlock with goals in the 30th and 73rd minutes, before topping off the match with an 87th minute strike. Donelli had a chance for five goals, but amazingly missed a penalty kick. By accomplishing the feat, Donelli became the first player in U.S. Soccer history to score four goals in one game.
The actual 1934 World Cup had no group stages. It was lose and you’re out. The US faced hosts Italy in the First Round and were beaten 7-1. Over and out. The only bright spot was that Donelli scored again in that game. He never played international soccer again, but has an impressive scoring record of 5 goals in two games.
Here are the previous posts in this series:
USA vs Czechoslovakia - 1990
USA vs Italy - 1990
USA vs Switzerland - 1994
USA vs Columbia - 1994
USA vs Romania - 1994
USA vs Brazil - 1994
USA vs Germany - 1998
USA vs Iran - 1998
USA vs Yugoslavia - 1998
USA vs Portugal - 2002
USA vs South Korea - 2002
USA vs Poland - 2002
USA vs Mexico - 2002
USA vs Germany - 2002
USA vs Czech Republic - 2006
USA vs Italy - 2006
