The Rise and Fall of the Austrian Wunderteam
10#austria #germany #wunderteam
Plonk yourself down into Central Europe and look around, who’s the most influential nation? It seems obvious right.
No, it’s not Czech Republic or Slovakia, previously Czechoslovakia, despite their European Championship win in 1976.
It’s not Yugoslavia, despite all the terrific football they brought to the world throughout the 1960s and 90s.
It’s not even Hungary, despite the 1954 World Cup final, the Magical Magyars or all of the superb talent they’ve given the world, such as Ferenc Puskas.
It’s certainly not Switzerland, Poland or Ukraine, despite their recent promise in numerous World Cups and Euros.
And it’s not Germany, either. You’d have thought it would be, wouldn’t you? They’ve got four World Cups to their name, three European Championship titles and are indisputably the most successful footballing nation in European history.
No, it’s that country beneath them just there: little old Austria.
Before Germany decided to get good at football, professionalise the game and ascend to the top of the European game, Austria had had professional football for decades and had set the wheels in motion for the type of football we see on our screens today.
You’re thinking how is that correct, and how dare this introduction and video title be so clickbait-y. Well, it simply isn’t, and this film will explain just how influential Austrian football has been and why we have Austria—and not Germany—for the beautiful game we know and love today.
00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – Context
09:00 – The Club Game
14:30 – The National Game
24:55 – Anschluss
30:15 – Legacy
Voice: ElevenLabs
Words: Jake Doyle
Edit: Jake Doyle
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