Thursday 7 June 2018 10:30, UK
Italy won the second World Cup, but where were defending champions Uruguay?
The Azzurri were nominated to host the tournament by the FIFA congress in October 1932. And it would be the first World Cup for which teams would have to qualify.
After just 13 sides took part four years earlier in the debut tournament in South America, 32 teams entered the 1934 competition and, after qualification, 16 earned their right to compete for the world title.
Hosts Italy had to qualify for their own tournament.
Reigning champions Uruguay were absent, a decision made following a players' strike and the country also allegedly still smarting from the poor European turnout four years previous.
For the first time, Africa sent a representative in Egypt. However, Asia was again unrepresented.
After qualification, gone was the group-stage format, with a preliminary knockout round instead played ahead of the quarter-finals.
Eventual winners Italy got their campaign off to an enthralling start as they beat the previous competition's semi-finalists USA 7-1, while Spain surprisingly knocked out Brazil.
Elsewhere, Hungary disposed of Egypt, Switzerland downed the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia edged out Romania, Sweden defeated a weakened Argentina side and Germany were the victors in a seven-goal cracker against Belgium.
Austria needed extra-time to reach the last eight as they fought off France in a 3-2 success. Incredibly, all the non-European teams had been knocked out at the first hurdle.
The Austria and Hungary met in an eventful quarter-final clash. Austria took a 2-0 lead before a brawl erupted. Hungary were awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched, but Hungarian winger Marcos was sent off, ending his side's hopes of a comeback.
Elsewhere, Germany downed Sweden 2-1 in front of just 3,000 spectators while Czechoslovakia saw off Switzerland 3-2 in a topsy-turvy clash.
Italy faced Spain and were held to a 1-1 draw despite the game playing out extra-time. This meant that the first replayed match would take place at the World Cup.
In the second meeting just 24 hours later, Italy edged out Spain, who were depleted after a gruelling first outing, via a strike from Giuseppe Meazza on 11 minutes.
The semi-finals saw Italy take on Austria's 'Wunderteam' and Czechoslovakia lock horns with Germany.
On a sodden pitch at the San Siro, Enrico Guaita's goal on 19 minutes saw Italy overcome Austria and in turn book their place in the final.
Oldrich Nejedly handed the Czechs, whose side were made up of players only from Sparta and Slavia Prague, a first-half lead against Germany, but their opponents hit back just after the hour mark through Rudolf Noack.
However, Czechoslovakia's quality shone through as Nejedly bagged once more before completing his hat-trick.
Hugo Meisl's Austrian charges then faced Germany for the first ever third-place play-off, which the latter won 3-2.
At the Stadio Nazionale PNF on June 10, host nation Italy went head to head with Czechoslovakia in the 1934 World Cup final.
With just 14 minutes remaining of what had been a tight affair, Antonin Puc stunned the 50,000 crowd as he struck for the away side.
But Italy were handed a lifeline when Raimondo Orsi's freakish shot swerved home to restore parity.
In extra-time, Italy's comeback was complete as Angelo Schiavio netted to ensure his country not only lifted the World Cup trophy but also the Coppa Del Duce, a huge trophy that was commissioned by fascist leader Benito Mussolini.
Italy were world champions for the first time.
So good, the Italians named the San Siro stadium after him. Meazza is considered an Italian great. The attacker helped his side overcome Spain in their quarter-final replay while he also played a key role in the Azzurri's winning goal in the final against Czechoslovakia.
Game of the tournament: Italy 2 Czechoslovakia 1
Mussolini's dream was fulfilled when Italy downed the Czechs in a thoroughly entertaining final, but his ideal was in danger of going up in a puff of smoke when Italy were staring at defeat with only 14 minutes remaining. But to the country and Mussolini's great relief, Orsi and Schiavio's goals helped turned the game on its head after extra-time.
Home nations
Again, the four British teams were not involved as the blurred boundaries between amateur and professional football proved a sticking point.
