Quiz time. How many players have played in consecutive World Cup finals? The Italians did it in 1934 and 1938; Brazil did in 1958 and 1962 – and then in 1998 and 2002; the Netherlands lost the 1974 and 1978 finals; Maradona captained Argentina in the 1986 and 1990 finals; and West Germany went one better by contesting three successive finals between 1982 and 1990. A few players have graced consecutive finals but only one has done it while representing two different countries: Luis Monti, who starred for Argentina in the first World Cup final in 1930 and then won it for Italy four years later – all while dealing with various threats on his safety.

Monti was born in Buenos Aires in May 1901 and began his career with local side Atlético Huracán, winning his first championship in his only season at the club before stopping off briefly with Boca Juniors on his way to signing for San Lorenzo, the club where he would make his name. Although rugged and robust when seeking the ball, Monti was also technically astute when in possession. His dynamism across the pitch inspired his nickname, Doble Ancho – meaning Double Wide, in recognition of the space he covered for his team. As a deep-lying playmaker, he shielded his defence and then sparked attacks for his team-mates.

Monti won three league titles with San Lorenzo – in 1923, 1924 and 1927 – and earned a call-up to the national team in time to win the South America Championship in 1927. He also picked up a silver medal at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, scoring his team’s only goal in the final as they lost out to neighbours Uruguay.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Argentina team that lost the 1930 World Cup final to Uruguay. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images

By the time Uruguay hosted the inaugural World Cup finals in 1930, Monti was one of the best defensive players in South America. Argentina began their tournament with a 1-0 win against France, with Monti scoring the only goal of the game – Argentina’s first at a World Cup finals. Two more wins in their group – a 6-3 thrashing of Mexico and a 3-1 victory over Chile – took Argentina into the last four. Monti scored the opening goal in the semi-final in a 6-1 win over USA to set up a final against Uruguay, who had beaten Yugoslavia 6-1 in the other semi-final.

Before the final in Montevideo, there were rumours that Monti had picked up an injury. He had one of his rare mediocre games in the showpiece at the Estadio Centenario as Argentina threw away a 2-1 lead at half time to lose 4-2. Many years later, Lorena Monti suggested her grandfather’s performance was affected by more than injury: “At half-time, when Argentina were leading 2-1, they said that if Argentina didn’t lose, they would kill my grandmother and my aunt.” Monti also told his granddaughter that other Argentina players had received veiled threats, but nothing as specific as the one delivered to him.

In the end, Uruguay lifted the trophy, Monti’s family were safe and he returned to San Lorenzo to continue his career. But a visit from two Italians was about to change his life and legacy forever. The story goes that Monti’s visitors told him he would shortly receive an offer from an Italian club and, if he accepted, his monthly wage would climb to $5,000 and he would be given a house and a car. Apparently the person promoting the deal was none other than Benito Mussolini.

The next World Cup was to be held in Italy and the dictator was intent on raising the nation to the forefront of the world powers. Monti’s ancestors were from Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy and he had been chosen as the next piece of the jigsaw for the national side. When the offer landed, it was not from Lazio, the team Mussolini supported, but Juventus. Tempted by the lure of the lira, Monti moved to Turin and became an Italian citizen. He had played 16 times for Argentina, scoring five goals, but his future appearances on the international stage would be for the Azzurri.

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Monti joined Juventus in 1931 and helped the club win four straight Scudetti. During his nine-year career in Turin, he played more than 200 games, scoring 20 goals from defensive midfield and even graduation to the role of captain. But Monti had not just been brought to Italy to win trophies in Turin. He was there to help Italy win the World Cup on home soil in 1934.

And so, when Italy kicked off the tournament on 27 May 1934 with a 7-1 win against USA at the now-defunct Stadio Nazionale PNF – named in honour of Mussolini’s Partito Nazionale Fascista – Monti was in the team. That same day Argentina, his former team, were knocked out of the tournament by Sweden in Bologna.

Italy’s victory over USA set up a quarter-final against Spain, which finished 1-1 and had to be replayed the next day. The first fixture had been robust in the extreme, with the referee particularly lenient on the home side. When Spain came out for the second fixture, they were missing seven of their first-choice players – including the famous goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora. Tempers hadn’t cooled in the previous 24 hours and three Spain players had to leave the field injured as Italy won a snarling encounter thanks to a goal from legendary forward Giuseppe Meazza.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Italy team pose before the 1934 World Cup final in Rome. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Regardless of the bumps and bruises, Italy had secured a place in the semi-finals against Hugo Meisl’s great Austria side. Nicknamed Das Wunderteam, they played a neat passing game that would influence the development of Total Football. If Italy were to overcome their extravagantly talented neighbours, they would need to silence Matthias Sindelar, Austria’s centre-forward, captain and inspirational leader. Monti was the man for the job.

Austria’s silky style of football was compromised by the heavy rain that fell inside the San Siro but the way Monti nullified Sindelar’s threat helped Italy finish off the job. Austria had plenty of possession but, with Sindelar restrained, there was a lack of bite to their attacks and Italy were able to win the game by a single, controversial, goal. In the 19th minute, Meazza crashed into the Austria goalkeeper and jarred the ball loose from his grasp. It rolled against the post and Enrique Guaita – another player born in Argentina – stabbed it home.

Swedish referee Ivan Eklind was criticised for favouring the Italians, not least for their goal. Unsurprisingly, it did him little harm. He was also selected to officiate in the final, where Italy would face Czechoslovakia at the Stadio Nazionale PNF in Rome.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Enrique Guaita scores Italy’s controversial winner against Austria in the semi-final in 1934. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

The day before the final a telegram reportedly arrived at the Italian team’s hotel, addressed to both manager Vittorio Pozzo and the players. “Good luck tomorrow,” it read. “Win. If not so, crash.” The telegram was signed by Mussolini and few doubted the implications of its final word. It was already the biggest game of their lives and now the pressure on the players had been ratcheted up even further.

The problem was that no one had told the Czechs their role in this final. They were meant to be the weaker of the two semi-finalists – an Italian referee had been put in charge of their semi-final against Hitler’s Germany supposedly to ensure they made it to the final – but they started well and the game was still goalless at half-time.

At the interval, another less than subtle message from Mussolini was delivered to Pozzo to read out to his team. Monti later pointed out the strange irony of the threats he received during each of his World Cup finals. “My grandfather often told us he had to play two World Cup finals under threat,” said Lorena. “He used to say that in 1930, in Uruguay, they wanted to hurt him if he won. In Italy, four years later, they wanted to hurt him if he lost.”

The dictator’s prompting did little to improve matters in the second half and it was no surprise when Antonin Puc gave Czechoslovakia a 1-0 lead with just 19 minutes to play. The Czechs should have sealed the game but Jirií Sobotka missed an open goal and Frantisek Svoboda struck the upright. Their squandered chances would prove costly.

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Just when it looked like defeat was inevitable, Raimundo Orsi fired home for Italy in the 81st minute to bring the crowd, and Mussolini, to their feet. Orsi, another former Argentina international who had played alongside Monti at the 1928 Olympics, took the final into extra time. The momentum was now with the home team. Angelo Schiavio became Italy’s hero when he drove the ball past Frantisek Planicka from a narrow angle to score the winner.

At full-time, the Azzurri were not just presented with the Jules Rimet Trophy, but with a particularly large cup Mussolini had commissioned as he considered the Fifa award much too small to reflect the glory of the winners. Mussolini was much warmer in victory. “After the match, by decision of Il Duce,” recalled Monti. “We were allowed to ask whatever we wanted: women, money, jewels, cars, house. We were the privileged human beings of Italy.”

Monti had written his name into the record books for his unique achievement. Not only had he won the World Cup for his adopted country but he was the only footballer to have played in World Cup finals for two different countries. It’s difficult see how that will ever change. So, if you are ever asked that quiz question, you know the story of Luis Monti.

• This article is from These Football Times

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