The image of the Nazi salute before kickoff and the German players collapsing on the field remains one of the most symbolic moments in the history of World Cups.
Switzerland has consistently been among the most reliable European teams in recent decades, but at the same time carries a peculiar reputation: it is almost always there, but never quite takes that truly big step. Its recent appearances in the World Cup and the Euro are characterized by consistency, competitiveness, and frequent appearances in the knockout stages, but rarely by runs that go down in history.
Tonight, for the 2026 World Cup, it faces Qatar. And in 1938, a few months after the Anschluss and the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, the World Cup in France turned into a battleground for political confrontation. Hitler had already failed to secure the World Cup, as FIFA had chosen France over Germany by a vote of 19-4. However, Berlin sought to use the national team as a propaganda tool, presenting “Greater Germany” as a symbol of unity and power.
The annexation of Austria in March 1938 dissolved the famous Austrian Wunderteam and led to the creation of a mixed German-Austrian national team. Federal coach Sepp Herberger was called upon to combine German and Austrian internationals into a team that obeyed political orders rather than football logic.
Facing them was Switzerland, led by Austrian coach Karl Rappen. Rapan was already known as a tactical pioneer, having developed the famous “verrou” (“lock”), a defensive system considered a precursor to the Italian catenaccio and the role of the libero.
In the first match, on June 4 in Paris, the two teams drew 1-1. At that time, there were no penalty kicks, and the rules called for a rematch. Five days later, Germany took a 2-0 lead and looked set to advance. But Switzerland staged an impressive comeback. They pulled one back through Eugène Valasek, equalized through Alfred Bickel, and then André Abeglen scored twice for a final score of 4-2.
The defeat was a massive blow to Nazi propaganda. The team that was supposed to symbolize the strength and unity of the Reich was eliminated by a small neutral country, led, no less, by an Austrian coach. The image of the Nazi salute before kickoff and the German collapse on the field remains one of the most symbolic moments in World Cup history. Rapan didn’t just defeat Germany on the soccer field; he also dealt one of the first international blows to the narrative of superiority that Hitler’s regime was attempting to project.
🏆 You can read more stories like this in a 640-page, large-format book “Confidential World Cup” published by Historical Quest.
