Franco Gemma, a hand “damn” for Spain

Last update 31 March, 2024 by Alberto Llopis

Many of our readers, Franco Gemma name not ring them nothing. However, this Italian was once a boy of 14 years had the fate of European football in his hands. In qualifying for the Swiss World Cup 1954, Spain and Turkey were played including a pass to the Helvetic appointment. The Spaniards had a great team. Rooms in Brazil 50, They possessed a set with serious aspirations to do something important in Switzerland, with permission yes, of the almighty Hungary.

Türkiye, rookie in these conflicts, he had never qualified for the finals. In the first leg played at Chamartin, the “Fury” He crushed the Ottomans by a convincing 4-1. However,in turn it changed the landscape and the Euro-Asian got beat 1-0 thanks to the phenomenal and intimidating atmosphere that lived in Istanbul.

In an era where there were no goals scored, the fate wanted a playoff game will be played on neutral ground the 17 March 1954. Rome and the Olympic Stadium were in charge of hosting a tense and thrilling duel that ended 2-2 aet including.  One of the players who excelled in that selection was Ladislao Kubala, he was considered one of the best in the world. However, shortly before the Red decided to leave for the field to play the game, members of the Spanish Federation received the following note: "Spanish team play Warning status Kubala" (Spanish team player care situation Kubala). With low ostensible of the Barcelona, without the existence of penalty shootouts yet, the draw was in charge of selecting that team was classified.

A neutral hand and good faith sought, and what better than a boy 14 years, name and surname Franco Gemma to give away fortune. With a blindfold, Gemma chose a piece of paper that pointed to Turkey as classified selection. The dream of a country falling broken by the whims of a child, curiously it named as the then Spanish dictator of the time, strong prompting jeers of the sectors most left-wing of Spain.

Gemma became a talisman for Turkish, that grateful for the luck, They decided to take the boy to Switzerland, where yet, He did not bring them the same fate, a falling eliminated in first round.