Men Football Olympic Games Melbourne (AUS) 1956 - Qualification
For first time qualification games were disputed to limit the Final particpating teams to 16.
The teams were paired on regional bases. Not all qualified teams went to play in the Main Tournament Football.
The difuculties while travelling to Melbourne was the main problem. But there were also political problems.
Europe - 7 teams to qualify.
date
team 1
score
team 2
HT
aggr.
23.10.55
Bulgaria
2-0
Great Britain
1-0
5-3
1-0 Stefanov 30' ; 2-0 Yanev 61'
12.05.56
Great Britain
3-3
Bulgaria
Hardisty 2, Lewis pen. ; Milanov, Dimitrov, Prince og.
11.07.56
Soviet Union
5-0
Israel
3-0
7-1
1-0 Tatushin 2`; 2-0 Val. Ivanov 26'; 3-0 Simonyan 45'; 4-0 Val. Ivanov 71'; 5-0 Simonyan 78'
31.07.56
Israel
1-2
Soviet Union
0-0
0-1 Iliyn 59'; 1-1 Stelmach 64'; 1-2 Tatushin 79'
Yugoslavia
wo
Romania
Hungary
wo
East Germany
West Germany
Turkey
Poland
bye
Because the many withdrawls on 30.05.1956 in an Amsterdam Surprise meeting of the Olympic Soccer Tournaments Committee Great Britain was invited to participate after drowing lots.
On 04.06 Great Britain accepted the invitation to replace Poland.
In the day of the draw for the Final Round - 31.08.56 in Zurich (SUI), Hungary gave notice that will not defend its 1952 title.
On 04.09 Israel rejected an invitation to replace Hungary.
In one moment Bulgaria had also withdrawn from the tournament, but on 23.10 Bulgaria soccer authorities reversed their earlier decision and decided to sent a team.
Turkey accepted to play in the final tournament, was included in the draw, but withdrew just before the games.
East Germany withdrew, because Germany participated with an United team and the Football was represented by West Germany.
Africa - 1 team to qualify
date
team 1
score
team 2
HT
aggr.
11.07.56
Ethiopia
1-4
Egypt
3-9
31.07.56
Egypt
5-2
Ethipioa
Egypt withdrew from all sports because it saw no chance of winning medals.
Egypt - Ethiopia also reported 5-1.
Asia - 7 teams to qualify - 6 qualified.
date
team 1
score
team 2
HT
aggr.
03.06.56
South Vietnam
5-2
Cambodia
9-5
10.06.56
Cambodia
3-4
South Vietnam
03.06.56
Japan
2-0
South Korea
2-2
10.06.56
South Korea
2-0
Japan
Japan won with toss of coin.
Iran
wo
Afghanistan
double wo
China
wo
Philippines
had to be played in Calcutta (IND) in May 1956
Indonesia
wo
Taiwan
India
bye
Thailand
bye
India and Thailand qualified directly following the draw.
Iran and Afghanistan both withdrew and no Asian team took this place.
Taiwan was insisting on friendly treatment before agreeing to send a soccer team to Indonesia for qualifying matches for the Olympic Games.
South Korea declined an invitation to replace Hungary.
06.11 China dropped out from all sports, because Olympic officials had approved the acceptance of both Chinese and the athletes from Formosa (Taiwan) as one team.
Altough South Vietnam was paired to play in the Final Tournament against Indonesia did not take part.
In many sources Thailand was mentioned as Siam.
North and Central America
date
team 1
team 2
United States
wo
Mexico
Mexico withdrew on 03.01.1956
Interesting results before the Games
16.11
Soviet Union
15-1
Australia
7-1
16.11
Indonesia
7-5
United States
4-2
Draw procedure 15.06.1955 Amsterdam
Olympic Soccer Tournaments Committee designated by FIFA:
Karel J. Lotay (HUN), sir Stanley Rous (ENG), Kurt Gassman (SUI)
