The 1956 Latin Cup () was the seventh edition of the annual Latin Cup which was played by clubs of the Southwest European nations of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The tournament was hosted by Italy, and the Italian club A.C. Milan was the winner of the tournament after defeating Athletic Bilbao by a score of 3–1 in the final match.
Participating teams
Team Method of qualification Previous appearances Nice 1955–56 French Division 1 champions 1952 A.C. Milan 1955–56 Serie A runners-up 1951, 1953, 1955 Benfica 1955–56 Primeira Divisão runners-up 1950 Athletic Bilbao 1955–56 La Liga champions Debut
Venues
The host of the tournament was Italy, and all matches were played in one host stadium.
Milan Arena Civica Capacity: 10,000
Tournament
Bracket
Semifinals In the semi-final draw, it was determined that Benfica would face Milan and Athletic Bilbao would face Nice.
The game between the Italians and Portuguese started evenly, with a slight dominance by the Italian side, until the 18th minute, when Mariani opened the scoring. Benfica tried to respond, but in the 40th minute Schiaffino increased the advantage for the milanese team. In the second half, Benfica came out more aggressively, pressing their opponent, and in the 52nd minute reduced the deficit with a goal from Coluna. After the goal, the Portuguese team intensified its search for an equalizer, but, in the 59th minute, from a free-kick taken by midfielder Radice, Schiaffino scored again, making it 3–1. Seven minutes later, Caiado scored again to make it 3–2. Benfica continued to press in search of an equalizer, but a fourth goal from Milan defined the final result.
GK 1 Buffon DF 2 Maldini DF 3 Pedroni DF 4 Zagatti MF 5 Liedholm MF 6 Radice FW 7 Mariani FW 8 Bagnoli FW 9 Dal Monte FW 10 Schiaffino FW 11 Frignani Manager: Héctor Puricelli GL 1 José Bastos DF 2 Jacinto DF 3 Artur Santos DF 4 Ângelo MF 5 Caiado MF 6 Alfredo Abrantes FW 7 Isidro FW 8 Coluna FW 9 Águas FW 10 Salvador Martins FW 11 Cavém Manager: Otto Glória
In the second semi-final, between Athletic Bilbao and Nice, the Spanish team started dominantly and, by half-time, had already built up the result, thanks to two goals in the 13th and 31st minutes, both scored by Markaida. In the second half, the course of the game reversed, with the French pressing and creating several goal opportunities, with Ujlaki having a goal disallowed, but the result did not change, with the Spanish team advancing to the final.
GK 1 Carmelo Cedrún DF 2 José María Orúe DF 3 Jesús Garay DF 4 Canito MF 5 Mauri MF 6 José María Maguregui FW 7 José Luis Artetxe MF 8 Félix Markaida FW 9 Eneko Arieta FW 10 Ignacio Uribe FW 11 Agustín Gaínza Manager: Ferdinand Daučík GK 1 Dominique Colonna DF 2 Martínez DF 3 González DF 4 Bonvin MF 5 Poitevin MF 6 François Milazzo FW 7 Gentili FW 8 Brun FW 9 Ujlaki FW 10 Nurenberg FW 11 Bravo Manager: Luis Antonio Carniglia
Third place match Benfica and Nice faced each other in the third-place match on July 3rd. The game was refereed by Manuel Asensi Martín of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The Portuguese side started better, dominating and creating the main opportunities of the first half, including a shot by José Águas that hit the post. Nice responded with dangerous counter-attacks, but the first-half ended goalless. In the second half, there were no goals, and the match went to extra time. In the first period of extra time, Nice opened the scoring, forcing the lisbon team to seek an equalizer, which came in the 116th minute, forcing a second extra time. In the second extra time, Benfica regained control and in the following minutes, after a quick attacking move, José Águas scored the winning goal.
GK 1 José Bastos DF 2 Jacinto DF 3 Artur Santos MF 4 Fernando Caiado MF 5 Alfredo Abrantes MF 6 Ângelo Martins FW 7 Isidro FW 8 Mário Coluna FW 9 José Águas FW 10 Salvador Martins FW 11 Domiciano Cavém Manager: Otto Glória GK 1 Dominique Colonna DF 2 Nani DF 3 Bonvin DF 4 François Milazzo MF 5 Poitevin MF 6 Gonzalès FW 7 Gentili FW 8 Brun FW 9 Ujlaki FW 10 Nurenberg FW 11 Bravo Manager: Luis Antonio Carniglia
Final The final was played on July 4th between Milan and Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish side started better and dominated the first half with fast, intense and combative football, led by midfielders Mauri and Maguregui. Despite Bilbao's superiority, Milan took the lead in the 25th minute in a fortuitous play, against the course of the match. The Spaniards also wasted two big chnaces, including a header by Artetxe that hit the post. The equalizer came five minutes into the second half, however, Milan reacted calmly and with organization, imposing greater precision in their passing to neutralize the Basque team's speed. This change resulted in two decisive goals: one by Dal Monte and another by Schiaffino, the latter near the end of the match. Milan ended up winning 3–1, preventing the Spanish club from repeating their 1955 title.
GK Lorenzo Buffon DF Cesare Maldini DF Francesco Zagatti DF Eros Fassetta DF Luigi Radice MF Osvaldo Bagnoli MF Nils Liedholm MF Amos Mariani FW Juan Alberto Schiaffino FW Amleto Frignani FW Giorgio Dal Monte Manager: Héctor Puricelli GK Carmelo Cedrún DF José María Orúe DF Canito DF Jesús Garay MF Félix Markaida MF Mauri MF José María Maguregui FW Ignacio Uribe FW Eneko Arieta FW José Luis Artetxe FW Agustín Gaínza Manager: Ferdinand Daučík
Goalscorers
Rank Player Team Goals 1 Juan Alberto Schiaffino A.C. Milan 3 2 Osvaldo Bagnoli 2 Félix Markaida Athletic Bilbao 3 José Luis Artetxe 1 François Milazzo Nice Amos Mariani A.C. Milan Giorgio Dal Monte Mário Coluna Benfica Fernando Caiado Domiciano Cavém José Águas
See also
1956 Mitropa Cup, a similar competition
Notes
References
External links
Latin Cup (Full Results) from RSSSF