Known as "The Mozart of football" or 'Der Papierene' – 'the Paper-man' for his slight build, he was renowned as one the finest pre-war footballers, known for his fantastic dribbling ability and creativity.
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Austria then suffered a controversial defeat to the host nation, with Sindelar affected by the harsh marking of Luis Monti.
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On 3 April 1938, the Austrian team played Germany in the Prater Stadium in Vienna its last match as an independent Austrian team, as some weeks earlier, Germany had annexed Austria (Anschluss) and the Nazis ordered the dissolution of the Austrian team into a common team with Germany, albeit it had qualified for the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
Matthias Sindelar, who did not play for Germany, was found dead in his home in 1939, under circumstances that have been debated since (Further information: Matthias Sindelar#Death and myth).
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Matthias Sindelar, known as Der Papierene (The Papery Man) due to his slight build, was the star and captain of the team.
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Matthias Sindelar, Josef Smistik and Walter Nausch formed the core of the team that would dominate European football during that era.
Matthias Corvinus | Matthias Grünewald | Matthias Flacius | Matthias | Matthias Sindelar | Matthias Bachinger | St Matthias Islands | Matthias Kyburz | Matthias Hues | Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor | Matthias Gallas | Matthias Felleisen | Matthias Church | Matthias Blazek | Matthias Ziegler | Matthias Weckmann | Matthias Storme | Matthias Bruen | Matthías Bjarnason | Matthias Bamert | John Matthias | Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg | Bernd T. Matthias | St. Matthias' Church, Vepery | St. Matthias | Matthias Trübner | Matthias Stom | Matthias Schweighöfer | Matthias Rettner | Matthias Platzeck |
The semi-final was against the Wunderteam, managed by Hugo Meisl and with Josef Bican of Rapid Vienna and Matthias Sindelar of FK Austria, two of the world’s finest players, Austria was widely considered the strongest continental side and had already beaten the Italians 4–2 in Turin only four months earlier.