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World Cups remembered: France 1938

Italy's national soccer team poses with the World Cup trophy after beating Hungary 4-2 in the World Cup final, 19 June 1938 in Colombes, in the suburbs of Paris
Image: Italy's national soccer team poses with the World Cup trophy after beating Hungary 4-2 in the World Cup final, 19 June 1938 in Colombes, in the suburbs of Paris

Italy became the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup, and they would keep their hands on the prize for another 12 years.

Italy hang on to trophy amid political tensions

Italy became the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup trophy, and they would keep their hands on the 1938 prize for another 12 years.

The backdrop of France 1938 was one of concern as the Spanish Civil War raged amid fierce political tensions. In light of this, Spain did not make the short trip to their European neighbours.

Argentina chose not to travel after failing in their bid to host the tournament. Furthermore, 1930 winners Uruguay again did not participate, still allegedly smarting over Europe's poor showing at their tournament eight years prior.

This was the first World Cup where the hosts (France) and the title holders (Italy) qualified automatically.

Originally, 16 nations were going to take part. But Austria pulled out due to their annexation by Germany, leaving 15 teams.

However, some of the Austrian players, who made up one of the strongest sides of the 1930s, represented the Germans.

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The tournament was again held in a knockout format, similar to 1934. This was the last World Cup where there was not a group stage.

With an odd number of teams involved from the off, Sweden, who were due to meet Austria, were given a bye to the quarter-finals.

Of the seven first-round matches, five required extra-time, two of which needed replays.

Picture dated 20 July 1938 at Paris' Bourget Airport shows non-identified Swedish football players posing in front of an Air France propeller plane prior their departure to Sweden
Image: Picture dated 20 July 1938 at Paris' Bourget Airport shows non-identified Swedish football players posing in front of an Air France propeller plane prior their departure to Sweden

Switzerland and Germany played out the competition's first game, with the encounter ending in a 1-1 draw. They replayed one another five days later and the Swiss stunned the Germans, coming back from two goals down to win 4-2.

Hosts France made light work of Belgium via a 3-1 triumph while the impressive Hungarians thumped the Dutch East Indies, who made the trip from East Asia, 6-0.

Controversial

Brazil and Poland played out arguably the game of the tournament as the South American giants claimed a 6-5 victory after extra-time.

Cuba shocked Romania, holding them to a 3-3 draw before winning a replay 2-1, Czechoslovakia beat the Netherlands 3-0, while Italy overcame Norway with an extra-time Silvio Piola strike.

Brazil met the Czechs in the quarter-finals in a controversial Bordeaux clash. The encounter produced incredible scenes as three red cards and two fractured limbs marred the 1-1 draw.

The Brazilians went on to dispose of Czechoslovakia in the rematch. Sweden also booked their place in the last four after they hit eight goals past Cuba while Hungary progressed at Switzerland's expense.

French president Albert Lebrun (C, dark suit), standing next to the French president of the FIFA, Jules Rimet (white hair), shakes hand with Italian national soccer team captain Giuseppe Meazza
Image: French president Albert Lebrun (C, dark suit), standing next to the French president of the FIFA, Jules Rimet (white hair), shakes hand with Italian national soccer team captain Giuseppe Meazza

Italy, 1936 Olympic gold medallists, then knocked out the hosts in front of 59,000 supporters, with the Azzurri sporting black shirts under the orders of dictator Benito Mussolini.

The reigning champions were drawn against Brazil in the semi-finals. Bafflingly, coach Ademar Pimenta left out the 'Black Diamond' Leonidas for the encounter in Marseille - a decision that proved costly as the South Americans missed Leonidas' genius.

The match passed by without too much controversial incident as Italy progressed to the final with a 2-1 success via goals from Gino Colaussi and Giuseppe Meazza.

In the other last-four match-up, Hungary met Sweden and destroyed the Scandinavians 5-1 with Gyula Zsengeller bagging a hat-trick at Parc des Princes.

Sweden, therefore, met Brazil in the third-place play-off, with the latter triumphing 4-2.

The Italians, who had just four survivors from the squad from their 1934 triumph, would meet the competition's most prolific scorers Hungary.

Gino Colaussi broke the deadlock at Stade Olympique de Colombes before Pal Titkos restored parity for Hungary just a minute later.

Hungarian goalkeeper Antal Szabo tries to stop a shot from Italian forward Giovanni Ferrari (left) during the World Cup final between Italy and Hungary 19 June 1938 in Colombes, in the suburbs of Paris
Image: Hungarian goalkeeper Antal Szabo tries to stop a shot from Italian forward Giovanni Ferrari (left) during the World Cup final between Italy and Hungary 19 June 1938 in Colombes, in the suburbs of Paris

But Italy, spurred on by stars Giovanni Ferrari and Giuseppe Meazza, won the battle and netted a further three goals - Piola scoring a brace - to record a 4-2 victory that sealed glory in Paris.

War broke out the following year.

Player of the tournament: Leonidas

Dubbed the 'Black Diamond', Leonidas scored seven goals during France 1938. The supremely gifted striker bagged a hat-trick along his country's route to the semi-finals, and his exclusion from the side against Italy is believed to have proved decisive in Brazil's exit.

Game of the tournament: Brazil 6 Poland 5

South American giants Brazil took an expected lead at the break as they went in at the interval 3-1 to the good. However, two goals from Ernest Wilimowski early in the second half stunned the Brazilians. Pimenta's men retook the lead but again Wilimowski scored for Poland. The encounter went into extra-time and Leonidas netted twice to complete his hat-trick. Incredibly, there was still time for a fourth goal from Wilimowski.

Goal of the tournament:

Italy's scoring star Piola netted a wonderful effort in the showpiece versus Hungary. With the scoreline at 3-2, the Azzurri killed the game off as Piola combined with Amedeo Biavati, the move involving silky one-twos and a back-heel, before Piola lashed home.

Home nations

None of the British Home nations participated, despite the offer of a place.

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