1938 FIFA World Cup

1938 FIFA World Cup
Coupe du Monde 1938

Official poster
Tournament details
Host country France
Dates 4 June – 19 June (16 days)
Teams 15 (from 4 confederations)
Venue(s) 10 (in 10 host cities)
Final positions
Champions  Italy (2nd title)
Runners-up  Hungary
Third place  Brazil
Fourth place  Sweden
Tournament statistics
Matches played 18
Goals scored 84 (4.67 per match)
Attendance 375,700 (20,872 per match)
Top scorer(s) Brazil Leônidas (7 goals)

The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 to 19 June 1938. Italy retained the championship (and thus became the only team to have won two FIFA World Cups under the same coach, Vittorio Pozzo), beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.

Host selection

France was chosen as hosts by FIFA in Berlin on August 13, 1936. France defeated Argentina and Germany in the first round of voting. The decision caused outrage in South America where it was believed that the venue would alternate between the two continents; instead, it was the second tournament in a row to be played in Europe. This was the last World Cup to be staged before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Qualification

Because of anger over the decision to hold a second successive World Cup in Europe, neither Uruguay nor Argentina entered the competition, while Spain became the first country to be prevented from competing because of it being at war.

It was the first time that the hosts (France) and the title holders (Italy) qualified automatically. Title holders were given an automatic entry into the World Cup until 2006 when this was abolished.

Of the 14 remaining places, eleven were allocated to Europe, two to the Americas, and one to Asia. As a result, only three non-European nations took part: Brazil, Cuba and the Dutch East Indies. This is the smallest ever number of teams from outside the host continent to compete at a FIFA World Cup.

Austria qualified for the World Cup, but after qualification was complete, the Anschluss united Austria with Germany. Austria subsequently withdrew from the tournament, with some Austrian players joining the German squad (not including Austrian star player Matthias Sindelar, who refused to play for the unified team).[1] Latvia was the runner-up in Austria's qualification group, but was not invited to participate; instead Austria's place remained empty, and Sweden, which would have been Austria's initial opponent, progressed directly to the second-round by default.

This tournament saw the first, and as of 2016 the only, participation in a World Cup tournament from Cuba and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). It also saw the World Cup debuts of Poland and Norway. Poland and the Netherlands would not reappear at a finals tournament until 1974, while Norway would not qualify for another World Cup finals until 1994. A unified Germany team would not appear again until 1994.

Format

The knockout format from 1934 was retained. If a match was tied after 90 minutes, then 30 minutes of extra time were played. If the score was still tied after extra time, the match would be replayed. This was the last of the two World Cup tournaments that used a straight knockout format.

Summary

Qualifying countries and their results

Germany, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Cuba and Brazil were seeded for draw taking place in Paris, on 5 March 1938.[2]

Five of the seven first round matches required extra time to break the deadlock; two games still went to a replay. In one replay, Cuba advanced to the next round at the expense of Romania. In the other replay, Germany, which had led 1–0 in the first game against Switzerland, led 2–0 but eventually was beaten 2–4. This loss, which took place in front of a hostile, bottle-throwing crowd in Paris, was blamed by German coach Sepp Herberger on a defeatist attitude from the five Austrian players he had been forced to include; a German journalist later commented that "Germans and Austrians prefer to play against each other even when they're in the same team".[3] This remains, as of 2014, the only time in World Cup history in which Germany failed to advance to the final eight (they did not enter in 1930 and had been re-admitted only after the 1950 WC).

Sweden advanced directly to the quarter-finals as a result of Austria's withdrawal, and they proceeded to beat Cuba 8–0. The hosts, France, were beaten by the holders, Italy, and Switzerland were seen off by Hungary. Czechoslovakia took Brazil to extra time in a notoriously feisty match in Bordeaux before succumbing in a replay; the South Americans proved too strong for the depleted Czechoslovak side (both Oldřich Nejedlý and František Plánička had suffered broken bones in the first game) and won 2–1. This was the last ever match to be replayed in a World Cup, with all winners of replay matches in 1938 having been eliminated in the next round.

Hungary destroyed Sweden in one of the semi-finals 5–1, while Italy and Brazil had the first of their many important World Cup clashes in the other. The Brazilians rested their star player Leônidas confident that they would qualify for the final, but the Italians won 2–1. Brazil topped Sweden 4–2 for third place.

Rumour has it, before the finals Benito Mussolini was to have sent a telegram to the team, saying "Vincere o morire!" (literally translated as "Win or die!"). This should not have been meant as a literal threat, but instead just an encouragement to win. However, no record remains of such a telegram, and World Cup player Pietro Rava said, when interviewed, "No, no, no, that's not true. He sent a telegram wishing us well, but no never 'win or die'."[4]

The final itself took place at the Stade Olympique de Colombes in Paris. Vittorio Pozzo's Italian side took the lead early, but Hungary equalised within two minutes. The Italians took the lead again shortly after, and by the end of the first half were leading the Hungarians 3–1. Hungary never really got back into the game. With the final score favouring the Italians 4–2, Italy became the first team to successfully defend the title and were once more crowned World Cup winners.

Because of World War II, the World Cup would not be held for another 12 years, until 1950. As a result, Italy were the reigning World Cup holders for a record 16 years, from 1934 to 1950. The Italian Vice-President of FIFA, Dr. Ottorino Barassi, hid the trophy in a shoe-box under his bed throughout the Second World War and thus saved it from falling into the hands of occupying troops.[5]

Venues

Antibes
Bordeaux
Le Havre
Lille
Lyon
Marseille
Paris
Reims
Strasbourg
Toulouse
A map showing the locations of the venues used at the 1938 FIFA World Cup. The only match scheduled for Lyon was cancelled as a result of Austria's withdrawal

Ten cities were planned to host the tournament:

Paris Marseille Lyon
Stade Olympique de Colombes Parc des Princes Stade Vélodrome Stade Gerland
(the only match there was cancelled)
Capacity: 60,000 Capacity: 48,712 Capacity: 48,000 Capacity: 40,500
Toulouse Bordeaux Strasbourg Le Havre
Stade Chapou Parc Lescure Stade de la Meinau Stade Municipal
Capacity: 35,472 Capacity: 34,694 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 22,000
Reims Lille Antibes
Vélodrome Municipal Stade Victor Boucquey Stade du Fort Carré
Capacity: 21,684 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 7,000

Of these, all but Lyon ultimately hosted matches. Lyon did not due to Austria's withdrawal.

Squads

For a list of all squads that appeared in the final tournament, see 1938 FIFA World Cup squads.

Results

First round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                           
5 June – Marseille            
  Italy (aet)  2
12 June – Paris (Olympique)
  Norway  1  
  Italy  3
5 June – Paris (Olympique)
    France  1  
  France  3
16 June – Marseille
  Belgium  1  
  Italy  2
5 June – Strasbourg
    Brazil  1  
  Brazil (aet)  6
12 and 14 June – Bordeaux
  Poland  5  
  Brazil  1 (2)
5 June – Le Havre
    Czechoslovakia  1 (1)  
  Czechoslovakia (aet)  3
19 June – Paris (Olympique)
  Netherlands  0  
  Italy  4
5 June – Reims
    Hungary  2
  Hungary  6
12 June – Lille
  Dutch East Indies  0  
  Hungary  2
4 and 9 June – Paris (Princes)
     Switzerland  0  
   Switzerland  1 (4)
16 June – Paris (Princes)
  Germany  1 (2)  
  Hungary  5
5 June – Lyon
    Sweden  1   Third Place
  Sweden  w/o
12 June – Antibes 19 June – Bordeaux
  Austria[6]  —  
  Sweden  8   Brazil  4
5 and 9 June – Toulouse
    Cuba  0     Sweden  2
  Cuba  3 (2)
  Romania  3 (1)  

First round

4 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Switzerland   1–1 (a.e.t.)  Germany
Abegglen  43' Report Gauchel  29'
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 27,152
Referee: John Langenus (Belgium)

5 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Hungary  6–0  Dutch East Indies
Kohut  14'
Toldi  16'
Sárosi  25', 88'
Zsengellér  30', 67'		 Report
Vélodrome Municipal, Reims
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Roger Conrié (France)

5 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Cuba  3–3 (a.e.t.)  Romania
Socorro  44', 103'
Magriñá  69'		 Report Bindea  35'
Barátky  88'
Dobay  105'
Stade Chapou, Toulouse
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Giuseppe Scarpi (Italy)

5 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
France  3–1  Belgium
Veinante  1'
Nicolas  16', 69'		 Report Isemborghs  38'

5 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Italy  2–1 (a.e.t.)  Norway
Ferraris  2'
Piola  94'		 Report Brustad  83'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 19,000
Referee: Alois Beranek (Germany)[7]

5 June 1938
17:30 (WEST)
Brazil  6–5 (a.e.t.)  Poland
Leônidas  18', 93', 104'
Romeu  25'
Perácio  44', 71'		 Report Scherfke  23' (pen.)
Wilimowski  53', 59', 89', 118'
Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg
Attendance: 13,452
Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden)

5 June 1938
18:30 (WEST)
Czechoslovakia  3–0 (a.e.t.)  Netherlands
Košťálek  93'
Nejedlý  111'[8]
Zeman  118'[9]		 Report
Stade municipal, Le Havre
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Lucien Leclerq (France)

Replays

9 June 1938
18:00 (WEST)
Germany  2–4   Switzerland
Hahnemann  8'
Lörtscher  22' (o.g.)		 Report Walaschek  42'
Bickel  64'
Abegglen  75', 78'
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 20,025
Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden)

9 June 1938
18:00 (WEST)
Cuba  2–1  Romania
Socorro  51'
Fernández  57'		 Report Dobay  35'
Stade Chapou, Toulouse
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Alfred Birlem (Germany)

Quarter-finals

12 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Switzerland   0–2  Hungary
Report Sárosi  40'
Zsengellér  89'[10]
Stade Victor Boucquey, Lille
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Rinaldo Barlassina (Italy)

12 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Sweden  8–0  Cuba
H. Andersson  9', 81', 90'[11]
Wetterström  32', 37', 44'[12]
Keller  80'[13]
Nyberg  84'[14]		 Report

12 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
France  1–3  Italy
Heisserer  10' Report Colaussi  9'
Piola  51', 72'

12 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Brazil  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Czechoslovakia
Leônidas  30' Report Nejedlý  65' (pen.)
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 22,021
Referee: Pál von Hertzka (Hungary)

Replay

14 June 1938
18:00 (WEST)
Brazil  2–1  Czechoslovakia
Leônidas  57'
Roberto  62'[15]		 Report Kopecký  25'
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 18,141
Referee: Georges Capdeville (France)

Semi-finals

16 June 1938
18:00 (WEST)
Hungary  5–1  Sweden
Jacobsson  19' (o.g.)
Titkos  37'
Zsengellér  39', 85'
Sárosi  65'		 Report Nyberg  1'
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Lucien Leclerq (France)

16 June 1938
18:00 (WEST)
Italy  2–1  Brazil
Colaussi  51'
Meazza  60' (pen.)		 Report Romeu  87'

Match for third place

19 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Sweden  2–4  Brazil
Jonasson  28'
Nyberg  38'		 Report Romeu  44'
Leônidas  63', 74'
Perácio  80'
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: John Langenus (Belgium)

Final

19 June 1938
17:00 (WEST)
Hungary  2–4  Italy
Titkos  8'
Sárosi  70'		 Report Colaussi  6', 35'
Piola  16', 82'[16]

Goalscorers

With seven goals, Leônidas is the top scorer in the tournament. In total, 84 goals were scored by 42 different players, with two of them credited as own goals.

3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own goals

FIFA retrospective ranking

A ball from the tournament

In 1986, FIFA published a report that ranked all teams in each World Cup up to and including 1986, based on progress in the competition, overall results and quality of the opposition.[17][18] The rankings for the 1938 tournament were as follows:

R Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1  Italy 4 4 0 0 11 5 +6 8
2  Hungary 4 3 0 1 15 5 +10 6
3  Brazil 4 2 1 1 14 11 +3 5
4  Sweden 3 1 0 2 11 9 +2 2
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5  Czechoslovakia 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 3
6  France 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 2
7   Switzerland 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
8  Cuba 2 0 1 1 3 11 −8 1
Eliminated in the round of 16
9  Romania 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
10  Germany 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
11  Poland 1 0 0 1 5 6 −1 0
12  Norway 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0
13  Belgium 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0
14  Netherlands 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0
15  Dutch East Indies 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6 0

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Ashdown, John (2014-04-22). "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No11: Austria's Wunderteam". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  2. ↑ "History of the World Cup Final Draw" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  3. ↑ Hesse-Lichtenberger, Ulrich (2003). Tor!: The Story of German Football. London: WSC Books. p. 85. ISBN 095401345X.
  4. ↑ Martin, Simon (2014-04-01): "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No8: Mussolini's blackshirts' 1938 win". theguardian.com. Läst 22 april 2016.
  5. ↑ "Jules Rimet Cup". FIFAWorldCup.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 Sweden were awarded a walkover as Austria were unable to compete because of the Austrian Anschluss in March 1938.
  7. ↑ Actually from Austria, but finally representing the German Football Association because of the Anschluss.
  8. ↑ RSSSF credits this goal as coming in the 118th minute.
  9. ↑ RSSSF credits this goal as coming in the 111th minute.
  10. ↑ RSSSF credits this goal as coming in the 90th minute.
  11. ↑ RSSSF credits goal in the 81st minute as coming in the 61st minute.
  12. ↑ RSSSF credits the goal in the 32nd minute as coming in the 22nd minute.
  13. ↑ RSSSF credits goal in the 80th minute as coming in the 60th minute.
  14. ↑ RSSSF credits this goal as coming in the 89th minute.
  15. ↑ FIFA initially credits this goal to Leônidas, but changed it to Roberto in 2006."Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-11-16. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  16. ↑ RSSSF credits the goal in the 82nd minute as coming in the 85th minute.
  17. ↑ "page 45" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  18. ↑ "FIFA World Cup: Milestones, facts & figures. Statistical Kit 7" (PDF). FIFA. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2013.
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