comme
07 Feb 2006, 05:11 PM
France 1938
The 1938 World Cup largely followed the format set out four years earlier but FIFA did introduce a significant innovation, the hosts and holders no longer had to go through qualifying.
Yet still many of the problems of the past were yet to be resolved. The British teams were still outside FIFA and so did not take part. Also absent again were Uruguay, the 1930 champions, and Argentina who had been impressive in winning the 1937 Copa America. Argentina were still smarting from the insult of not being named as host for the finals.
Another issue was the Anschluss of 1938 which saw Austria become a part of Germany. Both Austria and Germany had qualified, but once Austria pulled out it was decided to give a bye to Sweden (after England were offered the spot despite their non-FIFA status) who were thus the only qualifier not to play in the first round.
The First Round
The tournament got underway at the Parc des Princes in Paris where the Germans faced their neighbours Switzerland. Josef Gauchel put the Germans ahead, but the Swiss drew level just before half-time after Andre Abegglen headed in from a Eugen Walaschek cross. Although both team pressed hard for a winner, neither could find a decisive second goal and after extra-time had come and gone the two teams would require a replay to decide the winner. It was scheduled a generous 5 days later (in the previous World Cup a replay had been played the day after the original game!) and the Germans added 3 Austrians to their side. The Germans raced into an early lead through Wilhelm Hahnemann which an Ernst Lörtscher own-goal doubled after 22 minutes. Yet far from crumbling the second goal only served to galvanise the Swiss team and they pulled one back before the break via Walaschek. Alfred Bickel put the Swiss back on level terms shortly after half-time before Abegglen added a further two to complete a remarkable comeback.
The tie between the Cubans and Romanians also required a replay, after a thrilling 3-3 first game, which had seen two goals in extra-time. In the second game the Romanians took the lead through Stefan Dobai, who had also scored to save the Romanians in the first game. Yet the Cubans, who were only in the tournament after replacing Mexico, somehow managed to come back as Hector Socorro and Carlos Fernández scored second-half goals.
The Czechs, finalists four years earlier, were back and still possessed a number of the players that had helped them progress so far in the past, most notably their goalkeeper Planicka. Yet despite their strength it took extra-time to see them past the Dutch, their class shining through in the end as they won 3-0.
France’s World Cup campaign could not have got off to a better start, as they took the lead in 35 seconds against Belgium through Emile Veinante after good work by Jean Nicolas. Nicolas himself then got on the score sheet after 16 minutes but Henri Isemborghs was able to get the Belgians back into the game shortly before the break. The game though was effectively settled with 20 minutes to go when Nicolas further extended the French lead and capped an excellent performance.
The difference in class between Hungary and the Dutch East Indies was apparent to all who witnessed their first round game. The Eastern Europeans battered their opponents from the off and were as much as 4 goals up at the break. The Hungarians continued to press their advantage all the way to the end, and Gyorgi Sarosi capped off a memorable game by scoring his second and Hungary’s sixth in the 89th minute.
The game of the round undoubtedly was the clash between Brazil and Poland in Strasbourg. Leonidas managed to hit a first-half hat-trick (though some sources credit his second and third goals to Romeo and Peració respectively) to put the Brazilians in a commanding position at the break, yet the Poles were unwilling to roll over. In particular Ernest Wilimowski, who managed to score his own hat-trick, carried the fight to Brazil and forced extra-time. But the Brazilians then showed their own fighting spirit, and Leonidas and Romeo put them two goals in front. The Poles pulled another goal back at the death but while it was not enough to win the game, both sides had won a great deal of respect.
Defending champions Italy also received an almighty shock in the first round when they took on Norway. Italy took the lead in just the second minute through Ferraris after an error from Henry Johansen, the Norwegian goalkeeper, but then were subjected to sustained periods of pressure until with less than 10 minutes remaining Arne Brustad netted a shock equaliser. Just minutes Brustad thought he had scored again, but was cruelly denied by the off-side flag. With only a few minutes of extra-time Silvio Piola finally scored the crucial goal for Italy, again from a rebound, and the Norwegians’ brave efforts came to nothing.
09-JUN-38 PARIS Switzerland:Germany
4:2 (1:2) Parc des Princes
09-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Cuba:Romania
2:1 (0:1) Chapou
05-JUN-38 LE HAVRE Czechoslovakia:Netherlands
3:0 a.e.t (0:0, 0:0) Cavee Verte
05-JUN-38 STRASBOURG Brazil:Poland
6:5 a.e.t (4:4, 3:1) Meinau
05-JUN-38 COLOMBES-PARIS France:Belgium
3:1 (2:1) Olympique
05-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Cuba:Romania
3:3 a.e.t (3:3, 1:1) Chapou
05-JUN-38 REIMS Hungary: Dutch East Indies
6:0 (4:0) Velodrome Municipale
05-JUN-38 MARSEILLES Italy:Norway
2:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:0) Velodrome
04-JUN-38 PARIS Switzerland:Germany
1:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:1) Parc des Princes
Quarter-finals
The second round produced one of the tournament’s dream ties as the hosts, France, met the holders, Italy, in Paris. The Italians managed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes, through left-winger Colaussi, though French keeper Laurent Di Lorto had to shoulder some of the blame. Within a minute the French were level as Oscar Heisserer, their inside-right, scored after sharp work from Aston, to bring the home team back into the game. The star of the second half was unquestionably Silvio Piola, who turned on an impeccable individual performance and scored the two goals which ensured the Italians would progress.
The Swedes had been the only side not to play in the opening round, and they made up for it in their quarter final against a Cuban side who had surprised everybody, not least themselves, in seeing off Romania. The Swedes superior quality, coupled with their freshness, was far too much for the hapless Cubans as they thrashed them an astonishing 8-0. Gustav Wetterström was on target 4 times in an exceptional performance, and the Cubans best chance to add some respectability instead brought even further disappointment as Henock Abrahamsson, the Swedish keeper saved a penalty from Tomas Fernández.
Brazil were drawn to play Czechoslovakia in Bordeaux in what proved to be a brutal affair and 3 players were sent off! The first to go was Brazilian wing-half Zezé Procopio for an unnecessary hack on Nejedlý after just 14 minutes had been played. Yet Brazil went into the lead after half an our through their outstanding centre-forward Leonidas. Shortly before the break both sides lost a man as both Machado of Brazil and Jan Řiha of Czechoslovakia were dismissed for fighting. Not long after half-time Czechoslovakia were awarded a penalty as Domingos da Guia, Brazil’s exceptional centre-half inexplicably handled the ball in the box. Nejedlý duly converted to level the game, yet while there were no further goals in the game there was plenty of incident and the Czechs lost their inspirational captain Planicka to a broken arm and Nejedlý to a broken leg. The replay was scheduled for two days later, but the Czechs were at a serious disadvantage as they were shorn of their two most important players. As it was they took the lead through Vlastimil Kopecký, who had been moved from left-half to inside-left in place of Nejedlý. The Brazilians though were able to level after half-time, and yet again it was Leonidas that scored the crucial goal. The Czechs were aggrieved soon after as they believed that a shot by Karel Senecký had crossed the line, the French referee George Capdeville was not of the same mind though and he waved away there appeals. Then came the moment to break Czech hearts as the Brazilians took a decisive lead through a Roberto volley and move into the last 4.
In comparison, the final game of the round between Hungary and Switzerland, was a straightforward match. Hungary took the lead in the closing stages of the first half via Gyorgy Sarosi and Gyula Zsengeller completed the victory in the final minute of the game. It may not have been as eventful as some of the other ties, but the Hungarians didn’t complain, they were just happy to have reached a World Cup semi final.
14-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Brazil:Czechoslovakia
2:1 (0:1) Chapou
12-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Brazil:Czechoslovakia
1:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:0) Chapou
12-JUN-38 ANTIBES Sweden:Cuba
8:0 (4:0) Fort Carree
12-JUN-38 LILLE Hungary:Switzerland
2:0 (1:0) Victor Boucquey
12-JUN-38 COLOMBES-PARIS Italy:France
3:1 (1:1) Olympique
Semi-finals
In that semi-final the Hungarians met Sweden who had annihilated Cuba in their last game. The Swedes must have believed that they were in for a similar game against Hungary when Arne Nyberg put them ahead after only 35 seconds. Yet Hungary were a far different proposition to Cuba and rather than crumble after the early goal they came into the game and were increasingly able to impose themselves on it. Indeed the Hungarians came into the game so much that they led 3-1 at half-time thanks to a brace from Zsengeller and one from Ferenc Sas. In the second-half the Hungarians continued to run riot as Sarosi added a fourth and late on Zsengeller completed his hat-trick.
The Brazilians had been so confident of victory over the Czechs in their quarter final replay that a large number of the party had travelled ahead to Marseille in preparation for the semi, before their place there had even been assured. This confidence was further expressed by their amazing decision to rest Leonidas, their star forward, for the game against Italy, the world champions. Colaussi gave the Italians the lead shortly after half-time, and the referee Hans Wüthrich from Switzerland awarded them a penalty after Domingos da Guia hacked down Silvio Piola in the box. The man responsible for converting it was Giuseppe Meazza and characteristically he made no mistake. The Brazilians had no reply, until with just 3 minutes remaining Romeo scored to set up a tense finish, but the Italian defence stood firm and they were through to a second World Cup final.
It may all have been very different in the semi-final if the Brazilians had decided to play Leonidas, who was recalled to the team as captain for the game third place play-off with Sweden. He was the key to the Brazilian victory, scoring twice and taking his personal goal tally for the tournament to 8. The Brazilians were able to defeat Sweden 4-2 despite Patesco missing a penalty, but it was of little comfort to a side who had been supremely confident that they could win the Jules Rimet trophy.
16-JUN-38 MARSEILLES Italy:Brazil
2:1 (0:0) Velodrome
16-JUN-38 PARIS Hungary:Sweden
5:1 (3:1) Parc des Princes
19-JUN-38 BORDEAUX Brazil:Sweden
4:2 (1:2) Parc Lescure
The Final
The Italians as the defending champions had to be considered the favourites, and they were also eager to counter any suggestions that they had been “helped” to win their first World Cup. The Hungarians knew though that they were capable of staging an upset if their key players were to perform to their full ability. The final started extremely brightly as Colaussi put Italy into the lead after just 6 minutes after being played in coolly by Meazza. Yet just 2 minutes later the Hungarians were level as Pal Titkos fired in from a Ferenc Sas centre. Before long the Italians had regained their lead as Piola netted, with Meazza the provider again, and Colaussi added his second before the break to ensure the Italians had breathing space. In the second half Hungarian captain Sarosi pulled one back against the run of play to set up a thrilling end to the match, but the Italians demonstrated their class and Piola scored again with 5 minutes remaining to make sure. The Italians had been clearly the better side and their second world title was well merited for their excellent efforts. Sadly for them they would not have the chance to defend their title four year later, World War II put paid to that.
19-JUN-38 COLOMBES-PARIS Italy:Hungary
4:2 (3:1) Olympique
FIFA’s official page (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/pwc/1938.html)
Full line-ups, goal scorers and much more (http://www.rsssf.com/tables/38full.html)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/en/pf/20011221/i/2148237365.jpg
The 1938 World Cup largely followed the format set out four years earlier but FIFA did introduce a significant innovation, the hosts and holders no longer had to go through qualifying.
Yet still many of the problems of the past were yet to be resolved. The British teams were still outside FIFA and so did not take part. Also absent again were Uruguay, the 1930 champions, and Argentina who had been impressive in winning the 1937 Copa America. Argentina were still smarting from the insult of not being named as host for the finals.
Another issue was the Anschluss of 1938 which saw Austria become a part of Germany. Both Austria and Germany had qualified, but once Austria pulled out it was decided to give a bye to Sweden (after England were offered the spot despite their non-FIFA status) who were thus the only qualifier not to play in the first round.
The First Round
The tournament got underway at the Parc des Princes in Paris where the Germans faced their neighbours Switzerland. Josef Gauchel put the Germans ahead, but the Swiss drew level just before half-time after Andre Abegglen headed in from a Eugen Walaschek cross. Although both team pressed hard for a winner, neither could find a decisive second goal and after extra-time had come and gone the two teams would require a replay to decide the winner. It was scheduled a generous 5 days later (in the previous World Cup a replay had been played the day after the original game!) and the Germans added 3 Austrians to their side. The Germans raced into an early lead through Wilhelm Hahnemann which an Ernst Lörtscher own-goal doubled after 22 minutes. Yet far from crumbling the second goal only served to galvanise the Swiss team and they pulled one back before the break via Walaschek. Alfred Bickel put the Swiss back on level terms shortly after half-time before Abegglen added a further two to complete a remarkable comeback.
The tie between the Cubans and Romanians also required a replay, after a thrilling 3-3 first game, which had seen two goals in extra-time. In the second game the Romanians took the lead through Stefan Dobai, who had also scored to save the Romanians in the first game. Yet the Cubans, who were only in the tournament after replacing Mexico, somehow managed to come back as Hector Socorro and Carlos Fernández scored second-half goals.
The Czechs, finalists four years earlier, were back and still possessed a number of the players that had helped them progress so far in the past, most notably their goalkeeper Planicka. Yet despite their strength it took extra-time to see them past the Dutch, their class shining through in the end as they won 3-0.
France’s World Cup campaign could not have got off to a better start, as they took the lead in 35 seconds against Belgium through Emile Veinante after good work by Jean Nicolas. Nicolas himself then got on the score sheet after 16 minutes but Henri Isemborghs was able to get the Belgians back into the game shortly before the break. The game though was effectively settled with 20 minutes to go when Nicolas further extended the French lead and capped an excellent performance.
The difference in class between Hungary and the Dutch East Indies was apparent to all who witnessed their first round game. The Eastern Europeans battered their opponents from the off and were as much as 4 goals up at the break. The Hungarians continued to press their advantage all the way to the end, and Gyorgi Sarosi capped off a memorable game by scoring his second and Hungary’s sixth in the 89th minute.
The game of the round undoubtedly was the clash between Brazil and Poland in Strasbourg. Leonidas managed to hit a first-half hat-trick (though some sources credit his second and third goals to Romeo and Peració respectively) to put the Brazilians in a commanding position at the break, yet the Poles were unwilling to roll over. In particular Ernest Wilimowski, who managed to score his own hat-trick, carried the fight to Brazil and forced extra-time. But the Brazilians then showed their own fighting spirit, and Leonidas and Romeo put them two goals in front. The Poles pulled another goal back at the death but while it was not enough to win the game, both sides had won a great deal of respect.
Defending champions Italy also received an almighty shock in the first round when they took on Norway. Italy took the lead in just the second minute through Ferraris after an error from Henry Johansen, the Norwegian goalkeeper, but then were subjected to sustained periods of pressure until with less than 10 minutes remaining Arne Brustad netted a shock equaliser. Just minutes Brustad thought he had scored again, but was cruelly denied by the off-side flag. With only a few minutes of extra-time Silvio Piola finally scored the crucial goal for Italy, again from a rebound, and the Norwegians’ brave efforts came to nothing.
09-JUN-38 PARIS Switzerland:Germany
4:2 (1:2) Parc des Princes
09-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Cuba:Romania
2:1 (0:1) Chapou
05-JUN-38 LE HAVRE Czechoslovakia:Netherlands
3:0 a.e.t (0:0, 0:0) Cavee Verte
05-JUN-38 STRASBOURG Brazil:Poland
6:5 a.e.t (4:4, 3:1) Meinau
05-JUN-38 COLOMBES-PARIS France:Belgium
3:1 (2:1) Olympique
05-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Cuba:Romania
3:3 a.e.t (3:3, 1:1) Chapou
05-JUN-38 REIMS Hungary: Dutch East Indies
6:0 (4:0) Velodrome Municipale
05-JUN-38 MARSEILLES Italy:Norway
2:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:0) Velodrome
04-JUN-38 PARIS Switzerland:Germany
1:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:1) Parc des Princes
Quarter-finals
The second round produced one of the tournament’s dream ties as the hosts, France, met the holders, Italy, in Paris. The Italians managed to take the lead within the opening ten minutes, through left-winger Colaussi, though French keeper Laurent Di Lorto had to shoulder some of the blame. Within a minute the French were level as Oscar Heisserer, their inside-right, scored after sharp work from Aston, to bring the home team back into the game. The star of the second half was unquestionably Silvio Piola, who turned on an impeccable individual performance and scored the two goals which ensured the Italians would progress.
The Swedes had been the only side not to play in the opening round, and they made up for it in their quarter final against a Cuban side who had surprised everybody, not least themselves, in seeing off Romania. The Swedes superior quality, coupled with their freshness, was far too much for the hapless Cubans as they thrashed them an astonishing 8-0. Gustav Wetterström was on target 4 times in an exceptional performance, and the Cubans best chance to add some respectability instead brought even further disappointment as Henock Abrahamsson, the Swedish keeper saved a penalty from Tomas Fernández.
Brazil were drawn to play Czechoslovakia in Bordeaux in what proved to be a brutal affair and 3 players were sent off! The first to go was Brazilian wing-half Zezé Procopio for an unnecessary hack on Nejedlý after just 14 minutes had been played. Yet Brazil went into the lead after half an our through their outstanding centre-forward Leonidas. Shortly before the break both sides lost a man as both Machado of Brazil and Jan Řiha of Czechoslovakia were dismissed for fighting. Not long after half-time Czechoslovakia were awarded a penalty as Domingos da Guia, Brazil’s exceptional centre-half inexplicably handled the ball in the box. Nejedlý duly converted to level the game, yet while there were no further goals in the game there was plenty of incident and the Czechs lost their inspirational captain Planicka to a broken arm and Nejedlý to a broken leg. The replay was scheduled for two days later, but the Czechs were at a serious disadvantage as they were shorn of their two most important players. As it was they took the lead through Vlastimil Kopecký, who had been moved from left-half to inside-left in place of Nejedlý. The Brazilians though were able to level after half-time, and yet again it was Leonidas that scored the crucial goal. The Czechs were aggrieved soon after as they believed that a shot by Karel Senecký had crossed the line, the French referee George Capdeville was not of the same mind though and he waved away there appeals. Then came the moment to break Czech hearts as the Brazilians took a decisive lead through a Roberto volley and move into the last 4.
In comparison, the final game of the round between Hungary and Switzerland, was a straightforward match. Hungary took the lead in the closing stages of the first half via Gyorgy Sarosi and Gyula Zsengeller completed the victory in the final minute of the game. It may not have been as eventful as some of the other ties, but the Hungarians didn’t complain, they were just happy to have reached a World Cup semi final.
14-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Brazil:Czechoslovakia
2:1 (0:1) Chapou
12-JUN-38 TOULOUSE Brazil:Czechoslovakia
1:1 a.e.t (1:1, 1:0) Chapou
12-JUN-38 ANTIBES Sweden:Cuba
8:0 (4:0) Fort Carree
12-JUN-38 LILLE Hungary:Switzerland
2:0 (1:0) Victor Boucquey
12-JUN-38 COLOMBES-PARIS Italy:France
3:1 (1:1) Olympique
Semi-finals
In that semi-final the Hungarians met Sweden who had annihilated Cuba in their last game. The Swedes must have believed that they were in for a similar game against Hungary when Arne Nyberg put them ahead after only 35 seconds. Yet Hungary were a far different proposition to Cuba and rather than crumble after the early goal they came into the game and were increasingly able to impose themselves on it. Indeed the Hungarians came into the game so much that they led 3-1 at half-time thanks to a brace from Zsengeller and one from Ferenc Sas. In the second-half the Hungarians continued to run riot as Sarosi added a fourth and late on Zsengeller completed his hat-trick.
The Brazilians had been so confident of victory over the Czechs in their quarter final replay that a large number of the party had travelled ahead to Marseille in preparation for the semi, before their place there had even been assured. This confidence was further expressed by their amazing decision to rest Leonidas, their star forward, for the game against Italy, the world champions. Colaussi gave the Italians the lead shortly after half-time, and the referee Hans Wüthrich from Switzerland awarded them a penalty after Domingos da Guia hacked down Silvio Piola in the box. The man responsible for converting it was Giuseppe Meazza and characteristically he made no mistake. The Brazilians had no reply, until with just 3 minutes remaining Romeo scored to set up a tense finish, but the Italian defence stood firm and they were through to a second World Cup final.
It may all have been very different in the semi-final if the Brazilians had decided to play Leonidas, who was recalled to the team as captain for the game third place play-off with Sweden. He was the key to the Brazilian victory, scoring twice and taking his personal goal tally for the tournament to 8. The Brazilians were able to defeat Sweden 4-2 despite Patesco missing a penalty, but it was of little comfort to a side who had been supremely confident that they could win the Jules Rimet trophy.
16-JUN-38 MARSEILLES Italy:Brazil
2:1 (0:0) Velodrome
16-JUN-38 PARIS Hungary:Sweden
5:1 (3:1) Parc des Princes
19-JUN-38 BORDEAUX Brazil:Sweden
4:2 (1:2) Parc Lescure
The Final
The Italians as the defending champions had to be considered the favourites, and they were also eager to counter any suggestions that they had been “helped” to win their first World Cup. The Hungarians knew though that they were capable of staging an upset if their key players were to perform to their full ability. The final started extremely brightly as Colaussi put Italy into the lead after just 6 minutes after being played in coolly by Meazza. Yet just 2 minutes later the Hungarians were level as Pal Titkos fired in from a Ferenc Sas centre. Before long the Italians had regained their lead as Piola netted, with Meazza the provider again, and Colaussi added his second before the break to ensure the Italians had breathing space. In the second half Hungarian captain Sarosi pulled one back against the run of play to set up a thrilling end to the match, but the Italians demonstrated their class and Piola scored again with 5 minutes remaining to make sure. The Italians had been clearly the better side and their second world title was well merited for their excellent efforts. Sadly for them they would not have the chance to defend their title four year later, World War II put paid to that.
19-JUN-38 COLOMBES-PARIS Italy:Hungary
4:2 (3:1) Olympique
FIFA’s official page (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/pwc/1938.html)
Full line-ups, goal scorers and much more (http://www.rsssf.com/tables/38full.html)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/en/pf/20011221/i/2148237365.jpg