World Cup Stories-Part 3 (The Third World Cup 1938)-part c

Pre-World Cup:

 -The World Cup Draw was made on March 5^th, 1938. Jules Rimet’s 6-year-old grandson, Yves, made the draw for the round of 16 matches. The ceremony was held at the ‘Quai d'Orsay Salon de l'Horloge’, the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the French government in Paris.

When the World Cup draw ceremony was held, there were still some remaining matches.

The Draw was presided by France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, François de Tessan along with Mr. Courson, the under-Secretary of Sports Ministry.

They were eight seeded teams in the Draw: Germany, Argentina (still had not officially renounced) or Cuba, Austria (not yet annexed), Brazil, France, Hungary (or Greece still to play), Italy and Czechoslovakia (or Bulgaria, still to play).

The other Group containing the non-seeded teams were Belgium (or Luxembourg), Dutch East Indies, Holland (or Luxembourg), Norway, Poland (or Yugoslavia), Romania, Sweden, Switzerland (or Portugal).

The first team to be drawn was Germany and their adversary was the winner of the yet to be played qualifier between Switzerland and Portugal (eventually Switzerland).

The following draws were:

France vs. Belgium (or Luxembourg)

Italy vs. Norway

Brazil vs. Poland (or Yugoslavia)

Czechoslovakia (or Bulgaria) vs. Holland (or Luxembourg)

Argentina or Central America (Cuba) vs. Romania

Austria vs. Sweden

Photo From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet

(Jules Rimet’s 10 year-old grandson Yves Rimet participating in the World Cup draw)

Photo From: Il Calcio Illustrato, Giugno 1950, Supplemento Al. No 24

(Jules Rimet’s 10 year-old grandson Yves Rimet participating in the World Cup draw)

Photo From: Vasle Juan - Ustavie svet - Mundial je tu!

(Jules Rimet’s 10 year-old grandson Yves Rimet participating in the World Cup draw)

The World Cup to take place from June 4^th to 19^th, 1938. The venues were at Antibes, Bordeaux, Le Havre, Lille, Marseille, Paris, Reims, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

By the time the all the qualifiers had ended, it was determined to have the opening match between Germany and Switzerland on Saturday, June 4^th, 1938 at Paris at 17:00 Hours.

All the other First round matches would be similarly held on the following day (Sunday, June 5^th) at 17:00 Hours.

The Quarterfinals would be held on Sunday June 12^th and the Semifinals on Thursday June 16^th.

The Final would be held on Sunday, June 19^th.

Note: The replays for Germany-Switzerland and Cuba-Romania were held on Thursday June 9^th.

The Brazil-Czechoslovakia replay was held on Tuesday June 14^th.

Photo From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet

(World Cup schedule)

-The format of the Tournament was identical to the 1934 edition (Direct elimination process).

They made a seeding system and placed eight teams as top seeds to be drawn against the un-seeded teams.

In case of ties, the matches would go into overtime.

-This World Cup would not feature any Referees from the South American Continent. Most probably due to the resentment from most South American countries for Argentina being snubbed as hosts.

- Cuba and the Dutch East Indies were making their first and thus far only appearance in the World Cup Finals.

Note: Dutch East Indies is the present Indonesia.

* Repetitions from 1934 article relevant to 1938:

-Belgium’s Raymond Braine had been refused the right to participate in the 1930 World Cup due to his professional activities (Opening a Restaurant and joining Czechoslovakian side Sparta Prague as a Professional).

I.   France:

For its preparations, the 22 French players were lodged for three weeks prior to the Tournament at ‘Hotel du Grand-Cerf’ at Chantilly.

They arrived on May 19^th, 1938.

The team would be managed by Gaston Barreau and be accompanied with Maurice Cottenet.

Cottenet handled the players’ physical training.

Apart from training the players had other distractions such as Tennis, Golf, Card Games and even fishing.

Barreau would supervise the trainings along with Caudron and Victor Mestre (On the technical staff of Racing Paris, but had been promoted as the Administrative Director of the Training Camp).

Photo From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet

(Gaston Barreau and Victor Mestre)

On one occasion, French actor Jean Gabin visited the players during the filming of Jean Renoir’s ‘La Bete Humaine’.

A frequent visitor was Gabriel Hanot (former International) and now a writer for ‘Football’ and ‘Miroir des Sports’, who often advised the players.

A friendly was arranged against Racing de Paris (1-1) at Chantilly.

Raoul Diagne said in a 1998 interview that after three weeks players grew bored and uneasy and could not wait for the start of the competition.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2717, May 5, 1998

(Raoul Diagne in 1998)

The players had been promised free time during the night after the matches.

They looked upon that as their bonus. He likened it to children at school waiting for the bell to ring. They would go out to enjoy the Paris nightlife, even with Assistant Coach Maurice Cottenet.

The players would go to ‘Chez Michou’ and ‘Chez Eve’. In the morning the players would read sports newspapers such as ‘L’Auto’ and ‘L'Echo des sports’ and cut out the articles written about them.

Photo From: L’Equipe-La Coupe Du Monde, Volume 1, 1930-1970

(Ben Bouali, Ignace Kowalczyk and Etienne Mattler at Chantilly)

Photo From: Le Miroir Des Sports, Issue 1007, June 14, 1938

(France National Team at Chantilly)

Photo From: Le Miroir Des Sports, Issue 1007, June 14, 1938

(France National Team at Chantilly)

-Due to injuries Vandooren and Courtois were unable to attend the training camp, while Jasseron and Powolny were retained by their club (second Division’s Le Havre), still involved in the promotion push to the First Division.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2717, May 5, 1998

(France players in training)

-The father of France’s Alfred Aston was an Englishman. Aston himself had been brought up in Chantilly and knew the area well.

Photo From: Coupe Du Monde 1938-La Coupe du Monde Oubliee, Author Victor Sinet

(Alfred Aston)

- René Lucot  (August 15, 1908-October 10, 2003), a thirty-year-old filmmaker, made a documentary film about the 1938 World Cup.

He had presented his idea on his directing of the documentary to the Federal Bureau (Jules Rimet amongst them) and was met with complete silence.

Them someone asked him “It is very beautiful what you are presenting, but when the World Cup ends what will this film serve?”

Henri Delaunay liked the initiative and sanctioned it.

He was able to install cameras even in the VIP stands thanks to Henri Delaunay.  

Lucot had only three Cameramen and could not film entire matches. They had to ‘feel’ the important phases of the matches to film. They also filmed the VIP stands with celebrities.

For the editing, Jean Gabin had promised to narrate, but he was filming ‘La Bete Humaine’ and was unable.

Radio Reporter Jean Antoine would do the commentary. Along with the help of his journalist friend Jean Eskenazi, Lucot edited the film to 35 minutes. 

Delaunay asked Club Presidents to show the film at their local cinemas.

Today the Footage is considered priceless and FIFA uses it. The French Federation owns 50% of the rights with Lucot owning the other half.

France’s Preparatory matches/ Friendlies ahead of the World Cup:

Date: January 30, 1938

Venue: Paris -Parc des Princes

Attendance: 39,000

Referee: Arthur James Jewell (England)

France 5-Belgium 3 (Roger Courtois 8, Emile Veinante 41, 51, Oscar Heisserer 47, Ignace Kowalczyk 78 / Raymond Braine 22, Bernard Voorhoof 28, StanleyVan den Eynde 76) 

France:  René Llense (Sète), Hector Cazenave (Sochaux-Montbéliard),

Etienne Mattler (captain) (Sochaux-Montbéliard), François Bourbotte (SC Fivois), Auguste Jordan (Racing Club de Paris), Marcel Marchal (Metz), Roger Courtois (Sochaux-Montbéliard), Ignace Kowalczyk (Metz), Jean Nicolas (Grand Rouen), Oscar Heisserer (RC Strasbourg), Emile Veinante (Racing Club de Paris)

Coach: Gaston Barreau

Date: March 24, 1938

Venue: Paris -Parc des Princes

Attendance: 28,512    

Referee: Walter Lewington (England)

France 6-Bulgaria 1 (Jean Nicolas 6, 87, Alfred Aston 29,52, Emmanuel Aznar 79, Emile Veinante 83 / Auguste Jordan (own goal)  or Mihail Lozanov 67)            

France: Laurent Di Lorto (Sochaux-Montbéliard), Hector Cazenave (Sochaux-Montbéliard), Etienne Mattler (captain) (Sochaux-Montbéliard), François Bourbotte (SC Fivois), Auguste Jordan (Racing Club de Paris), Raoul Diagne (Racing Club de Paris), Alfred Aston (Red Star Paris), Oscar Heisserer (RC Strasbourg), Jean Nicolas (Grand Rouen), Emmanuel Aznar (Olympique de Marseille), Emile Veinante (Racing Club de Paris)

Coach: Gaston Barreau

Date: May 26, 1938

Venue: Paris (Stade de Colombes)-Stade Olympique- Stade Yves du Manoir 

Attendance: 45,168

Referee: Louis Baert (Belgium)

France 2-England 4 (Auguste Jordan 32, Jena Nicolas 36 / Frank Broome 6, Ted Drake 34, 40, Cliff Bastin 85 pen) 

France: Laurent Di Lorto (Sochaux-Montbéliard), Hector Cazenave (Sochaux-Montbéliard), Etienne Mattler (captain) (Sochaux-Montbéliard), François Bourbotte (SC Fivois), Auguste Jordan (Racing Club de Paris), Raoul Diagne (Racing Club de Paris), Roger Courtois (Sochaux-Montbéliard), Michel Brusseaux (Sète), Jean Nicolas (Grand Rouen), Oscar Heisserer (RC Strasbourg), Alfred Aston (Red Star Paris)

Coach: Gaston Barreau