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

III. Semifinals: June 16^th, 1938

Italy 2-Brazil 1

-Italy and Brazil faced one another, on Thursday, June 16^th, 1938, at Antibes’ ‘Stade du Fort Carré’ at 18:00 PM.

-This was the first time that Italy faced a South American Nation in the World Cup.

-Italy named an unchanged squad from the France match as Pozzo had settled on his strongest squad.

Photo From: III Fussballweltmeisterschaft 1938 Frankreich, Author Robert Franta

(Team captains, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

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

(Both teams, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(Italy squad, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

-Adhemar Pimenta had considered using Niginho, but Jose Maria Castello Branco, the head of the delegation, vetoed Niginho’s selection to avoid any irregularities and chose not to risk playing him.

‘Leonídio Fantoni’, Niginho’ had played for Lazio in Italy. He broke his contract and fled back home following Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.

The Italian Federation had not released the player from his contract and was therefore ineligible.

Italy had informed FIFA of Niginho’s suspect eligibility.

Brazil were informed of FIFA’s decision upon their arrival in France. Niginho needed a written authorization from Lazio to be released from his contract.

Photo From: Placar Especial 2006

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

-The narrative had been that Adhemar Pinto had rested Leonidas and Tim to have them rested for the Final, as a show of overconfidence.

The reason was because he had boasted that “We are keeping them for the Final”.

Pimenta had also said  “Italy is just one step in our route to triumph”.

Peracio and Romeu would deputize for the pair.

However, it has since came to light that Leonidas was injured from the Czechoslovakia replay.

In fact Leonidas and Tim had been worn out from their efforts vs. Czechoslovakia.

However, Leonidas was slightly injured from the Czechoslovakia match and that was the reason he was rested. He was forced to play in the replay due to Niginho’s dubious position.

Leonidas wrote to the Carioca magazine Sport Ilustrado, “I played this game because Niginho is not in a regular situation. But I was unhappy, I got hurt and I can not play”

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 988 (Number 12),March 23-29, 1994

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

-In Sao Paulo, more than 1,000 people went to the Patriarch Square to listen to the game on the Record radio speakers.

-Italy Manager Vittorio Pozzo had learned that Brazilians had requisitioned the only plane from Marseille to Paris for the following day after the match.  Pozzo approached the Brazilian delegation at ‘La Ciotat’ at Côte d'Azur and asked them to give the tickets to the Italians in case they won.

The Brazilians responded that they were confident of reaching the Final. They offered a place on the plane for Pozzo to go watch the Final along with them.

Pozzo used this incident to spur and motivate his team on.

Afterwards, Brazilians refused to sell the tickets to the Italians and the Italians were forced to go back to Paris by train.

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

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

-Gino Colaussi gave Italy the lead in the 51^st minute from a pass by Piola.

Giusepe Meazza doubled Italy’s lead from the penalty spot in the 60^th minute. The penalty kick had been awarded after Domingos Da Guia had fouled Piola in the box, though the ball was out of play and out of bounds.

In many interviews in the following years Domingos never denied having kicked Piola, but always insisted that the ball was out of bounds. This was the third penalty kick that Domingos had given away in the World Cup.

In general Piola had provoked Domingos throughout the match and the kick was in retaliation.

* Repetitions from a previous entry in the blog relevant to 1938:

http://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2011/11/trivia-and-facts-part-9.html

During the 1938 World Cup Semi-Final between Italy and Brazil (won 2-1 by Italy), Italian Captain Giuseppe Meazza had his shorts’ elastic ripped by a Brazilian defender.

Therefore, he took his penalty kick while holding his shorts up with one hand.

While celebrating, his teammates made a circle around him so that he could change shorts.

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(Cartoon showing Giuseppe Meazza scoring from the penalty spot while holding his shorts up, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

-Romeu scored a consolation goal for Brazil in the 87^th minute.

-The Brazilian Announcer Gagliano Neto felt the penalty had taken place. This would lead some to question his patriotism and he would receive the derogatory nickname of "Itagliano Nato".

-During the World Cup, it was forbidden for a coach to shout orders to his players on the field. While he was being monitored by two commissioners from FIFA, Vittorio Pozzo would give instructions in Piemontese dialect to his assistant Luigi Burlando, who would then relay the messages to the players on the field.

Photo From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo, 1910-1983

(Cartoon showing Vittorio Pozzo communicating with his Assistant Luigi Burlando, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

-The takeaway from this match was Italy were still the best team in the World Cup and the result bore that out.

There was some controversy for the penalty kick decision.

It is possible that the referee made a mistake when interpreting the International Board's rules of June 28, 1934, that read: "If the ball is out of the field of play and a player kicks another one of the players, it shall not be considered a foul, but the offender shall be sent off". There was no expulsion, but the penalty kick was awarded.

The following day it was reported that Brazil were thinking about leaving the World Cup due to the controversial penalty kick decision.

Brazil had even filed a formal complaint after the match and were hoping for the ‘cancellation’ of the match but FIFA waved away the complaint.

Brazilians accepted to play the third place match.

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

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Italy 2-Brazil 1)

Hungary 5-Sweden 1

-Sweden and Hungary faced one another, on Sunday, Thursday, June 16^th, at Paris’ ‘Parc de Princes’ at 18:00 PM.

-Swedish captain Tore Keller had declared: "Today is the 80th birthday of our King Gustav V, we want to be a birthday present for him to win.".

Photo From: L'Auto, Issue 13692, June 16, 1938

(Team Formation, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

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

(Team captains, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

- For Hungary, Vincze and Kohut were spared for the final.

-Sweden took the lead after just 35 seconds through Arne Nyberg.

Hungary tied the match in the 18^th minute through an own goal by Sven Jacobsson pressured by Toldi. (It has also been credited to Gyula Zsengeller in many sources).

Pal Titkos gave Hungary the lead in the 26^th minute.

Gyula Zsengeller scored Hungary’s third in the 38^th minute.

Gyorgy Sarosi scored Hungary’s fourth in the 61^st minute.

Gyula Zsengeller rounded out the scoring in the 177^th minute,

Photo From: L'Auto, Issue 13693, June 17, 1938

(Diagram of Hungary’s third goal, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

Photo From: III Fussballweltmeisterschaft 1938 Frankreich, Author Robert Franta

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

Photo From: år med Svensk Fotboll 1904-84, Author Glanell Thomas red

(Sweden squad, June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

-The Takeaway from this match was that the Hungarians were too strong for the Swedes.

They totally outplayed the Swedes after falling behind so quickly and could have scored more goals.

Many would question Sweden’s easy passage up to that point. A walkover in the first Round (Austria forfeit), followed by Cuba in the quarterfinals.

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

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

Photo From: Mondial, New Series, Hors Serie 14, 1982, La Glorieuse Epopee De la Coupe Du Monde

(June 16, 1938, World Cup, Hungary 5-Sweden 1)

IV. Third Place: June 19^th, 1938

Brazil 4-Sweden 2

- Brazil and Sweden faced one another, on Sunday, June 19^th, 1938, at Bordeaux’s ‘Parc de Lescure’ at 17:00 PM.

-For Brazil, Batatais started in goal instead of Walter.

Leonidas was also back in the squad and promoted as Captain in Martim’s absence.

-Sweden took the lead in the 18^th minute through Sven Jonasson.

Sweden doubled the lead in the 38^th minute through Arne Nyberg.

Romeu pulled a goal back fro Brazil just before halftime in the 43^rd minute.

Leonidas scored for Brazil in the 63^rd minute to tie the match.

Leonidas gave Brazil the lead in the 73^rd minute.

Peracio scored Brazil’s fourth in the 80^th minute.

-The takeaway from this match was that Brazil were on the World stage.

Once again Sweden were unable to hold onto an early lead and capitulated.

This was the first time that Brazil had finished on the podium in the World Cup.

It paved the way for future success.

Leonidas ended up as top goalscorer.

On the return at Brazil, thousands of fans awaited them at their landing. Politicians wanted to be posing for photographs alongside players like Leonidas, elected the most popular Brazilian player in a contest conducted by the Magnolia Cigarette.

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

(June 19, 1938, World Cup, Brazil 4-Sweden 2)