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

V. Final: June 19^th, 1938

Italy 4-Hungary 2

Photo From: History of the World Cup, Author Michael Archer

(Team captains, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

-Italy and Hungary faced one another, on Sunday June 19^th, 1938, at Paris’ ‘Stade Colombes’ at 17:00 PM.

-Upon their return from Marseille, the Italians were lodged at St. Germain

-This was the first time that the defending Champions had reached the Final of the following World Cup.

Italy became the first country to successfully defend the title in World Cup history.

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

(Programme of the Final)

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

(World Cup Final ticket, Press Area)

-The Italians presented an unchanged side for the third straight match.

-It was reported that Benito Mussolini had sent a telegram to the Italians saying “Victory or death”.

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

(Both teams, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

-After the National hymns were played, The French President Albert Lebrun after observing the lined up squads asked an aide, “Are they the Protagonists?”

The response was “Yes, the blue are the Italians and the Red are the Hungarians”

Lebrun asked “Ah, and the French where are they?” (Most likely he had not been up to date with proceedings of the World Cup)

The embarrassed aide replied “the French are so-so ... “ and made a reference that the Match Referee was French.

Afterwards, President Lebrun went down to the field and shook hands with all the players.

Photo From: La Historia de los Mundiales (En Primera Persona) - 2014

(French President Albert Lebrun meeting the teams, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

-Gino Colaussi gave Italy the lead for his third straight match in the 5^th minute. Biavati released Piola on the right who crossed for Colaussi who volleyed Italy’s opener on the left side.

Hungary tied the match just two minutes later through Pal Titkos. Gyula Zsengeller’s cross was deflected by Foni in the path of Titkos (in some sources Sas is credited as the player who assisted on the goal).

Silvio Piola hit the post before scoring the second goal in the 16^th minute.

Biavati on the wing pulled the ball across for Piola, who in turn laid the ball off for Ferrari. Ferrari could have shot but instead passed instead to Andreolo, who then set up Piola to smash home.

In another source, it is written that Colaussi in the left gave to Piola, who then gave to Ferrari. Ferrari then passed to Meazza on the right who then set up Piola.

Gino Colaussi scored Italy’s third in the 35^th minute. In a move started by Foni, reached Meazza who gave to Colaussi. He outpaced Polgar to go ahead and score.

Gyorgy Sarosi pulled a goal back in the 70^th minute.

Piola restored Italy’s two-goal advantage in the 82^nd minute. Biavati set up Piola to score from a cross from the right.

Photo From:  LIBRO DEL FUTBOL, Fasciculo 15, 1974

(Alfredo Foni, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: L'Auto, Issue 13695, June 19, 1938

(Team formations, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

-Hungary goalkeeper Antal Szabo would later say that by conceding four goals, he saved the lives of eleven footballers (alluding to Mussolini’s threat).

-Upon receiving the trophy from French President Albert Lebrun, Italy Captain Giuseppe Meazza made the fascist salute twice that left some uneasy.

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

(June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: History of the World Cup, Author Michael Archer

(Gyorgy Sarosi scoring, Giuseppe Meazza receiving the trophy and Italy’s World Cup winning squad, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

-The takeaway from this match was that Italy were still the best and the better prepared team in the World.

Hungary were outplayed by the stronger Italians in every department.

Pozzo would consider his 1938 squad as better prepared and equipped than the 1934 one.

 Vittorio Pozzo told to ‘La Stampa’, “Italy played with the same style as it had against France and Brazil. Hungary were fast and combative. Their game has improved since their last matches with Italy, but are still inferior against an efficient Italian side”.

Giuseppe Meazza and Giovanni Ferrari became the first players to play in two successive World Cup Finals (and winners as well).

Vittorio Pozzo became the first and to this day the only Manager to win two consecutive World Cups.

He also became the first Manager to reach two successive World Cup Finals.

Italy became the first non-host winner of the World Cup.

Colaussi became the first ever player to score multiple goals in a World Cup Final. He was followed shortly by teammate Silvio Piola.

Italy had won the World Cups of 1934 and 1938, as well as the Olympic title of 1936.

Upon their return to Italy, the Italian squad was received by Mussolini at Palazzo Venezia in Rome. Bonus per player was 8,000 Lire.

Photo From: La Grande Storia del Calcio Italiano,  L'apoteosi di Parigi, Issue 8, April 1965

(Cover of La Gazzetta dello Sport, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(Italy squad with Benito Mussolini)

Photo From: History of the World Cup, Author Michael Archer

(Italy’s World Cup winning side, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(Italy’s World Cup winning side, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: La Grande Storia del Calcio Italiano,  L'apoteosi di Parigi, Issue 8, April 1965

(Italy’s World Cup winning side, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 18, April 1999

(Italy’s World Cup winning side, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: Placar Especial 2006

(Italy’s World Cup winning side, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(Giuseppe Meazza about to receive the World Cup trophy while making the fascist salute, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: Miroir du Football , Issue 130, April-May 1970

(French President Albert Lebrun handing the World Cup trophy to Giuseppe Meazza, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: Placar Especial 2006

(Italians celebrating at the final whistle, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(Top view of handing of the trophy, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

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

(Vittorio Pozzo being carried triumphantly, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: Гольдес И.- История чемпионатов мира 1930-1962+

(Vittorio Pozzo being carried triumphantly and Meazza and French President Albert Lebrun, June 19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2243, April 4, 1989

(A stamp commemorating Italy’s 1938 World Cup win)

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

(various newspapers and magazines for the World Cup)

Photo From: L'Auto, Issue 13696, June 20, 1938

(The cover of L’Auto, the day after the Final)