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1938 FIFA World Cup France ™

  • Teams: 15
  • When: 04 June 1938 to 19 June 1938
  • Final: 19 June 1938
  • Matches: 18
  • Goals Scored: 84 (average 4.7 per match)
  • Attendance: 375700 (average 20872)
      • Winner: Italy
      • Runners-Up: Hungary
      • Third: Brazil
      • Fourth: Sweden
      • Golden Shoe: LEONIDAS (BRA)

    Overview

    Pozzo the mastermind as Italy retain their crown
    Italy trainer Vittorio Pozzo made history by capturing a second successive title with a rebuilt team. With Silvio Piola's goals and Giuseppe Meazza's leadership, Italy beat Hungary in the Final having overcome in the semi-final a Brazil side missing top scorer Leonidas. Three of his strikes came in a 6-5 victory over Poland – the best match of a tournament notable for political tensions and the absence of some leading teams.

      Latest Photos

      • A Brazilian defender heads clear from a Yugoslavia forward during a quarterfinal at the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
      • Titkos score Hungary's first goal in the 1938 FIFA World Cup Final against Italy. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)
      • Swiss goalkeeper Huber punches away an Hungarian attack during a 1938 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Lille, France.
      • Referee John Langenus, who refereed the first ever FIFA World Cup Final, takes up a position in the goalpost as he observes play during the Germany-Switzerland match at the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
      • A cover illustration from a souvenir brochure, featuring the Jules Rimet trophy, which was won by Italy at the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
      • Silvio Piola (3rd from right, stumbling) scores Italy's third goal against France as goalkeeper Di Lorto fails to stop the ball going into the net. 12th June, 1938, Colombes Stadium, Paris.
      • Italian captain Giuseppe Meazza (left) shakes hands with Hungarian captain Gyorgy Sarosi at the start of the 1938 FIFA World Cup final in Paris.
      • Alfredo Foni (left) of Italy tries in vain to reach a cross during the 1938 FIFA World Cup Final against Hungary played in Paris, France.

      Did You Know?

      <<>>
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      • Scoring a penalty in Italy's 2-1 win over Brazil came at a cost for Guiseppe Meazza - his shorts, which had been torn earlier in the game, fell down!
      • Cuba became the first side from outside of Europe or South America to progress from the first phase, before an 8-0 loss to Sweden sealed their exit.
      • Czechoslovakia and the Netherlands failed to score during 90 minutes, but three goals without reply in extra time sent the Czechs into the last eight
      • In his only appearance, Poland's Ernest Wilimowski scored four goals but still ended up on the losing side, Brazil winning 6-5 after extra time.
      • In their opener, Hungary eliminated the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), who are the only side to have played just one FIFA World Cup™ finals game.

      Poster

      Official poster 1938 FIFA World Cup France™
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