World Cup France 1938 Nazi propaganda against the drums of war and Italy wins everything

When the drums of World War II were beating in Europe, and Germany swallowed up Austria by the military operation "Anschluss", France hosted the third edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1938, two years after the Berlin Summer Olympics that Hitler used for Nazi propaganda.

When the drums of World War II were beating in Europe, and Germany swallowed up Austria by the military operation "Anschluss", France hosted the third edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1938, two years after the Berlin Summer Olympics that Hitler used for Nazi propaganda.

Under the leadership of the shrewd coach Vittorio Pozzo, Italy became the first team to retain its title, so Giuseppe “Peppino” Meazza and Giovanni Ferrari emerged in the 1934 squad, in addition to Silvio Piola, who scored two goals in the Paris final against Hungary (4-2) in front of 45,000 spectators, after he The "Squadra Azura" team suffered its first defeat in a host country by defeating France in the quarter-finals (3-1), then Brazil in the semi-finals (2-1).

The Italian players received 8,000 Italian liras, equivalent to three months' salary, and a fascist gold medal presented by leader Benito Mussolini in a quarter-hour meeting at the Venezia Palace in Rome, but the "first athlete" did not carry the cup himself.

Fascist salute

Before the first match against Norway, in which Italy needed Piola's goal in the fourth minute of extra time to win (2-1), its players raised the fascist salute lined up in a military style.

Pozzo, who was also crowned in 1934, recounts, "We were met with a barrage of whistles and insults. After the storm subsided, we lowered our hands, but it broke out again, so we said the salute and raised our hands again to confirm that we were not afraid, and after we won the battle of intimidation, we played."

The Austrian miracle team and its star Matthias Sendelaar were absent after the Nazi annexation, similar to Spain, which was preoccupied with its civil war, but Germany bid farewell early to Switzerland 2-4. England remained in dispute with the International Federation (FIFA) and sent South America, upset by the lack of hosting rotation, as its only representative, Brazil.

For the first time, the continent of Asia was represented by Indonesia, which played under the name of the Dutch East Indies, after it qualified after the withdrawal of its opponents. Cuba and Brazil also participated from outside Europe.

The FIFA Congress, which was held in Berlin in 1936, chose France to host the finals, in recognition of its son Jules Rimet, who was credited with launching the tournament. It was held from 4 to 19 June, with the participation of 15 teams, including 12 from Europe.

Those were the last World Cup finals before the outbreak of World War II, which was frozen until 1950.

Angry Argentine fans attacked the Football Association headquarters in Buenos Aires after Argentina and Uruguay withdrew. For the first time, hosts France and defending champion Italy were exempted from qualifying.

She saved 11 men's lives.

Technically, there was a contrast in the final between the elegant Hungarian skills, the Italians' speed and their direct style of play.

The anti-Mussolini crowd backed the Hungarians, but the Italian cup remained with a 4-2 victory, and French President Albert Le Brun said, "These blessed Italians win everything."

As for Hungary goalkeeper Antal Sabo, he commented on Mussolini's controversial telegram to the Italian players before the final, which included the phrase "win or die", saying, "It is true that I conceded four goals, but at least I saved 11 men's lives."

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the World Cup stopped for 12 years, after the 1942 edition was supposed to be held in Brazil or Germany, and the scene of the candidates changed when Brazil hosted the 1950 finals and a new era of world football began.

Until then, the illustrious administrator of the Italian Federation, Otorino Barassi, secretly took the trophy from a bank in Rome and kept it in a shoebox under his bed, to preserve it during World War II for fear of it falling into the hands of the Nazis.