Piola completes the Italian job as football says farewell before the war

THE third World Cup began in France as war clouds gathered over Europe.

Argentina had formally applied to stage the 1938 World Cup and, when their offer was turned down, refused to travel to Europe. Uruguay, winners of the first World Cup eight years previously, stayed at home, nursing a grudge against European teams who did not take part in their tournament. Brazil was the only South American entrant, with Cuba also crossing the Atlantic to compete.

Despite the threat of war, 16 nations (England was another noted absentee) gathered for the competition, again run on a knockout basis.