Controversy surrounded the 1938 finals in France as war clouds gathered around Europe.

While civil war ravaged Spain, Hitler's Anschluss had gobbled up Austria's best players and deposited them into the German team.

Subsequently FIFA offered Austria's place to England but their offer was declined.

Tension had already developed when Argentina refused to take part following their unsuccessful bid to host the games.

So the first-round knockout stage began with Sweden given a bye, and the other fourteen teams ready to provide a feast of goals.

The opening games produced an average of nearly five goals a game and witnessed a couple of early shocks.

Holders Italy needed an extra-time winner from centre-forward Piola to see off the challenge of Norway 2-1.

Meanwhile in Strasbourg, the tournament's most incredible match was underway between Poland and Brazil.

Brazil had stormed into a 3-1 half-time lead thanks to a Leonidas hat-trick, but the Poles struck back with Willimowski netting three himself to take the game into extra-time at 4-4.

Both players increased their tallies in the extra period but it was not enough to save the gallant Eastern Europeans who went down 6-5.

Elsewhere, Hungary hammered the Dutch East Indies 6-0 and the host nation beat Belgium 3-1

In Paris, Germany struggled against the lesser lights of Switzerland, and eventually had to settle for a replay. More surprisingly still the Swiss overcame a 2-0 half-time deficit to dump them out 4-2 in the rematch.

But the real shock was Cuba, who had only replaced Mexico at the last minute, winning a replay against Romania 2-1, following a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Italy met France in the second round at the Colombes Stadium in Paris and an end to end encounter in front of 58,000 saw the Italians go through at the expense of the French thanks to two more Piola goals.

Brazil's spectacular start to the competition was continued in a controversial scrap against the Czechs, 3-0 winners against Holland in the first round.

The match ended 1-1 in goals, 2-1 to Brazil in sendings-off and left two Czechoslovakians with broken bones. Subsequently both teams fielded vastly different teams for the replay which the South Americans won 2-1.

The Cubans crashed 8-0 to Sweden and the Swiss, drained after their German escapades, subsided to Hungary 2-0.

The Swedes took a shock first-minute lead in the semi-final but succumbed to the slick Hungarians 5-1, for whom Svengeller hit a hat trick.

In the other semi a lack-lustre Brazil failed to deliver against the Azzurri and a late goal by Romeo flattered to deceive as they went down 2-1.

The Brazilians managed to pick themselves back up for the third placed match, however, to overcome Sweden 4-2.

The final pitted the ball-playing Hungarians against the physical force of Italy and it was the Italians' strength that saw them retain the World Cup.

Titkos had pulled Hungary level after the Italians had taken a sixth minute lead through left-winger Colaussi, and two further goals before half-time, one from Piola and a second for Colaussi, left Italy in an unassailable position.

Despite Sarosi pulling a goal back, Italy went on to win 4-2, with another Piola strike completing the scoring.

The Italians had not only won the cup but kept the trophy for 12 years due to the Second World War.