SO MUCH WAS EXPECTED FROM THE BRAZIL-ITALY MATCH
— Maurice Pefferkorn | 16/06/1938 —

It seems that it was a match that had to be seen at all costs, the match of the season, the match of the World Cup! Those who were unable to attend felt bitter regret. In Marseille, the seats had been snapped up like hot cakes and the rental had reached, in the morning, more than 300,000 francs. So, it was in a packed stadium that the two teams made their entrance.

Well! I imagine that, like me, the spectators were deeply disappointed by the spectacle that was offered to them. What! Was this what this supreme manifestation of Latin genius applied to football had in store for us? Is this what this clash of two temperaments, no doubt similar, but which were to use such different means and methods was to lead to?

We only witnessed a dull fight in front of a crowd that was not at all concerned and that did not hesitate to show its sympathy for the Brazilian team.

OPPONENTS WHO OBSERVE EACH OTHER.

So what happened? It was quite simple, really. During the first half, the game took on the appearance of a demonstration at a trot. This could also be explained. The Italians were on their guard and were especially careful not to be surprised by the acrobatic and legendary virtuosity of the Brazilians.

What does this art of the South Americans consist of today? In a certain ease in handling the ball, in a perhaps laudable concern to avoid individual exploits and to organize a game of short, tight, often subtle, but singularly unproductive passes.

There was hardly any question of acrobatics. Nor were there any shots. That piercing centre-forward Romeo, his sudden inspirations, none of that was offered to us.

If the Brazilians wanted to change their style, today, let's recognize that it didn't work out for them. However, their pace did not lack flexibility, elegance, or even grace. They managed to play on an equal footing with the Italians, who played stiff and cautious, with their two inside forwards firmly back and their half-backs watching the wings. But, in the Brazilian attack, only one man seemed dangerous, it was Lopes, a winger with a powerful and long flight, and who with his feints and sudden changes of direction gave a lot of trouble to Locatelli who was watching him closely.

Although during the first half that ended 0-0, the Brazilians had some good chances to score, especially through their left winger Patesko, who missed some fairly easy shots, the advantage was somewhat for the Italians, whose play gradually gained confidence and who managed to impose themselves most of the time.

The Italians gained confidence, it must have been so, since in the second half of the game there was only one team on the field. If the Brazilians are usually energetic fighters, capable of sustaining their effort for ninety minutes of play, plus extra time, they disproved this reputation today.

After the break, the Italian team imposed itself on them in a total and manifest way. In fifteen minutes, they had two goals to their credit, including a penalty. That was the end of the Brazilians' will to fight. This second half was, moreover, spoiled by the beginnings of fights and pugilisms, of mutual fouls, in spite of the free kicks that Mr. Wutrich distributed.

If the Brazilians believed that they could overcome their handicap with their slender play, of redoubled and transverse passes, they did not seem deep down very convinced. And we wonder if we should call their manner anything other than weakness. Without doubt they still obtained a goal in the very last minutes of play. It is no less true that the physiognomy of the match, in the second half, would have deserved a clearer advantage for the Italians.

THE GAME AND THE PLAYERS.

The Italian defence proved to be again very safe, especially by its left back Rava, who intervened decisively. Foni remained, on the whole, more effaced, but did no less a more useful job. As for Olivieri, he was not very hard at work, but did correctly what he had to do.

This defence contrasted with that of the Brazilians. Walter showed himself to be an acrobatic goalkeeper, who dived on the ball and did somersaults. Domingos took authority over Piola in the first half and blocked him skillfully, almost always catching the balls on his head. But Piola got hooked on the game and the fight between the two men was subsequently very lively and very incorrect. This exchange of kicks which preceded a penalty whistled against the Brazilians was the most obvious and flagrant episode, but both men were equally reprehensible in this case. In the end it was Piola who had the advantage.

Machado, on the volley, was often caught in the first half by Biavati's feints and monitored him poorly. Moreover, the Brazilian full-backs hardly bothered with the wingers, who, on the other hand, the half-backs did not particularly hold, since they rather enjoyed intercepting. The small passes from the Brazilian full-backs to their half-backs, from their half-backs to each other, or to their inters who passed the ball back and forth, gave the Brazilian game a stagnant character that allowed the Italian full-backs and half-backs to regroup and intervene effectively.

The Italian half-back line dominated the situation in the second half. Then Andreolo was in evidence and dominated his opponent Martin. Of the two Italian wingers. Biavati was the best, but it was Colaussi who scored. As for Ferrari and Meazza, they played in their usual way. Ferrari seemed tired and weary, always intervening late. Meazza was more fortunate in his openings, but he had to his credit some acts all the more reprehensible because he was captain of his team. The Italian team was slow to get into action. But when it had taken the measure of its opponent, it imposed its law on him in an indisputable way.