Read Alan Black and David Henry Sterry's posts on the Penguin Blog. A guide to the biggest sporting event in the world-for those who like their soccer with a side of kick-ass. The teams, the fans, the goals, the saves, the divas, the divers, the myths, the madness-they're all part of the world-wide spectacle that is soccer's ultimate tournament, and they're all here in this turbocharged guide. Packed with trivia, tall tales, stats, quizzes, and photos, The Glorious World Cup gives readers: •Famous player profiles •Villains, heroes, hooligans, and hard men •On-field glory and off-field indiscretions •Underdogs, overachievers, maniacs, and miracles •Commentary from famous fans-including Irvine Welsh, Po Bronson, and Simon Kuper •A look back at the greatest World Cup finals
Never in the last 110 years, has the World Cups’ trajectory been disconnected from the socioeconomic reality of the world’s nations whether they have taken part in the championship or not. Even before becoming a multibillion dollar event that involves billions of people as well, this international football championship, which takes place every four years, has been marked by countless ups and downs in the international political scenario, doubts and tragedies, growth and technical evolution, social mobilization and use of vested powers. The landmark of a World football championship as an independent event, aside from the Olympic Games, was firstly thought of at FIFA’s very foundation, in 1904, but effectively launched after the First World War, being the first Host country (Uruguay) defined in 1929, during FIFA’s congress, which was held in Barcelona, being the atmosphere of yet intense geopolitical unrest. At that meeting, it was decided that the championship should be held every four years, alternating with the Olympic Games, although with a two year difference between the two events. Initially the hosting locations would be alternated among the participating continents – Europe and South America – in which all the affiliated nations could take part, in a process of eliminatory competitions, being the final phase played by the winners of the eliminatory phase. In 2014’s Brazil, the World Cup has come to its twentieth edition, having its popularity and market rates reached stratospheric heights. Today, football has reached out to over four billion people, more that 60% of the world’s population, comprehending about 500 million jobs related to the practice and the commercialization of this sport. Billion dollar publicity and broadcasting contracts from all kinds of media are behind the worshiping of the football idols. The meeting of the cream-of-the-crop players in this most magnanimous event – which gathers all the great stars in a marathon of games that lasts thirty days – provides us with an event of the uppermost expression of sports related vigor which mankind is capable of.
'A heady mix of football history, nostalgia and modern-day action that collectors of all ages will cherish' – When Saturday Comes 'Excellent... This book is like a journey through time, revealing some of the coolest-ever albums and stickers' – Match 'Countless memories come flooding back...' – The Sun 'Lovely book... One for your dad...' TalkSPORT 'A cool, snappy retrospective if the last 60 years of albums.' – The Athletic WELCOME TO THE GLORIOUS WORLD OF PANINI FOOTBALL STICKERS. Collecting Panini football stickers has always been a joy. Tearing open those packets and excitedly filling an album is a rite of passage for millions of kids – and adults. It's so popular, it even has its own language – 'swapsies', 'got, got, need' and 'shinies'. And now, for the first time, Panini have granted access to their archives for this superbly illustrated celebration of their iconic football sticker collections. Licensed by Panini and written by respected sticker authority Greg Lansdowne, this volume showcases Panini's UK domestic football, FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship albums, as well as all the great players, from Pelé and Maradona to Marta, Ronaldo and Mbappé (via Frank Worthington, Chris Waddle, Gary Lineker, Eric Cantona, Ally McCoist and a few dodgy haircuts). A heady mix of football history, wonderful nostalgia and modern-day action that collectors of all ages will cherish, this book shows why, for the last 60 years, collecting Panini stickers has been – and remains – a global phenomenon. PANINI FOOTBALL STICKERS: A CELEBRATION includes: – More than 2,000 images of iconic PANINI stickers, album covers and sticker packet designs – Specially curated chapters on every UK-published collection (Football League/FIFA World Cup) – Breakout features on foils, haircuts styles and collecting etiquette
The book ‘The Day of Dreams And The Day of Destiny’ poetically describes the history created by the Indian Cricket Team at the T20 World Cup 2024. The Indian fans suffered a decade-long trauma, as Team India hadn’t lifted an ICC trophy for a decade. It all came down to Barbados on June 29, 2024, when India faced South Africa in the T20 World Cup final. The Indian team created history to put an end to the dark destiny that ruled for a decade. This book takes Indian fans through the magical events and the beautiful emotions of Team India’s triumphant journey.
The best-selling collection of soccer facts, stats and stories is back for another fully updated edition! World Soccer Records 2025 offers lively, fun and fascinating facts and stats from the world of international soccer. Focusing on all the major world and continental tournaments, national team records, exceptional matches and the stars who made it all possible, this exhaustively researched annual tells the stories of these key moments and the players and coaches behind them. This new edition includes updated stats and facts for all recent major tournaments, awards and international teams. You'll also find the latest record-breaking achievements of more than 35 featured nations from around the world, including a sidebar with key stats, as well as updates and records for most of the other 170+ FIFA members.
International Football Kits (True Colours) charts the evolving football strip design of the world's leading national football teams, from 1966 to the present day. Guaranteed to bring back memories of your favourite team's kits and help you discover new ones, this ground-breaking book features strips that made it to the greatest stage in football – the FIFA World Cup – as well as rare designs that were never worn. John Devlin, the authority on football kits, analyses and evaluates the home, away and third kit designs of the top football-playing nations, detailing when the strip was worn, who wore it and the important matches in which it featured. This carefully curated collection features more than 1,300 never-before-published artworks, and describes the changing styles, varied manufacturers and remarkable controversies of international football fashion over the last 50 years.
The one-stop guide to the 2015 World Cup Cricket is not just a game, it’s a religion. And every four years, new gods are created on the field. Each World Cup kicks off pitched battles and fan frenzy, with every match, every player and every run being analysed with fervour and recorded with vigour. This essential guide is a companion volume for every cricket-crazy follower who wants the facts, statistics and details about the World Cup right on hand. The Cricket Fanatic’s Essential Guide is jam-packed with important and fascinating, often overlooked and sometimes long-forgotten information on the 40 thrilling years of the World Cup, its matches, its players and its results. Put together by reputed sports journalist Vimal Kumar, this reader-friendly compendium is invaluable for every passionate enthusiast of the game and a perfect primer for the 2015 World Cup. PLUS Madan Lal, K. Srikkanth, M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh on India’s World Cup triumphs Top teams, coaches and players in all categories across the World Cups Tracking charts for the 2015 matches with all timings in IST.
A tantalizing account of the triumphs and travails of the U.S. men's soccer team in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, set within the historical context of American soccer on the global stage The U.S. men's soccer team was a huge disappointment at the World Cup in 2006, but a newly constituted team exceeded all expectations in June 2009 with their inspired play at the Confederations Cup in South Africa--where they upset the number one team in the world, Spain, and lost late in the championship game to a supremely talented Brazilian squad. Their impressive showing gave fans, including the ever-loyal Sam's Army, a renewed sense of hope that when the team plays up to its capabilities, the Americans can compete with anyone in the world. In Chasing the Game, Filip Bondy describes the U.S. team's path to qualifying for this year's World Cup--to be held on the African continent for the first time ever, in South Africa in June 2010. Bondy also reveals the back-and-forth saga that resulted in the hiring of Bob Bradley as the American coach, and serves up engaging profiles of several core players, including the U.S. national team's all-time leader in scoring and assists, Landon Donovan, acrobatic goalie Tim Howard, hip-hop devotee and opportunistic goal-scorer Clint "Deuce" Dempsey, up-and-comer Jozy Altidore, and the coach's son, the reticent yet dependable Michael Bradley. Chasing the Gamealso recounts the glorious highlights of past World Cup matches, like the U.S. men's team's stunning 1-0 victory over England in 1950 and the 2002 team's advance to the quarterfinals, as well as heartbreaks like the fiasco in 2006, when the U.S. mustered only four shots on goal in three games. Finally, Bondy also traces the origin of soccer and the evolution of the game in the U.S., chronicling how soccer academies like the one in Bradenton, Florida, have impacted the game at both the youth and national levels. It's all here for the first time in one book--the complete story of American soccer on the global stage.
