Soccer World

George Orwell once claimed: “Football has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.” From the killing fields of the 1916 Somme, to the Azteca stadium in 1986. A selection of occasions when the beautiful game has been used both as a weapon and indeed a field for revenge. And much more. As the bullets flew and the bombs dropped the game has always continued on and on...

Soccer has been America's Sport of the Future since 1972. The Men in Blazers are two English-born, soccer-obsessed broadcasters who have savored the dizzying growth of the game along with millions of Americans, as if it was a rollicking, sporting telenovela playing out in real life. Written in such a way that fully immerses Americans in the history and culture of the world's game, their Encyclopedia Blazertannica relives the careers of such greats such as George Best, Maradona, Beckham...and Alexi Lalas.

A book generated with AI technology that explores Dutch football, whom I first saw in a World Cup Final in 1974 against West Germany. Since then as an Irish fan I've seen them play many times in person, normally in critical games against the Republic of Ireland and at a time when they had players of the calibre of Ruud Gullit, Van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard.

Founded in 1902 and granted a royal title by the king of Spain in 1920, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol went onto become the world's most valuable sports team (by revenue), most popular sports team (by social media followers), and most successful sports team (by number of trophies). But today, this legendary, member-owned soccer team faces significant challenges.

Soccer youth participation in the US declined by nearly 25% in recent years . The US men’s national team went from the verge of a breakthrough to elimination from the 2018 World Cup. What’s gone wrong with American soccer and what can be done to fix it? “The Shoeless Ones” was Pele's first team. The greatest footballer of all time had no cleats, shin guards, grass fields, cone drills, or heroic soccer-parent carpooling from practices, games, and tournaments. Heck, he learned to play with a sock stuffed with rags. Let's return football to its roots, to the blacktops, vacant lots, and...

A teenage Diego Maradona shortly after Mundial 78, claimed: ‘‘The ball is always clean.’’ Diego was always a dreamer, such an opinion has to be applauded even if sadly looking back now nothing more than a young boy’s naive comment. From the dawn of the game being born there has always been far too much blood on the ball. Football stolen and used as blunt tool, a weapon to control and influence the masses. In 1982, as the Falkland/Malvinas conflict raged, Maradona flopped in his first World Cup, Espana 82. He was targeted by giants and ultimately self-exploded and got sent off. ...

In 2012, Hakeem al-Araibi was a promising young player on Bahrain's national football team when he was arrested for attacking a police station during the Arab Spring, despite television footage showing him playing soccer at the time of the alleged attack. After three months of torture and wrongful imprisonment, Hakeem was released. He fled the country and made his way to Australia, where he was granted refugee status. Hakeem made a life here and was playing for the suburban Pascoe Vale Football Club, in Melbourne. He thought he was safe.

This is a story about ambition, family rivalries, extreme wealth, power, murder and disinformation; of political corruption, dictatorship and, at its root, of how sport - football, yes, but also golf, boxing, tennis and even e-sports - has become a vital geopolitical tool for Saudi Arabia. An examination of soft power, manipulation and radicalisation in the 21st century, James Montague charts the rise of Mohammed bin Salman, a then unknown prince, and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi; the desperate efforts to buy Newcastle United, subvert FIFA and then take on the PGA tour, and the US congress.

During Italia '90 I had the privilege of seeing Italy versus Republic of Ireland in Rome. The Italians beat us on the night but the tables were turned four years later when Ireland thanks to Ray Houghton beat Italy in New York's Giants Stadium during the USA World Cup of 1994. The loss didn't do Italy any harm as they went on to win the tournament and perhaps that sums up Italy and their approach to football. There is a story that Pope John Paul 11 blessed the Irish team (I witnessed that), but in a private audience he also seemingly blessed Schillaci and Donadoni.

The World Cup is the largest sports event outside the summer Olympics: the progress of the 32 countries which qualify for the finals is watched by billions all over the globe. Since the very first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, there have been 18 finals, held every four years (with a 12-year break over the World War II period). The World Cup in South Africa will be the 19th. Brian Glanville, the distinguished journalist and World Cup historian, has written a fascinating history of the event.

Mike Feng Zheng is an entrepreneur, financier, and author. He was born in China and moved to the U.S. in 1996. He is interested in writing books in various genres like investment, self-help, and fantasy. He is interested in writing books in various genres like investment, self-help, and fantasy. He is the author and co-author of several books, including The Art of Money: An Ultimate Guide to Pursuing Prosperity and Happiness, The Money Intelligence, 12 Principles for Life, Ten More Principles for Life, Skullduggery Nightmares, and Whisper in the Storm. Mike Feng Zheng is currently married ...

The last time Canada qualified for a men's World Cup was in 1986. For a generation afterwards, the Canadian national men's soccer team struggled in obscurity, an afterthought in a country that was not yet soccer-mad. The twenty-first century brought a wave of soccer passion and expertise to this frozen country—and a crop of new superstar players who lifted the forgotten team into the international spotlight.

In this compelling new book, relying on original reporting from the most dangerous corners of Rio to the halls of power in Washington, DC, Dave Zirin examines how sports and politics are colliding in remarkable fashion in Brazil, opening up an international conversation on the culture, economics, and politics of sports.

Do you want to learn the keys to improving your defensive game? Or looking for ways to solidify your team's defense? This audiobook is your answer. As was said by a great soccer manager, "Offense wins games; defense wins titles." This is the case with every level of the professional and amateur game in all countries across the globe. Although there is a correlation between scoring the most goals and winning leagues, it does not seem to be quite as strong as having a watertight defense.

How do you win the world cup? Godlike genius or the focus of a disappointed nation's fury—the world's most prestigious tournament makes or breaks a national coach. Only 20 managers have guided their team to World Cup glory, so what are their secrets? From revolutionary tactics to hare-brained schemes, this book searches for the keys to the most exclusive club in international football.

Often recruited before they've worn long trousers, today's footballers become superstars who earn huge amounts without ever learning much about the world beyond the training ground. But what do these Peter Pans, whose careers end just as most people's are getting going, do with the rest of their lives? Crouch speaks from his own experience and discusses with fellow former professionals too—just how do you safely release a near seven-foot striker back into the wild?

In All Heart, adapted from When Nobody Was Watching specifically for younger listeners, Carli tells the full inspiring story of her journey to the top of the soccer world - an honest, action-packed account that takes listeners inside the mind of a hardworking athlete.

(Disclaimer: Previously published as Boy From Three Worlds by Farida Mirza)A first generation American, 13-year-old Waris' passion is soccer. The day Coach Perkins announces there’s a center midfield position on the soccer team, Waris practices hard for the position he has dreamed of. When Coach Perkins finally announces his selection and Waris gets his reward, his authoritarian father has already announced his plans to take Waris on a trip to Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan for seven months. His father wants Waris to spend less time playing soccer and more time improving his grades in school....

On 30 November 1872, England took on Scotland at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, a match that is regarded as the first international fixture. More than 5,000 fans watched the two sides play out a 0-0 draw. It was the first of more than a thousand games played by the side, and the beginning of a national love affair that unites the country in a way that few other events can match. In Hayward's brilliant new biography of the team, based on interviews with dozens of past and present players and coaches, we get a vivid portrait of all aspects of the team's story.

Known as the "beautiful game," soccer is the world's most popular sport, crossing borders and language barriers to entertain billions. But underneath it all - the raucous fans in the stadiums; the beloved players; and FIFA, the international governing body with a membership of 209 national associations - is a scandal that threatens to make soccer the ugliest sport in the world. Filled with headline-making revelations, The Big Fix is a must-hear for soccer fans and true crime aficionados.