Soccer World

Sport is the greatest pastime in the world. Soccer is the greatest, and most popular, sport. Every fan knows that the epitome of soccer excitement builds through a four-year cycle, a process of preparation and qualification, culminating in the World Cup. What memories this tournament gives us. The brilliance of Pele, the craft of Cruyff. Zidane headbutting his Italian opponent in the final itself. The thrill of the minnow defeating a giant of the soccer playing world. We all have our favorite moments. Our celebration of the World Cup shares ten of them. The day Oleg Salenko scored five; ...

There’s Evil Lurking in the Stands“An intense thriller linking football to the resurgence of right wing extremism by an author who has straddled the worlds of international football and modern Germany society.” -- Tariq Panja, New York Times journalist Racism has reared its ugly head across the globe, and the terraces are no exception. When a young refugee is murdered in broad daylight, it seems like just another blot on the society -- a group of racist thugs with a grievance that went too far. But when Annabelle Green is pulled into the chaos, she starts to unravel something far more...

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

(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....

Neymar The Wizard is the fascinating coming of age story of Neymar Junior, the skinny kid from Mogi Das Cruz in Brazil, who has been called the next Pele'. Neymar has taken Brazil and the world by storm and continues to inspire millions around the world with his talent, his open heart, and his engaging smile. Following the international bestsellers, The Flea - The Amazing Story of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - The Rise of a Winner by Michael Part, Neymar The Wizard is a heartwarming and emotional story about a father and son who, against all odds, made the journey from the verge of ...