Product Description

The dramatic and controversial history of the world's leading tournament, Brian Glanville's classic account is a celebration of the great players and matches from Uruguay, in 1930, to Korea / Japan in 2002 - and a bold attack on all those who have mismanaged the 'beautiful game'. This is a perfect gift book for the football enthusiast and the essential companion to "Germany 2006", in a fully updated edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #298777 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
"'Most football writers fall into two categories: those who have been influenced by Brian Glanville, and those who should have been.' Patrick Barclay, Sunday Telegraph 'Definitive' Simon Barnes, The Times 'An absolute essential.' Esquire"

Patrick Barclay, Sunday Telegraph
Most football writers fall into two categories: those who have been influenced by Glanville, and those who should have been

Sunday Times
Brilliantly written history

Customer Reviews

A true history of the world's greatest sporting competition
It really is amazing just how much Brian Granville has managed to fit into this wonderful book. However it really is far from just being an excellent source of statistics for each of the world cups. This book is quite simply jam packed with wonderful, and quite often hilarious tales, ranging from the poor organisation and violence that ravaged the first ever world cup in Uraguay, to accounts of individual players. The tale of the pure footballing genius of Garinsha who was also blighted with complete madness makes fascinating reading. A book that every football fan should have on their bookshelf.

The definitive guide to the story so far!
A very comprehensive review of the World Cup from 1930 to 2002. All the matchs are reveiwed and each tournament has a break down of results at the end. A good read and a must for World Cup fans.

Very Good to very Poor
Glanville is not a football person - one can tell he never grew up with the game. He is a fine journalist thou. His knowledge of politics and behind the scenes stuff is very good. However his knowledge/understanding of the game itself is very poor - one particularily annoying thing he talks about the great players he has seen - but gets their positions wrong; did he really watch the games?