Product Description
Soccer is the most popular mass spectator sport in the world, gaining huge media coverage and reaching all levels of society in countries all around the world. More than just entertainment, soccer has proved to be a reflection of national, cultural, community and ethnic identity as well as an indication of the development and international status of post-colonial nation states. For those nations still at the fringes of the modern global game, soccer represents a vision of potential commercialization, capable of generating foreign reserves and bringing in considerable economic power.

This special issue book explores aspects of the development of soccer in countries which have recently been marginalized world soccer or have only erratic success on the international stage. These fringe nations include a greater part of Africa, the USA, Australia, Israel, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka, and while these countries are rarely noticed by the global football media, they nonetheless have great potential to excel, and many have a rich soccer heritage that still holds a place of central importance in the every day life of the people. ... Read more

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This guide to soccer uses the Personalized Sport Instruction model of teaching (PSI), which is widely respected as an effective, interactive, student-centered teaching model. This workbook, as part of a six-book series, features a common organization and framework for planning, managing, implementing, and evaluating the fundamentals of learning badminton. Each module includes specific directions for setting up learning tasks and criteria for demonstrating mastery. For anyone interested in the sport of soccer. ... Read more

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Soccer, the most popular mass spectator sport in the world, has always remained a marker of identities of various sorts. Behind the façade of its obvious entertainment aspect, it has proved to be a perpetuating reflector of nationalism, ethnicity, community or communal identity, and cultural specificity. Naturally therefore, the game is a complex representative of minorities’ status especially in countries where minorities play a crucial role in political, social, cultural or economic life. The question is also important since in many nations success in sports like soccer has been used as an instrument for assimilation or to promote an alternative brand of nationalism. Thus, Jewish teams in pre-Second World War Europe were set up to promote the idea of a muscular Jewish identity. Similarly, in apartheid South Africa, soccer became the game of the black majority since it was excluded from the two principal games of the country – rugby and cricket. In India, on the other hand, the Muslim minorities under colonial rule appropriated soccer to assert their community-identity.

The book examines why in certain countries, minorities chose to take up the sport while in others they backed away from participating in the game or, alternatively, set up their own leagues and practised self-exclusion. The book examines European countries like the Netherlands, England and France, the USA, Africa, Australia and the larger countries of Asia – particularly India.

This book was previously published as a special issue of Soccer and Society.

Product Description
8-0? How could The Team lose 8-0? Easily! Harvey s team always loses. Professor Gertie, Harvey s neighbor, can t really understand it, but her game winning inventions for The Team just haven t helped. (Her Bouncy Boots were too bouncy and her Smoke Machine was too smoky.) Now she thinks she has the perfect solution: Mark 1, the Soccer Machine. He has a metal body covered with Squidgy Skin, a top speed of 45 miles per hour and he s programmed to win! But will this latest invention really work? Can The Team actually win? ... Read more

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Soccer's 2006 World Cup is months away, and the buildup is already captivating fans. In North America, interest in the game has never been higher: The U.S. team stormed through qualifiers for next year's tournament in Germany; movies like Bend It Like Beckham are endearing the sport to a new generation; youth soccer programs are flourishing; and the 12 Major League Soccer franchises are attracting unprecedented crowds.

Just in time for the global frenzy surrounding next summer's finals, Soccer 365 Days captures the most exciting, pivotal moments of World Cup action in words, statistics, and nearly 600 photographs. Superstars profiled include Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo, Zinédine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, David Beckham, Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart, and Pelé. A great Father's Day gift, it's the perfect primer for anyone gripped by World Cup fever. ... Read more

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Nothing unites—and excites—the sporting planet like a World Cup. For one month every four years, billions of people rearrange their lives, play hooky, and ignore their loved ones in order to watch 22 men kick a ball in pursuit of a small gold statue and athletic immortality.


On the eve of one of the most historically significant World Cup of all—the first to be held in Africa—you need a tour guide more than ever. Learned yet lively, elegantly designed, and bursting with historical photos, The ESPN World Cup Companion celebrates every World Cup since 1930, highlighting each era’s Greatest Players, Games, Teams, Players, Rivalries, and Cult Figures. But coauthors David Hirshey and Roger Bennett relish the game for all its beauty and vulgarity, subtlety and brutality, examining every aspect of World Cup culture; here you’ll find a rogue’s gallery of the game’s biggest divas and divers, the DNA of the world’s powerhouses, the psychodrama of the penalty shoot out, the physics of the free kick, the five soccer fans you’ll meet in hell, and even the art of scoring off the field.  
 
The ESPN World Cup Companion captures all the sweat, blood, tears, and bad hairdos of the last 80 years. Whether you’re a casual fan or a long-time aficionado of the sport, this book bridges the gap between merely watching the planet’s biggest sporting event and truly understanding it.
 
So paint your face, hoist your vuvuzela, or just grab your trusty remote, but whatever you do make sure The ESPN World Cup Companion is by your side.
 Amazon.com Review
Roger Bennett on The ESPN World Cup Companion

The World Cup has been a dominant force in my life, creating a spine against which I have come to mark time.Some of my earliest television-watching memories revolve around the delirious spectacle of the 1978 World Cup, as stadiums exploded with confetti whenever Argentina took to the field. 1982 was defined by Brazil’s intense midfielder, Falcao, maniacally celebrating a goal with the veins in his arms bulging from the screen as if in 3-D (Youtube it) and Diego Maradona's 1986 destruction of my beloved England by means foul and fair which caused my brother and I to run out into the street and vent our grief by blasting a soccer ball through the window of our home.My parents, thankfully, understood our pain.

Customer Reviews (53)

Great World Cup Compendium
I have a few world cup history classics like Brian Granville's etc - but this one is a real masterpiece and very different and at times a bit irreverent- not only covers all the world cups but also has some quirky facts even for the discerning fanatic

like "The Five World Cup Fans You'll Meet in Hell", "The DNA of the World's Greatest Teams", "Wanted: Multilingual Marathoner with Encyclopedic Memory", "Rogues" (Parts I and II), "Worst Teams Ever", (Brazil 1990 is classified as one)Authors debate: "Pelé, Maradona- Who's Better?","Classic World Cup Superstitions", "The Wags(Wives and Girlfriends) that Tail The Dogs(players)", etc.

I think i like the anecdotes and quirkiness more - as a history book it falls short of details but makes up in photos

Great!
This is an excellent coffee table book. The text is not particularly compelling, but the book is well-designed and the layout is intriguing.

Not too many other books like this on the market, anyway. A good book for soccer fans, for sure.

Very Nice Compilation
I was surpsied at the complete book.It covered the modern era of soccer.There was even discussion about the US.The book I received did not have the cover shown for the product, but that did not matter.The pictures also were able to convey the feelings of players and fans.

I especially liked the coverage of key games in the past and what it meant to each country.It also covered the rivalries and other topics that helped me to enjoy the entire 2010 World Cup.

great stats and tidbits
it is one of our coffee table books.it always gets picked up and read.

WOW...are there any standards!?
This guy was on Morning Joe and he didn't even know what stoppage time (the minutes added to each half when play is stopped) was! He called it "injury time"! NOT A JOKE, SERIOUSLY HE DIDN'T KNOW! Mindnumbing. I am the MOST CASUAL OF CASUAL soccer fans and I even knew what stoppage time is. "Injury time" doesn't even make sense. Time is added for substitutions, fouls, celebrations after goals, bookings, all kind of things NOT just injuries. Have you never heard when PA comes on and announces "1 minute of stoppage time, 1 minute" or an announcer say "3 minutes of stoppage time has been added". Also he didn't even know that extra time doesn't always have to have two sections. WHY in the world would I read a book by a guy that doesn't even know the bare essentials of the game. Especially the sport, the only sport he is commenting on. Espn should be ashamed to include his name on any of their publications! ... Read more

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Once nobody noticed Santa Rosa's Thunder. They were a ragtag team of girls who wanted to play soccer, and no one took them seriously. Their male coach expected little from his "ladies, " and their mediocre performance convinced them he was right.

Then a kind of miracle happened. Emiria Salzmann, Thunder's new coach, a top player herself, knew what it took to win--discipline, relentless drills, thigh-burning sprints, and an inspired passing game. The girls hated it, but their coach never let up. Tough and determined, she showed them what it felt like to be winners--and they loved it. As the momentum grew with a string of victories, the girls thrived on the competition, believing they had the right stuff to become champions.

They were right! With spirits soaring, Thunder won its league on the last day of the season and headed for the state cup, emerging not just as powerful athletes but as strong, confident, emotionally healthy human beings--champions in the game of soccer, and in the game of life.

Customer Reviews (41)

Great For All
I play for a U14 team and I found this inspiring.A lot about our team is included in the beginning of that book. I found it a great read and would recommend it to all athletes, not only soccer players.A great book for all parents of athletes and coaches.It is definitely a book I would recommend to all my teammates and my dad is reading it now, too.

challenges stereotypes
When I was first looking for a publisher for a nonfiction soccer book of my own, nearly everyone I spoke with referenced The Beautiful Game. And they all seemed to say the same thing, that it was a lovely and under-appreciated book. Perhaps over time that has changed, especially as soccer has continued to gain in popularity in the U.S.

There are a couple of things about soccer in the U.S. that make it different from other sports. The first is the wide range of racial and ethnic groups that play soccer. The second is that girl and women play soccer almost as much as do men. However, as a society we still have the idea that girls in sports need to be treated differently than boys do. We think that they aren't tough enough physically or emotionally. We think that they can't be pushed.

The Beautiful Game challenges that idea through the story of a middle school-aged club soccer team and their hard-nosed (and young and female) coach. Littman does a good job of getting us into the heads of a lot of people in this books, from coaches to parents to the kids on the field. He also allows the people he writes about to speak for themselves.

While the story is enjoyable for anyone, it may be most deeply felt by readers who can relate to the lives of the mostly suburban girl Littman writes about, girls who are challenging themselves and learning about hard work and loyalty.

Santa Rosa United and Emiria Salzmann Success Story
This is a great book about how to build a team of young girls.The story of how Emiria Salzmann took a team from a ramble to the top of US soccer.Fascinating story about Santa Rosa United soccer club and how it became known as one of the great clubs in Northern CA. Emiria has gone on to win woman's coach of the year with her work at the Santa Rosa Junior College and now is Director of Coaching at Santa Rosa.Inspirational story for all young girls that want to play soccer.

The Beautiful Game
The Beautiful Game by Jonathan Littman is a very compelling and well described book. It is very easy for me to relate because as a soccer play I have won state cup three times. I can also relate because I know the journey and the obstacles you have to overcome to be a champion. I relate best to the player Kim because she had to suffer with an injury, exactly what i have been going through. I think why I liked this book so much is because I have a lot in common with these girls, and I have a love and passion for soccer. I recommend this book to any soccer player, or anybody who is chasing after a dream.

An Absolute Inspiration
I think this book, The Beautiful Game, was an extraordinary display of a group of 14-year-old girls, who came together as a magnificent soccer team, to overcome a new coach, and many of the road bumps they had on the highway to success. This soccer team was extremely committed and dedicated, not only to the game of soccer, but to each other. And that is the key to playing competitive club soccer. I especially enjoyed this story about this club team called Thunder, because I also play club soccer in Dallas, Texas. My club is called the Dallas Texans (West). I am a '92, which makes me 14 in January. I was incredibly inspired by this book to train as hard as I can, and I learned that getting along with my team is very important. I was also very interested in this book because it must have taken a lot of courage to accomplish what these girls did. I was very fascinated by how well this book was written, and how much I felt like I knew every one of the girls on this team. I think I enjoyed this book because I can relate it to my own experiences. But I don't think you have to be a soccer player to have you heart touched by the lives of the girls in this story. And I also don't think you have to be an athlete to be inspired by the soccer these girls learned to play. This book should be passed down from generation to generation. The Beautiful Game is a phenomenal display of what soccer and true friendship is really about. I overall enjoyed this book because of its amazing life story of the club soccer team Thunder, and its talented 14-year-old players. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

College Soccer guide
This is the best book for helping your soccer fanatic daughter to find the college that will best suit her.I'm really glad someone on her team pointed me to this book.I recommend it highly ... Read more

Product Description
Those radical rhinos are back!--This time for a game of soccer.It's Team Rhino against the All Stars. Rhinos who play soccer zigzagall over the pitch. They dribble with fancy footwork. They churn the turf. They blast a monster strike. Goal! Rhinos jump and bump. But the game is far from over. In this colorful ode to soccer, the world's most popular sport, Rhinos and readers alike will learn it's not about winning or losing, but how you play the game. Julie Mammano's delightful illustrations and a glossary of "turf talk" make Rhinos Who Play Soccer a winning book for soccer fans of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
In addition to leading her teams to two World Cups and an Olympic Gold, Michelle Akers is a spokeswoman for the cause of soccer, women in general, and Jesus Christ. Her award-filled career, including the physical, personal, and spiritual struggles she has overcome, is the subject of this book.Amazon.com Review
As the world watched Brandi Chastain set up for her penalty kick, Michelle Akers lay on a training table beneath the Rose Bowl recovering from her efforts in the Women's World Cup final. She had been given two liters of fluid intravenously but was still woozy and it didn't register, at first, that Chastain had scored and the U.S. team had won. At her insistence, the doctor removed her IVs and she staggered out onto the field to join the celebration. As she stood in the center of the field, the capacity crowd began chanting "Aaa-kers! Aaa-kers! Aaa-kers!"

U.S. Women's Team coach Tony DiCicco calls Akers "the best women who's ever played the game." Her fellow 1999 Women's World Cup champions describe her as "a true warrior" and "the heart and soul of this team." In The Game and the Glory, Akers tells the story of her life both on and off the field, and the faith and determination that keep her going--despite a troubled home life, countless injuries, and her battle against CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). Akers's candor is refreshing; she doesn't paint herself as an angel or take a holier-than-thou attitude. Her Christian faith, simply put, is what allows her to succeed. An inspirational book. --Sunny Delaney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

the best athletic bio I ever read!!!!
Michelle Akers is the example of what persitence can do for you in any area of your life. We are taken into her world and shown what the career of an athlete entails. I was presently surprise to not be hit over the head with a sermon of why I should be Christian. In this book metaphors can be drawn and you can take her inspiriation to apply it to your daily life. An easy read and you don't have to believe in Jesus to love this book!!
I reccommend this book!!!

The Best Book EVER!!!
I play select and I alway enjoy reading books on awsome soccer players. When my friend told me about this book I jumped at the oppertunity to read yet another soccer book. I read it and couldnt put it down. As a Catholic I diffently could relate and found it pretty cool we share the same faith.
It was a very good and inspiring book! IM GONNA BE THE NEXT MICHELLE AKERS SO WATCH OUT AMERICA CUZ HERE I COME!!!

A True Inspiration
Michelle Akers writes a truly inspirational story.As you read The Game and the Glory you feel as if you know Michelle personally.The book is easy to relate to because she tells her story on such a personal level.We see Michelle grow through her relationships, her spirituality, her CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome), and of course soccer.
Michelle is honest about the carefree wonders of childhood.She tells about two of her childhood dreams:One of being the next Mean Joe Green of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the other dream of being an Olympian.Although, for Michelle, childhood is not always carefree dreams.When she is only in the sixth grade, she struggles to understand the reason behind her parents' divorce.Ironically, even Michelle herself cannot believe when she goes through her own divorce.Michelle, with the guidance of a few friends and through her struggles, finds a relationship that will help her cope with all of her problems.
As a child Michelle always found mass to be boring and going to church on Sunday was never something to look forward to.It is not until Michelle is in high school, with the guidance of a teacher, that she truly finds a relationship with God.However, she gets distracted from this newfound relationship quite soon.After her divorce, Michelle realizes that there is something missing from her life: God.She turns to God at this point in her life, and this time she holds on to what she has found.Michelle promotes her Christianity in a way that no one else has ever done.She founds an organization called the Soccer Outreach International.An organization to promote Christianity in sports especially soccer.Michelle did not only turn to God for answers about relationships and soccer, but also about her CFIDS.
Not long after her World Cup experience in 1991, Michelle begins to suffer from CFIDS.However, Michelle is not diagnosed with CFIDS until 1994.From 1991 to 1994 she did not know exactly what was causing her to feel always fatigued and never well.Michelle has done what no other athlete that competes at the level she competes at has done.She played while suffering with CFIDS.This truly shows her unstoppable compassion for the game.
Michelle played many sports as a child, but soccer was her first true love.When she was only nine years old she attended a soccer camp.During the soccer camp she competed in a juggling contest to see who could juggle for the longest.Michelle stayed out at the field juggling for hours without once loosing control of her ball.The camp director stayed and counted her 5,392 touches, which shattered the previous record set by boy who went on to play collegiate soccer at Duke.This is only one of the amazing stories about Michelle and soccer.Through soccer Michelle has traveled to many countries around the world and established lifelong friendships.She is an original member of the first United States Women's National Soccer Team of 1985.With the National Team she has won many individual awards and is a 1991 World Cup Champion, a 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist, and 1999 World Cup Champion.Michelle admits that God has carried her through it all and without Him she would have never accomplished everything that she has.
It is amazing to think of how great a person she is and how truly human she is.Michelle has accomplished so much for women's soccer.She opened up a new door for girls around the U.S. by using her position as the best women's soccer player to promote the sport.She is one of the reasons that women's soccer become an official Olympic sport.Michelle is a role model to many not only as a world class soccer player but also through her display of Christianity in her every action. In reading her story I have learned that sometimes you just have to "show up" and let God take care of the rest.

Michelle is awesome, and her faith is unsurpassed
I know I would love this book even if the writing sucked, which it doesn't...it's beatiful.Still, I'm bias.Michelle has been my role model as a soccer player for years, and I've always her respected her deep faith in Jesus Christ.I'm Catholic.I think Michelle's faith is wonderful, after all she has been through.And the fact that she is grateful for her suffering makes her, in my eyes, a true follower of Jesus.

You will enjoy the thoughts of this excellent (tough as nails) soccer player, and Christian who inspires many others who share her faith.Go USA!

PS.Since this book was written, Michelle has retired.

And I'm not even a soccer fan!
This is a great book for a young girl because it feels like Michelle is talking to you. I felt like I was her best friend, because I could relate to her family situation, and like her, I'm a tomboy. I don't care forsoccer, but now I have a giant Michelle Akers poster hanging in my room,and I feel like I know her well even though I've never seen her play. Irecommend this to any girl, ages 8-15. ... Read more

Product Description
It is the world's most popular (and most widely-played) sport.Soccer is growing faster in the U.S. than any other.In this volume, the game's beginnings are examined, as well as the evolution of rules, issues and problems surrounding soccer, as well as its most notable influences. (20020901) ... Read more

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Product Description
Turn to Youth Soccer Drills to tackle the challenges of coaching beginning and intermediate soccer players ages 5 to 12. Practices will be more instructional and fun using the 84 drills in this book. Through these practice activities, beginning- and intermediate-level players ages 5 to 12 will learn basic spacing, dribbling, passing, and shooting skills.

A comprehensive, well-organized drill finder helps you quickly locate drills that are specific to a skill or to the age group you teach. Sample practice plans for 5- to 6-year-olds, 7- to 8-year-olds, 9- to 10-year-olds, and 11- to 12-year-olds are ready to implement for effective practices. Progressions of 4-versus-4, 5-versus-5, 8-versus-8, and 11-versus-11 help your players understand and execute tactics at the appropriate stage.

Use Youth Soccer Drills to plan fun, productive practices that help your skilled and trained team on the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

poorly written book
This book has been poorly written and it is not recommended for any age group.
Most of the drills are useless to teach soccer skills.
Other drills are so basic that probably a kid learns more if he/she is left alone with a ball.
Drills to increase physical fitness lacks creativity and probably will drive your players away from practice.
I purchased this item at Amazon. There are good alternatives out there. I have been a youth soccer coach for over 3 years and did not find anything that I could use here.

Kids Can Do It
It is amazing to see just what kids can do when they are instructed properly and challenged to make decisions and think about their actions. The drills in this book not only work to teach young players a new way to learn the game but the fun they get by being successful is echoed by their smiles and cheers and by their parents on the sideline. We use these drills in our youth recreation program with players ages four to seven. It is our 5th year with the book and it works.

Great Drills
The trick to getting young kids to improve their skills is to keep them getting lots of touches during practice participating in games that are fun.These drills may not seem "gamelike" but they will improve the skills required to become better players.The matrix at the front helps coaches tailor practice to the drills that target the specific skills that you want to work on (dribbling, passing, shooting, etc,).I've used them with great results and recommend this book.

:-(
Sorry, but the book never teaches soccer techniques, the drills never become gamelike, and I can't imagine 10 year olds tolerating drills in thisbook for more than 5 minutes.

New Coach's Book
I found this book to be very helpful to new coach's that didn't grow up playing soccer or that didn't play when they were young.It has a lot of good drills for teaching the basics of soccer.This isn't a one bookteaches all though, but it is a good start to help preparing for practicesessions. ... Read more

Product Description
A must-have for all players of the quick-paced sport of soccer, Soccer Fitness provides a cutting-edge program to help dedicated players develop multidirectional, explosive speed and gain an advantage in a game where feet and inches can make all the difference between winning and losing. Through a detailed course of soccer-specific running, flexibility, and strength exercises (plyometrics) and more than 100 drills that can be worked on alone or in a team setting, this progressive, sequential, and flexible training schedule also helps players improve their eye, hand, and feet coordination to reach their maximum potential. ... Read more

Product Description
Packed with drills and tips for practice and game days

The fun and easy way(r) to kick-start your soccer coaching skills

Volunteering as a youth soccer coach can be a great experience, both for you and your squad. But what if you've never coached before? Don't worry! This friendly guide explains soccer rules, shows you how to approach coaching, and gives you practical pointers on improving your team's soccer skills and encouraging good sportsmanship.

Discover how to

• Understand soccer rules
• Develop a coaching philosophy
• Teach soccer fundamentals
• Run great practices
• Lead your team during a game
• Communicate effectively with parents

Customer Reviews (5)

good book for first time coach
So far this book has been very helpful and quick to read for the first time coach of girls soccer (age 6, 7, 8). If you are trying to get to a club soccer level I think there are other books that may be better but this is ideal for the busy person who is new at coaching.

very helpful
for our first time coaching it was really good. the reason for only 4 stars is that there aren't very many drills/exercises that one can do with the kids.

An introduction only
This book has some good pointers and some nice basic information about the rules of soccer, basic skills, etc.The information in the book though is probably not good for teams above U7, or for coaches with some experience coaching.The books concentrates on drills (not games!) that are often not very easily translated into real situations that occur in games.This means that when you put the kids on the field against another team, they are going to be unprepared.If you are a new coach with little to no soccer experience, this is a good place to start.If you are looking for anything more I would look elsewhere.

Coaching Soccer For Dummies
This is a great book for anyone thinking of coaching a soccer team..it is full of great information.

First Time Soccer Coach
My 5 year old signed up for instructional soccer, the local parks and rec. deparment needed coaches, next thing you know I'm a soccer coach.Step one, buy a book that will get me started on the right foot, and that's exactly what this book was.This book provided me with the guidelines for dealing with the parents as well as providing me with a refresher on the ins and outs of soccer.I would recommend this to any coach just starting out.If you have previous knowledge of soccer either playing or coaching this may not be the book for you as it is very basic. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Very Comprehensive and Informative
This book was a very comprehensive description of Italian Soccer.It was a long book but written in a way that it was easy to read, stayed entertaining and flowed well.
My criticism is that it would be nice if the book was not so focused on the dark side of Italian soccer.This is the third book on Italian soccer and they all emphasize the negativity of the game in Italy.
As this book well describes, Italy is a wonderful country and a has beautiful Calcio culture.I would like to see the negative side of the game explained as more of a side note as opposed to the main theme used to describe Italian Soccer.
This being said, Winning at All Costs is probably the most complete book I have ever read on soccer.If you read this book from cover to cover, you will truly understand much about Italian soccer and the game in general.

Expose of the culture of cheating in Italian soccer.
1st, Have AC Milan and Juventus been relegated for match-fixing, in fact, CHEATING? Yes or No friends. Yes, they have, 2 of the 3 biggest teams in Italy and this really sets the tone of this book.

In 2006, Americans stared at their tv screens aghast when the Italian player Rossi elbowed and bloodied our own Brian McBride of the USA team, the thing is, this was not an isolated incident, rewind to 1994 and it is almost the same play as the Italian Tassoti elbowed Luis Enriquez of Spain in the 1994 World Cup held in the USA, Enriquez's nose was broken and blood poured down on his shirt. This was the only way the Italians could win.

In talking about 2 of the top 3 teams in Italian league history, in fact, Brian Glanville uncovered that the 3rd, Inter Milan even bribed to try to win the Champions League in the '60s/'70s era, that brings the number to 3 and one of AC Milan's champions league wins, ho-hum, at least 1 of them were bought in this way but the truth is that Juventus (vs. Derby County, thank goodness Dutch power Ajax defeated them in the final) and Inter also sought these ill-gotten gains. It makes one wonder, how much do we not even know.

It's obviously not quite a level playing field, when we see the Dutch or the Brazilians play beautiful soccer, as the Dutch destroyed Italy 3-0 in the 2008 Euro Cup, but the display of soccer was so great, compare this to how the Italians could only win the 2006 World Cup, diving against Australia and against France, getting one of the best players ever Zidane, sent off. Even more is conjectured upon.

In 1934, the World Cup held in Italy was fixed by the Duce himself. Furthermore, now it is even seen, that trophy is invalid because Italy played ineligible players, players from Argentina, the truth in history shows if this is researched, Argentina in fact, boycotted that tournament.

1938 is open to questions as well, though the case is mainly what some Brazilians say that one of their all-time greats Leônidas was threatened if he played.

UEFA, the European governing body has implemented rules now, where a team such as AC Milan who won the champions league a few years ago, would now have been ineligible if their dealings were in question. Of course, these Italian teams were discovered to be involved in a large gambling scandal known as Calciopoli. Even in the early '80s, AC Milan was relegated as Juventus has been.

1982 did indeed see a triumphant Azzurri win the World Cup and that team rightfully is hailed as one of the better World Cup teams ever. We would still do right to remember, its star player Paolo Rossi was involved in a betting scandal. Though years later he'd claim innocence, can we really accept what is said even? Likewise, we'd do well to remember, West Germany, themselves participants in some low-points of the World Cup in fact, colluded with Austria to draw which saw both of the neighbors advance at the expense of eliminating Algeria who had defeated the West Germans in an all-time World Cup upset. Likewise, the West Germany/France game of 1982 was marred with an unpunished brutal tackle by the West German goalkeeper Schumacher. 2 years later, France won the Euro Cup and one has to wonder if the best teams advanced in some games in the 1982 World Cup.

Even the highly regarded The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy by Joel McGinnis, yes, I think the same person who is trying to move in next to Sarah Palin talks plenty of the common place of corruption in Italian football/soccer. Recommended for further reading.

Excellent history of Italien football
This is themost comprehensive history of Italian football spanning from the very beginnings until today I have seen so far. It incorporates even the 2006 scandals and Worldcup 2006. Excellent read.
In case you are a Tifoso of Italian football this is a must for your library.It rate it even higher than Birgit Schönau:Calcio: Die Italiener und ihr Fußball (The Italiens and their football) written in German.

great book but looks like a re-release
This looks almost a chapter by chapter re-release of Calcio by the same author. Maybe it's updated and as good as that book was, why the different title?

Not sure what the scoop is with this but it is a five-star read. Only problem is why come out with the same book under a different title? I just don't get that.

Italian Football history
Have only just started to read this book and already I am impressed with the way it flows. Cant wait to get to the more recent history facts. Good stuff. ... Read more

Product Description
"Flockhart's books make math fun again. Teachers, students, and parents will love this program."
--Jeffrey R. Thomas, founder and CEO, SportsBuff.com;president, Fantasy Sports Trade Association

This workbook is designed to be used in conjunction with Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics: A Resource Guide for Teachers and Parents. The games and activities in Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics were created to get you excited about learning and practicing math, even if you are not a big sports fan.

Here's how it works. You will create a Fantasy Soccer team by picking real-life players, following your players' statistics, and calculating your teams' total points using one of the equations your teacher provides. In addition to the basic Fantasy Soccer game, your workbook contains worksheets for extra practice on 46 different math concepts.

So join the winning math team with Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics!

Also available in the Fantasy Sports and Mathematics series:

Fantasy Basketball and Mathematics | Fantasy Football and Mathematics | Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics ... Read more