Eight world cups : my journey through the beauty and dark side of soccer

On the eve of the 2014 World Cup, New York Times sports columnist George Vecsey offers a personal perspective on the beautiful game Blending witty travelogue with action on the field—and shady dealings in back rooms—George Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globe-trotting account of the last eight World Cups. He immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, and devoted fans and provides his up-close impressions of charismatic stars like Sócrates, Maradona, Baggio, and Zidane, while also chronicling the rise of the U.S. men’s and women’s teams. Vecsey shows how each host nation has made the World Cup its own, from the all-night street parties in Spain in 1982 to the roar of vuvuzelas in South Africa in 2010, as the game in the stadium is backed up by the game in the street. But the joy is sometimes undermined by those who style themselves the game's protectors. With his characteristic sharp reporting and eye for detail, Vecsey brings this global event to vivid life and has written a perfect companion for the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Formats : EPUB As Americans Increasingly Embrace Soccer, One Of The Country's Most Respected Sports Columnists Has Been Covering The World's Signature Tournament For Three Decades. In Eight World Cups George Vecsey Of The New York Times Pulls Back The Curtain On The Beautiful Game. Blending Witty Travelogue With Action On The Field-- And Shady Dealings In The Back Rooms-- Vecsey Offers An Eye-opening, Globetrotting Account Of The Last Eight World Cups, Chronicling The United States Team's Slow, Episodic Rise While Evidence Of Corruption Grows In The Sport's Executive Suites. Vecsey Immerses Himself In The Great National Leagues, Historic Clubs, Devoted Fans, And Passionate Rivalries And Gives Us His Up-close Impressions Of Charismatic Stars Like Socrates, Maradona, Baggio, And Zidane, While Also Chronicling The Rise Of The U.s. Men's And Women's Teams. The Goal That Changes Everything -- The Making Of A Fan -- The Best Group Ever -- Not Ready For Prime Time -- The Kid Comes Back -- The Sweetest Fans -- Marking Maradona -- Mr. Blatter Comes To America -- The Big Event -- America's First Soccer Champion -- Allons, Enfants -- Americans Win World Cup-- Again -- The Year Of The Outsiders -- The Home I Was Always Seeking -- Scandal And Head-butt -- Nelson Mandela Meets Fifa -- Spain Makes A Breakthrough -- Blatter Scores An Own Goal -- The Age Of Klinsmann -- Appendix. Eight World Cups. George Vecsey. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 257-272) And Index.

"Full of humor and insight about sport and culture.... The pomp, glory, and great entertainment all get their due in Eight World Cups."—The Boston Globe

Blending witty travelogue with action on the field—and shady dealings in back rooms—George Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globe-trotting account of eight World Cups. He immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, and devoted fans and provides his up-close impressions of charismatic soccer stars like Sócrates, Maradona, Baggio, and Zidane, while also chronicling the rise of the U.S. men's and women's teams.

Vecsey shows how each host nation has made the World Cup its own, from the all-night street parties in Spain in 1982 to the roar of vuvuzelas in South Africa in 2010, as the game in the stadium is backed up by the game in the street. But the joy is sometimes undermined by those who style themselves the game's protectors.

"Full of humor and insight about sport and culture.... The pomp, glory, and great entertainment all get their due in Eight World Cups ."— The Boston Globe Blending witty travelogue with action on the field—and shady dealings in back rooms—George Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globe-trotting account of eight World Cups. He immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, and devoted fans and provides his up-close impressions of charismatic soccer stars like Sócrates, Maradona, Baggio, and Zidane, while also chronicling the rise of the U.S. men's and women's teams. Vecsey shows how each host nation has made the World Cup its own, from the all-night street parties in Spain in 1982 to the roar of vuvuzelas in South Africa in 2010, as the game in the stadium is backed up by the game in the street. But the joy is sometimes undermined by those who style themselves the game's protectors. The goal that changes everything The making of a fan The best group ever Not ready for prime time The kid comes back The sweetest fans Marking Maradona Mr. Blatter comes to America The big event America's first soccer champion Allons, enfants Americans win World Cup- again The year of the outsiders The home I was always seeking Scandal and head-butt Nelson Mandela meets FIFA Spain makes a breakthrough Blatter scores an own goal The Age of Klinsmann Epilogue: back to the roots Appendix. Eight World Cups.