IGolazo! : a history of Latin American football

!Golazo! recounts the story of Latin American football: the extravagantly talented players; pistol-toting referees; bloody coup d'etats; breath-taking goals; invidious conspiracies; strikers with matinee idol looks and a taste for tango dancers; alcoholism; suicide and some of the most exhilarating teams ever to take the field. But it is also gripping social history. Andreas Campomar shows how the sport that started as the eccentric pastime of a few ex-pat cricket players has become a defining force, the architect of national identity and a reflection of the region's soul. How can you hope to understand this tumultuous and disparate collection of young republics without first understanding the game that has become such a dominant presence in every corner of South American society? Including not only the well-known heroes of 'the beautiful game' - Garrincha, Maradona, Pele, Schiaffino, Di Stefano, Sanchez and Messi - but also the numerous forgotten gems of Latin American football - 'The Black Chief', Obdulio Varela; Heleno de Freitas, the Brazilian who squandered his talent and died half-mad with syphilis; the unstoppable River Plate of La Maquina; El Ballet Azul, the Colombian team who were so lavishly gifted that they all but dispensed with defending and the indomitable Bolivian team of the early 1990s - !Golazo! is the extraordinary tale of how football came to define a continent. Golazo! recounts the story of Latin American football: the extravagantly talented players; pistol-toting referees; bloody coup dtats; breath-taking goals; invidious conspiracies; strikers with matinee idol looks and a taste for tango dancers; alcoholism; suicide and some of the most exhilarating teams ever to take the field. But it is also gripping social history. Andreas Campomar shows how the sport that started as the eccentric pastime of a few ex-pat cricket players has become a defining force, the architect of national identity and a reflection of the regions soul. How can you hope to understand this tumultuous and disparate collection of young republics without first understanding the game that has become such a dominant presence in every corner of South American society? Including not only the well-known heroes of the beautiful game Garrincha, Maradona, Pel, Schiaffino, Di Stfano, Snchez and Messi but also the numerous forgotten gems of Latin American football The Black Chief, Obdulio Varela; Heleno de Freitas, the Brazilian who squandered his talent and died half-mad with syphilis; Perus 1930s golden generation; the unstoppable River Plate of La Mquina; El Ballet Azul, the Colombian team who were so lavishly gifted that they all but dispensed with defending; Omar Corbatta, El Loco, undisputed master of the nutmeg and author of the most impossible move ever, and the indomitable Bolivian team of the early 1990s Golazo! is the extraordinary tale of how football came to define a continent. ¡golazo! Recounts The Story Of Latin American Football: The Extravagantly Talented Players; Pistol-toting Referees; Bloody Coup D'états; Breath-taking Goals; Invidious Conspiracies; Strikers With Matinee Idol Looks And A Taste For Tango Dancers; Alcoholism; Suicide And Some Of The Most Exhilarating Teams Ever To Take The Field. But It Is Also Gripping Social History. Andreas Campomar Shows How The Sport That Started As The Eccentric Pastime Of A Few Ex-pat Cricket Players Has Become A Defining Force, The Architect Of National Identity And A Reflection Of The Region's Soul. How Can You Hope To Understand This Tumultuous And Disparate Collection Of Young Republics Without First Understanding The Game That Has Become Such A Dominant Presence In Every Corner Of South American Society? Including Not Only The Well-known Heroes Of 'the Beautiful Game' - Garrincha, Maradona, Pelé, Schiaffino, Di Stéfano, Sánchez And Messi - But Also The Numerous Forgotten Gems Of Latin American Football - 'the Black Chief', Obdulio Varela; Heleno De Freitas, The Brazilian Who Squandered His Talent And Died Half-mad With Syphilis; The Unstoppable River Plate Of La Máquina; El Ballet Azul, The Colombian Team Who Were So Lavishly Gifted That They All But Dispensed With Defending And The Indomitable Bolivian Team Of The Early 1990s - ¡golazo! Is The Extraordinary Tale Of How Football Came To Define A Continent. [this Book] Recounts The Story Of Latin American Football: The Extravagantly Talented Players; Pistol-toting Referees; Bloody Coups D'état; Breathtaking Goals; Invidious Conspiracies; Strikers With Matinee Idol Looks And A Taste For Tango Dancers; Alcoholism; Suicide And Some Of The Most Exhilirating Teams Ever To Take The Field. It Is Also Gripping Social History. Campomar Shows How The Sport That Started As The Eccentric Pastime Of A Few Expat Cricket Players Has Become A Defining Force, The Architect Of National Identity And A Reflection Of The Region's Soul. ...--book Jacket. Como El Uruguay No Hay (there's No Place Like Uruguay) -- Cortés And The Bouncing Ball -- Part One: 1800-1950 (1. Not Quite Cricket (1800-1900) ; 2. Battles Of The River Plate (1900-1920) ; 3. The Return Of The Natives (1920-1930) ; 4. Champions Of The World (1930-1940) ; 5. In Splendid Isolation (1940-1950)) -- Part Two: 1950- (6. Whom The Gods Wish To Destroy (1950-1960) ; 7. The Light And The Dark (1960-1970) ; 8. Prisoners On The Terraces (1970-1980) ; 9. Deus Ex Machina (1980-1994) ; 10. The Ball Never Tires (1994- )) By Andreas Campomar. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The definitive book about the national identities, heroes, and dramatic stories from Latin American soccer throughout history-in time for the 2014 World Cup. "Golazo!" means "amazing goal!" And the word perfectly captures the unique, exuberant, all-encompassing, passionate role that soccer plays in Latin America. Andreas Campomar offers readers the definitive history of Latin American soccer from the early, deadly MesoAmerican ballgames to the multi-billion dollar international business it is today. Golazo! explores the intersection of soccer, politics, economics, high and low culture, and how passion for a game captured a continent. Latin American soccer will be in the global spotlight more than ever in the coming years-both the next World Cup (2014) and the Summer Olympics (2016) will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a country for which soccer is not just a passion but a way of life. The triumphs, the heartbreaks, the origins and the future, the political and the personal-Golazo! is the perfect book for new fans and diehard followers around the world