Soccernomics : why England loses, why Germany and Brazil win, and why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey and even India are destined to become the kings of the world's most popular sport

At last, football has its answer to Freakonomics, The Tipping Point and The Undercover Economist. Why do England lose?”“Why do Germany & Brazil Win?”“How have Spain conquered the World?”''Penalties - what are they good for?''“What is the price on achieving success and the true cost of failure?” These are questions every football fan has asked. Soccernomics (previously published as Why England Lose) answers them. Written with an economist's brain and a football writer's skill, it applies high-powered analytical tools to everyday football topics. Soccernomics isn't in the first place about money. It's about looking at data in new ways. It's about revealing counterintuitive truths about football. It explains all manner of things about the game which newspapers just can't see. It all adds up to a new way of looking at football, beyond clichés about ''The Magic of the FA Cup'', ''England's Shock Defeat'' and ''Newcastle's New South American Star''. No training in economics is needed to read Soccernomics but the reader will come out of it with a better understanding not just of football, but of how economists think and what they know. 1. Driving with a dashboard: In search of new truths about soccer -- Part 1. The clubs: Racism, stupidity, bad transfers, capital cities, the Leicester fairy tale and what actually happened in that penalty shoot-out in Moscow -- 2. Gentlemen prefer blonds: How to avoid silly mistakes in the transfer market -- 3. The worst business in the world: Why soccer clubs haven't made money -- 4. Safer than the Bank of England: Why soccer clubs almost never disappear -- 5. Crooked business: Soccer's corruption and the history of tech -- 6. A decent business at last? Be careful what you wish for -- 7. Need not apply: Does soccer discriminate against black people? -- 8. Do coaches matter? The cult of the white manager -- 9. The secret of Claude Makelele: How "Match Data" are changing the game on the field -- 10. The economist's fear of the penalty kick: Are penalties cosmically unfair, or only if you are Nicolas Anelka? -- 11. The suburban newsagents: City sizes and soccer prizes -- Part 2. The fans: Loyalty, suicides, and happiness -- 12. A fan's suicide notes: Do people jump off buildings when their teams lose? -- 13. Happiness: Why hosting a World Cup is good for you -- 14. Football versus football: A tale of two empires -- 15. Are soccer fans polygamists? A critique of the Nick Hornby model of fandom -- Part 3. Countries: Rich and poor, Tom Thumb, England, Spain, Palestine, and the champions of the future -- 16. The curse of poverty: Why poor countries are poor at sports -- 17. Why England loses and other Europeans win: Beaten by a dishwasher -- 18. Made in Amsterdam: The rise of Spain and the triumph of European knowledge networks -- 19. Tom Thumb: The best little soccer country on earth -- 20. Core to periphery: The future map of global soccer -- 21. The future: The best of times--and the Smartphone Using Insights And Analogies From Economics, Statistics, Psychology, And Business To Cast A New And Entertaining Light On How The Game Of Soccer Works, Soccernomics Reveals The Often Surprisingly Counterintuitive Truths About The World's Most Popular Game. An Essential Guide For The 2010 World Cup. Driving With A Dashboard : In Search Of New Truths About Soccer -- Why England Loses And Others Win -- The Clubs : Racism, Stupidity, Bad Transfers, Capital Cities, The Mirage Of The Nfl, And What Actually Happened In That Penalty Shoot-out In Moscow. Gentlemen Prefer Blonds : How To Avoid Silly Mistakes In The Transfer Market ; The Worst Business In The World : Why Soccer Clubs Don't (and Shouldn't) Make Money ; Need Not Apply : Does English Soccer Discriminate Against Black People? ; The Economist's Fear Of The Penalty Kick : Are Penalties Cosmically Unfair, Or Only If You Are Nicholas Anelka? ; The Suburban Newsagents : City Sizes And Soccer Prizes ; Football Versus Football -- The Fans : Loyalty, Suicides, Happiness, And The Country With The Best Supporters. The Country That Loves Soccer Most ; Are Soccer Fans Polygamists? : A Critique Of The Nick Hornby Model Of Fandom ; A Fan's Suicide Notes : Do People Jump Off Buildings When Their Teams Lose? ; Happiness : Why Hosting A World Cup Is Good For You -- Countries : Rich And Poor, Tom Thumb, Guus Ghiddink, Saddam, And The Champions Of The Future. The Curse Of Poverty : Why Poor Countries Are Poor At Sports ; Tom Thumb : The Best Little Soccer Country On Earth ; Core To Periphery : The Future Map Of Global Soccer. Simon Kuper And Stefan Szymanski. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 309-212) And Index. Why do England lose? Why does Scotland suck? Why doesn't America dominate the sport internationally...and why do the Germans play with such an efficient but robotic style? These are questions every soccer aficionado has asked. Soccernomics answers them. Using insights and analogies from economics, statistics, psychology, and business to cast a new and entertaining light on how the game works, Soccernomics reveals the often surprisingly counterintuitive truths about soccer. An essential guide for the 2010 World Cup, Soccernomics is a new way of looking at the world's most popular game. "Written with an economist's brain and a soccer writer's skill, Soccernomics applies high-powered analytical tools to everyday soccer topics, looking at data and revealing counterintuitive truths about the world's most beloved game. It all adds up to a revolutionary new approach that has helped change the way the game is played. This World Cup edition features ample new material, including fresh insights into FIFA's corruption, the surge in domestic violence during World Cups, and Western Europe's unprecedented dominance of global soccer."--Back cover Why do England lose? Why does Scotland suck? Why doesnt America dominate the sport internationally... and why do the Germans play with such an efficient but robotic style? These are questions every soccer aficionado has asked. Soccernomics answers them. Using insights and analogies from economics, statistics, psychology, and business to cast a new and entertaining light on how the game works, Soccernomics reveals the often surprisingly counter-intuitive truths about soccer.