The World Cup : heroes, hoodlums, high-kicks and head-butts

Hardie Grant Books: 2014. — 202 p. — ISBN-10: 1742707432, ISBN-13: 978-1742707433. Every four years in June, the planet grinds to a halt to witness the pursuit of one of sport's greatest prizes: the FIFA World Cup. With a history populated by legends, scandal and diplomatic incidents, the World Cup has seen more than its fair share of triumph, heartbreak and intrigue – not to mention dictators, temper tantrums and the tears of fully-grown men. Join author Paul Hansford on a journey into the (sometimes dark) heart of The World Cup, where the biggest names in football – Pele, Maradona, Moore, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Ronaldo – forged their legends, and where the weird and wonderful side of the sport – from shoeless strikers and stolen trophies to psychic Dutchmen and doggy disruptions – captures the world's imagination. Complete with a profile of every World Cup from 1930 to 2010, as well as a look at the tournament's cult heroes, footballing superpowers, shocking moments and best conspiracy theories, this is your essential companion to the greatest – and maddest – month in world football. Every four years in June, the planet grinds to a halt to witness the pursuit of one of sport's greatest prizes: the FIFA World Cup . With a history populated by legends, scandal and diplomatic incidents, the World Cup has seen more than its fair share of triumph, heartbreak and intrigue – not to mention dictators, temper tantrums and the tears of fully-grown men... Join author Paul Hansford on a journey into the (sometimes dark) heart of The World Cup , where the biggest names in football – Pelé, Maradona, Moore, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Ronaldo – forged their legends, and where the weird and wonderful side of the sport – from shoeless strikers and stolen trophies to psychic Dutchmen and doggy disruptions – captures the world's imagination. Complete with a profile of every World Cup from 1930 to 2010, as well as a look at the tournament's cult heroes, footballing superpowers, shocking moments and best conspiracy theories, this is your essential companion to the greatest – and maddest – month in world football. Every four years in June, the planet grinds to a halt to witness the pursuit of one of sports greatest prizes: the FIFA World Cup. With a history populated by legends, scandal and diplomatic incidents, the tournament has seen more than its fair share of triumph, heartbreak and intrigue - not to mention dictators, temper tantrums and the tears of fully-grown men... Join author Paul Hansford on a journey into the (sometimes dark) heart of the World Cup, where the biggest names in football - Pele, Maradona, More, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Ronaldo - forged their legends, and where the weird and wonderful side of the sport - from shoeless strikers and stolen trophies to psychic Dutchmen and doggy disruptions - captures the worlds imagination. Complete with a profile of every World Cup from 1930 to 2010, as well as a look at the tournaments cult heroes, footballing superpowers, shocking moments and best conspiracy theories, this is your essential companion to the greatest - and maddest - month in world football. Overview Of The World Cup, The International Competition Played By The Best Soccer Players In The World. The World Cup Has A Strong, Irreverent And Humourous Writing Voice. It Concentrates On The Stories Behind The Legends, Teams And Great Matches Of The World Cup, Putting Aside The Pundits' Picks For Who Will Win (they Invariably Get It Wrong Anyway) And Concentrating On The Weird, Whacky, Controversial And Legendary Moments Of The World's Best Sporting Event. For Example, It References The Cult Hero Ilunga Mwepu In The 74 Finals Against Brazil. Clearly Unsure Of The Rules Of Association Football, When The Referee Blows His Whistle For Brazil To Take A Free Kick, He Pegs It Out Of The Wall And Blasts The Ball Up Field. A Yellow Card And Eternal Infamy Follow. There Are Hundreds Of Brilliant Tales Like This In The History Of The Game And They Receive As Much Coverage As The Heroes And Greatest Matches.