The Story of the World Cup

by Brian Glanville

A history of football's World Cup from its inception in 1930 to the 1994 tournament in the USA, with accounts of individual games, behind-the-scenes stories, and character sketches of outstanding managers and players. Team line-ups and statistical summaries are included.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0571190812
• ISBN13: 9780571190812
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Length: 382 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent handling and delivery

I was amazed at the nature of the product at the time of delivery. It had been well kept and mailed within the prescribed time. I credit the company for the services rendered. Thanks. Thomas,Maryland.

Smooth, incisive history

Glanville brings wit, humor and a critical eye to his history of the World Cup. More than simply a dry rehash of scores and stats, this book almost has a literary flavor, painting pungent, vivid and memorable portraits of the players and their times. You get a feel for the drama, the excitement and the raw energy of the World Cup. For example, it is not simply stated that the Brazilians cultivated Mexican fans in 1970, but Glanville adds such memorable lines as "The Brazilians pursued a shrewd policy of 'beads for the natives..'. Glanville's description of players, even obscure ones, shows dry wit, a keen eye and someone who has done his homework. Most writers would have dashed off a conventional 3-word blurb. Not Glanvile. For example, in describing sturdy Russian sweeper Chesternev(?) Glanville speaks of him "sweeping up diligently in his crouching bird-dog style.." Likewise another player is described not merely as a fast winger but " a strongly-built, moustached, and melancholy figure, with fabled control and finishing power." And indeed, so he was. You get the sense that this is soccer as it should be played- with supreme confidence and absolute conviction. Despite the literary flavor, this book has meat, solid meat. Who wants a simple rehash of what went down? Glanville begins every chapter with a background to the Cup- the sometimes unsavoury politics and posturing, the jealousies, the disappointments of good players who didn't make the cut. Then he breaks down the detail of the contenders- their strengths and weaknesses. Like I said, this is meaty analysis, not anotherrehash of stats we already know.The viginettes and scenes are amazing, Puskas eating monkey nuts in Chile, grousing about Hungarian football, Pele's audacious attempt to beat Viktor from 50 yards out in 1970, the father of Spanish player DiStefano in 62 flying in with a mysterious "magic linament" to heal his son, the "spontaneous" 1970 Mexican crowd that conveniently and noisly gathered outside the English team's hotel, keeping the players awake all night, before the match with Brazil, the blazing speed and mesmerizing moves of the deformed winger- Garrincha of Brazil, the cheeky "street" caper of Maradona's infamous "Hand of G-d" goal, the brave comebacks of Germany in 1982 and 1986, the redemption of the scandal-smeared Paolo Rossi, and so on.. You almost get the sense of being there on the field.Those expecting a cheerleading tome for soccer officialdom would do best to look for another book. Glanville is not afraid to expose the seedy side of the game, nor criticize the FIFA bureaucracy, hooligan fans, coaches and abominable refereeing where warranted, nor do the cynical players and tactics escape his censure. There are some minor quibbles. In his 1966 edition, Glanville correctly describes Brazil's swift right winger Garrincha as a mulatto, but in the 1970 edition, he is transformed into a South American Indian. In fact, Garrincha was part black, and this is confirm

The World Cup Gospel According to Brian

Finally, a literary and creative man writing about soccer! Mr. Glanville's encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and his plethora of behind-the-scene anecdotes make this book deliciously enjoyable. Each World Cup is peppered with authentic style making the reader feel like he is smelling chalupas inside Azteca Stadium or bratwurst in Munich's Olympiastadion. The poetic narrative of legendary games such as 1970's Italy vs West Germany or 1982's West Germany vs France is almost Nobel Prize material.However, his British twist is conspicuously ubiquitous in the form of inflating paragraphs about obscure Scottish and Welsh footballers that most international soccer hounds don't know or care about... or in lambasting on Maradona time and time again! Objectivity may not be his forte, but Glanville's epic writing of a World Cup history is second to none.

Brilliant

Brilliant history of the game. I grab and read anything I can by Brian Glanville. Excellent.

Excellent read

Glanville brings wit, panache and style to his history of the World Cup. More than simply a dry rehash of scores and stats, this book almost has a literary flavor, painting pungent, vivid and memorable portraits of the players and their times. For example, it is not simply stated that the Brazilains cultivated Mexican fans in 1970, but Glanville adds such memorable lines as "The Brazilains pursued a shrewd policy of 'beads for the natives..'. Likewise in describing sturdy Russian sweeper Chesternev(?) Glanville speaks of him "sweeping up diligently in his crouching bird-dog style.." The viginettes and scenes are amazing, Puskas eating monkey nuts in Chile, grousing about Hungarian football, Rattin slowly and reluctantly leaving the foul-filled, abominable 1966 match between England and Argentina, Pele's audacious attempt to beat Viktor from 50 yards out in 1970, the father of Spanish player DiStefano in 62 flying in with a mysterious "magic linament" to heal his son, the "spontaneous" Mexican crowd that conveniently and noisly gathered outside the English team's hotel, keeping the players awake all night, before the match with Brazil, and so on.. You almost get the sense of being there on the field.Those expecting a cheerleading tome for soccer officialdom would do best to look for another book. Glanville is not afraid to criticize the FIFA bureaucracy, coaches and refereeing where warranted, nor do the cynical players and tactics escape his censure. A must read for every true soccer fan.