Description
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD A History of the World Cup 1930-2014 2015 Edition by Clemente A. Lisi
There is no sporting event more popular than the World Cup. For one month every four years, billions of people around the world turn their attention to the tournament. Fans call in sick to work, pack into bars to watch games, or stay home for days at a time glued to their TV sets. Nothing else seems to matter.In A History of the World Cup: 1930-2014, Clemente A. Lisi chronicles this international phenomenon, providing vivid accounts of individual games from the tournament's origins in 1930 to modern times. It features a glossary of terms, statistics for each competition, photos, and profiles of the most memorable-and controversial-figures of the sport, including Diego Maradona, Juste Fontaine, Franz Beckenbauer, Mario Kempes, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and, of course, Pele. Though other histories of the World Cup largely ignore the United States' contribution to the competition, this volume highlights the progress of the American teams over the last several decades.Updated with a new chapter on the 2014 World Cup, profiles of those players who stood out in the latest competition, and revised statistical information, A History of the World Cup provides a fascinating read for fans of the game. Table of contents :- ForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The World Cup Is Born2. The First Steps3. Brazil Is Born4. Pele the King5. Total Football6. The Hand of God7. A New Frontier8. "Four"-Za Italia!9. Vive Espana10. Obrigado, GermanyGlossaryAppendix A: World Cup StatsAppendix B: World Cup RecordsBibliographyIndexAbout the Author