 
The Story of the World Cup
Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 8
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 On: 2009-11-16
The 1997 edition is a useful if somewhat UK-centred summary account of the noteworthy matches and players of the World Cups from 1930 to 1994. One major criticism, why does Glanville always adds "the black" before the names of dark-skinned players (usually but not exclusively from South America), as if identifying left-footedness or something of tactical importance?
 On: 2009-06-29
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.
by: p555p326 On: 2006-02-22
Objectivity is absent at times in this very thorough history. He inflates the importance and success of British Footballers. But, since England has never won the European Cup and last won the World Cup in 1966 I guess few readers will find his bias surprising. However, he does have a computer chip Knowledge of the "Worlds Most Popular Sport." He gives the most detailed accounts of the World Cups of the 1930s and 50s that I have ever come across. In depth analysis , vivid portraits of great players and games are in abundance. The true fan will feel like you have just been at the stadium having viewed a classic match.
On: 2006-02-21
Objectivity is absent at times in this very thorough history. He inflates the importance and success of British Footballers. But, since England has never won the European Cup and last won the World Cup in 1966 I guess few readers will find his bias surprising. However, he does have a computer chip Knowledge of the "Worlds Most Popular Sport." He gives the most detailed accounts of the World Cups of the 1930s and 50s that I have ever come across. In depth analysis , vivid portraits of great players and games are in abundance. The true fan will feel like you have just been at the stadium having viewed a classic match.
On: 2003-11-03
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... Glanvilles 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 didnt make the cut. Then he breaks down the detail of the contenders- their strengths and weaknesses. Like I said, this is meaty analysis, not another
rehash of stats we already know. The viginettes and scenes are amazing, Puskas eating monkey nuts in Chile, grousing about Hungarian football, Peles 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 teams 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 Maradonas 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 Brazils 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 confirmed in Joseph Pages book "The Brazilians". Of course with Brazil, racial categories are fuzzy, but Glanville does correctly point out that the introduction of black players in that country transformed the game. Some might object to Glanville even mentioning race, but it is interesting nevertheless to see the width of the Black Disapora, and the increasing blend of cultures in sports, and how sports can, in its own limited way, bring people together. Thanks to Glanvile, these glimpses range from "the Black Diamond" Leonidas of Brazil back in 1938, to the swift black winger Andrade of Uruguay circa 1950, to Gatejens, scorer of the shocking goal that upset England in 1950 (yes, the segregated, Jim Crow US had "colored" players), to the pantherine Eusebio and silky smooth Coluna of Portugal in 1966, to the corruscating Teofilo Cubillas of Peru of 1970, to the powerfully built sweeper, Tresor, of France. Glanvilles book is also invaluable for its many pictures of past players, particularly the older editions. The newer editions chop out a lot of interesting detail- after all the book can only keep expanding as the years pass. But all in all, a must read for every true soccer fan. Something for everyone- the young fan looking for heroes and pictures, the educated dabbler, or the hard-core afficionado.
by: alex_lukic On: 2002-02-07
Finally, a literary and creative man writing about soccer! Mr. Glanvilles 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 Munichs Olympiastadion. The poetic narrative of legendary games such as 1970s Italy vs West Germany or 1982s 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 dont know or care about... or in lambasting on Maradona time and time again! Objectivity may not be his forte, but Glanvilles epic writing of a World Cup history is second to none.
On: 2002-02-06
Finally, a literary and creative man writing about soccer! Mr. Glanvilles 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 Munichs Olympiastadion. The poetic narrative of legendary games such as 1970s Italy vs West Germany or 1982s 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 dont know or care about... or in lambasting on Maradona time and time again! Objectivity may not be his forte, but Glanvilles epic writing of a World Cup history is second to none.
On: 2002-02-02
Brilliant history of the game. I grab and read anything I can by Brian Glanville. Excellent.
On: 2002-02-01
Brilliant history of the game. I grab and read anything I can by Brian Glanville. Excellent.
On: 1999-10-14
Glanville superbly describes the atmosphere and events that made each World Cup unique. This sometimes means being critical of officials, World Cup organizers, and FIFA, but he is fair to all parties involved. Glanville does a great job of relating how outside events effected events on the pitch (such as England being harassed by locals outside their hotel in Mexico in 1970). My only complaint is that in describing games, he often glosses over the final result or score, or frames the paragraphs so that the outcome of the game is lost in a sea of descriptions. I often had to consult the scores at the end of each chapter to be sure exactly who had come out on top of some of the first round matches. But overall, this book captures the excitement of the worlds greatest sporting event.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-06-08
well the book was the best and i love to play soccer when i want to. Its my to play.I want to go to collage soccer some were were they play really good and to be a good thing for me. well maybe i will be able to go and play with the big boys.
by: Anonymous On: 1999-01-07
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, Peles 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 teams 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.
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