The Story of the World Cup [Paperback]

Brian Glanville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

Looks at the history of the World Cup, with vivid accounts of individual games and behind-the-scenes stories and character sketches of the great managers and players of the game.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For a month every four years, millions around the world turn their attention to the World Cup, where the most skillful soccer players proudly represent their countries. Brian Glanville, a sports journalist and soccer commentator, brings his wit and detailed knowledge of the game to The Story of the World Cup, a breezy romp through the competition's history and personalities. Although Glanville is obviously knowledgeable about his subject--from its origins to its politics--he is careful not to patronize his readers. He strolls through the narrative much like a tour guide, pausing here and there to reflect or evangelize on events that would perhaps go unnoticed by the untrained eye. But Glanville never forgets the real stars of this story: the players. Some are names that are recognizable, like Maradona and Pele--whom he follows from beginning to end (and in some cases, sordid end); others are the lesser-known stars, ranging from Beckenbaur and Cruyff to Garincha and Moore. Each team has its own unique story, whether it be the fallen genius of Argentina's Maradona or the perpetual bad luck of the Dutch. There is also a subtle message here: Glanville suggests that soccer return to basics and warns of the dangers of too much glitz and bureaucracy. The Story of the World Cup is both educational and entertaining--one part encyclopedia, one part drama. --Jeremy Storey --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The most authoritative account of the history of football's most glorious tournament, fully updated. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber; Rep Sub edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571169791
• ISBN-13: 978-0571169795
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,587,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The World Cup Gospel According to Brian, February 6, 2002

By 

Alex Lukic "cool_book_man" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Story of the World Cup (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, January 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of the World Cup (Paperback)

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.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD, I'm Reviewing The 1984 Edition., February 21, 2006

By 

SUPPORT THE ASPCA. "PILUM THROWER!" (?????) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of the World Cup (Paperback)

Objectivity is absent at times in this usually thorough history.
I generally find Paul Gardener, Keir Radnedge, Ian Morrison, & Terry Crouch to be more objective.
He inflates the importance and success of British Footballers. He also selectively fails to mention
that in the 1966 world cup 25 of 32 matches were officiated by Europeans & that all of the games
involving south American teams had English or German officials who let the south Americans get
fouled out of the tournament.
To the present day there has never been any satisfactory reason given why Antonio Rattin of Argentina
was red carded in the quarterfinal vs. England which the hosts went on to win 1-0?
Is it any surprise that England & West Germany ended up in the final?

Any investigations into the officiating after the tournament which was strongly asked for by the south
American federations was dismissed by Fifa president Stanley Rous who was English.
I bring these points to light because some in the English sports media have been trying to discredit
the world cups of the 1930's right up to the present by claiming the host nations fixed the outcomes.

England chose not to participate in these world cups does make one wonder what their real agenda is?
One has to ask if that was the case, why did Uruguay & Italy have such a hard time winning at home
& why didn't France win as host in 1938??? Just because some referees were punished by their own
federations after the tournaments ended does not prove that they were guilty of anything
more than incompetance.

But, since England has never won the European Nations 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
"World's Most Popular Sport." He gives the most detailed accounts of the World Cups of the 1950's
that I have ever come across. In depth analysis , vivid portraits of great players and games are in
abundance. From the offensive oriented decades of the 1930's-50's, the defensive mania of the 1960's
to Holland's "Total Football" philosophy of the 1970's.

You will learn about the most classic matches. From the exciting first final in 1930 between Argentina & Uruguay, the first overtime final in 1934 between Italy & Czechoslavakia, the "battle of Berne" in 1954 between Hungary & Brazil, to the formers shocking loss to West Germany in the final.

Other more well known games from the incomparable Pele against France in the 1958 semi-final, the controversial third English goal in the overtime final win against West Germany, to the match of the century between Italy &
West Germany in the 1970 semi-final, & lastly Italy's unexpected triumph in the 1982 finals where they started
as a 25-1 shot to win. The true fan will feel like you have just been at the stadium having viewed a classic match.