Twenty-Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts:: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to Soccer and World Cup '94 [Paperback]

Peter Davies (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 1994

A guide to the 1994 World Cup traces the history of soccer, details each World Cup finals since 1930, discusses the growth of U.S. soccer, and profiles the twenty-four teams that have qualified. By the author of All Played Out. 30,000 first printing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (May 3, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679774939
• ISBN-13: 978-0679774938
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,733,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect intro for the American fan to the 'Beautiful Game', June 17, 2000

By 

Andy Orrock (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Twenty-Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts:: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to Soccer and World Cup '94 (Paperback)

I picked up this book a couple of years back when a local San Francisco sports columnist described it as 'the best book on soccer ever written.' After reading 'Twenty-Two Foreigners,' I'll second that opinion.

This book successfully weaves a general description of the game, a review of all Word Cups prior to US 94, and the author's own passion for his local team - Wrexham, a Third Division Welsh club struggling to gain promotion to the Second Division in 1993. Pete Davies mixes these themes together masterfully. Despite these three unique threads, the book never seems jumbled or hodge-podge.

Through Davies' sections on the history and nuances of the game, you'll develop a keen appreciation for why certain teams/countries deploy different playing styles and alignments without feeling overwhelmed by jargon and technical detail. In the overview of the World Cups, you'll understand how world dominance has inexorably tilted from its initial power base in the UK to the far reaches of Europe and - especially - South America. And in detailing his long-time affair with Wrexham, you'll begin to comprehend the deep-seated passion for the simplest of games which, unfortunately, has still not quite resonated here in the States.

Despite the fact that the material is now seven years old (Mr. Davies - an updated version in preparation for WC 2002 would be fantastic!), I wholeheartedly endorse this book as a comprehensive and engaging introduction to 'The Beautiful Game.'

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome and doesn't even seem dated, June 2, 2010

By 

Emma Megana (NYC) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Twenty-Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts:: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to Soccer and World Cup '94 (Paperback)

I read it 15 years ago but in honor of the World CUp I bought it again from Amazon. It's a thoroughly enjoyable book on the fun of soccer in daily life and not just for the sports-crazed.

The opening chapter on the northwest England/Wales border team rivalries (of the Welsh teams) was a perfect microcosm of how ingrained soccer is in most parts of the world but not in the US. The many football chant songs cracked me up.

It is worth reading again too, despite being 16 years old, since for many people in the US there still is not an appreciation of soccer as a US sport for adults to be playing or professional soccer.

The statistics and personal narration of critical games from the past are great tools for illustration of soccer's place in the world psyche--favorite chapter is Argentina 1978.

I also enjoyed the fact that soccer was put into the daily context of life, maybe not as extreme as Fever Pitch, but pretty close.

If you are new to the World Cup, this is an excellent sociology and blow-by-blow game guide to introduce you to soccer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jolly Good!, August 27, 2004

By 

Harris Macklin "roadhockey" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twenty-Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts:: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to Soccer and World Cup '94 (Paperback)

This book is so enjoyable and amusing you may consider moving to England. You can't even read it without having a cup of tea handy. The writer jumps around between a history of the world cup and his own favourite team, Wrexham in the lower regions of the English football league. In the process he also tries to explain the rules of the english game for the readers who were preparing to host the world cup in 94. Ironically some things that may be quite confusing are never explained! That is part of the fun. Obviously it is a bit dated now but still a hoot and very worthwhile. Great history of the world cup and also offers some understanding of what this sport means to those across the pond.