The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to the World of Soccer

by Paul Gardner

Revised in time for the new soccer league and the 1996 Olympics, The Simplest Game continues to be the reference on the game, its players, and its history. Now with photos throughout of the most memorable and talented players, the book traces the evolution of soccer from a crude, rustic pastime into a sophisticated worldwide business and offers a wealth of facts, figures, rules, and anecdotes to delight anyone with a passing or devout interest in the sport. With an introduction by Pele, The Simplest Game is the only book the soccer fan will ever need.

Genres: Sports, Soccer, Nonfiction, Football

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1976

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I typically love a good book about soccer. Normally, I would rate a book like this higher, but The Simplest Game fell way too far on the tedious side for me. Yes, it was initially very interesting to read about the early World Cup games, but getting play-by-play descriptions of nearly every single match of every World Cup tournament since 1930 was a touch snooze-inducing. Similarly, I appreciated a chapter on tactics until it droned on and on for endless pages about what seemed like every single tactical trick employed in soccer since the 1890s.

I did enjoy learning more about the historical origins of the sport. And I greatly appreciated learning more about soccer's history in the USA, and some of the reasons why it has had such a hard time gaining a dedicated fan base here.

However, I was really turned off by the author's obvious preferences and biases, which I felt greatly detracted from his credibility. For example, I happen to agree with him that the overly-defensive, "negative" style of play employed by some teams - such as the Italian national team - is both boring and not really in line with the spirit of the sport. But I don't need to hear the author blather on about it endlessly and essentially imply that the sport I love has been forever "ruined." I did read the version written for the 1994 World Cup, though, so perhaps the author has changed his tune since then.

But in a book of facts, I just don't see that there's any room at all for his opinion.

[Dwayne Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich and fascinating overview of soccer's history and greatest moments, from the pen of someone who was a first-hand witness to much of what he describes. Gardner's style is humorous, flowing, and communicates the intense energy of the spectacle that is soccer. This is the book to read if you love soccer, or perhaps if you want a taste of what the fuss is all about.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I skimmed over a large portion dealing with World Cup history. I was really in it for the portion explaining how soccer rooted and bloomed in England and the portion on the development of strategy. His recommendations for improving the game sound sensible but with so much money in it at this point I'm not sure they would ever succeed.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is alright. One of the biggest disappointments is that it is mainly from the British viewpoint. The author is not very positive or interested in what is happening in the United States.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Instructional and informative.

[Gonzalo]

It was awesome, showed my about soccer