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World Cup 2010: The Indispensable Guide to Soccer and Geopolitics
The World Cup is the planet's biggest event. Yet no one on this side of the pond has ever set out to explain comprehensively why it matters and what's likely to happen this time around.
In this sharp, fun, and sassy guide, Stark & Stark lay it all out for both the casual and impassioned fan - the spectacle, the tradition, and the teams. Learn why Spain never wins, Brazil often does, and what the US and Mexico really need to do to win the Cup. Discover, too, what the first World Cup in Africa will mean - from Mandela to mythical spirits. Each team profile features a squad breakdown, players to watch, predictions, and an analysis of team tactics, tradition, coaching techniques, and even the national anthems that will be played before each match. Through it all, the book highlights the cultural politics that still make every England game resemble the Charge of the Light Brigade, as one writer put it, and every Italian team a cross between Machiavelli and Michelangelo.
You'll laugh out loud, you'll argue, but when it's all over, you'll know more about the World Cup and soccer than an ESPN analyst. This is not only the best introduction to the 2010 World Cup; it's a book about soccer you'll want to read and reread for years to come. (edited by author)
In this sharp, fun, and sassy guide, Stark & Stark lay it all out for both the casual and impassioned fan - the spectacle, the tradition, and the teams. Learn why Spain never wins, Brazil often does, and what the US and Mexico really need to do to win the Cup. Discover, too, what the first World Cup in Africa will mean - from Mandela to mythical spirits. Each team profile features a squad breakdown, players to watch, predictions, and an analysis of team tactics, tradition, coaching techniques, and even the national anthems that will be played before each match. Through it all, the book highlights the cultural politics that still make every England game resemble the Charge of the Light Brigade, as one writer put it, and every Italian team a cross between Machiavelli and Michelangelo.
You'll laugh out loud, you'll argue, but when it's all over, you'll know more about the World Cup and soccer than an ESPN analyst. This is not only the best introduction to the 2010 World Cup; it's a book about soccer you'll want to read and reread for years to come. (edited by author)
- GenresSportsSoccerNonfiction
364 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
About the author
Steven D. Stark
11 books1 followerSteven D. Stark, a former world sports columnist for the Montreal Gazette and the author of four books and one e-book, has been a commentator for CNN, National Public Radio, and the Voice of America, where his role was to try to interpret American culture to the rest of the world. He has written frequently for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic Monthly, and the Boston Globe where he was an op-ed columnist."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 20, 2010
A great book filled with tournament history, team info, and commentary on each team's national anthem. Information was well-organized and easy to either read straight through or to use as a reference. The book was also surprisingly up to date and included information about the events of January's Africa Cup of Nations.
I would have preferred less of the "I've found a pattern" speculation that sports writers are so fond of: no team with a player whose name starts with Q has ever won a game played at sea level, teams with green in their uniforms do better when the team is hosted by a country with at least two vowels in its name, etc, etc.
Bus read: 5 stars
During the tournament, I can't imagine a better book to have with you on the bus.
I would have preferred less of the "I've found a pattern" speculation that sports writers are so fond of: no team with a player whose name starts with Q has ever won a game played at sea level, teams with green in their uniforms do better when the team is hosted by a country with at least two vowels in its name, etc, etc.
Bus read: 5 stars
During the tournament, I can't imagine a better book to have with you on the bus.
May 7, 2010
This is a pretty exhaustive intro to the biggest sporting event of the year. The authors have done very well to provide background on the 2010 World Cup as a whole, as well as mini-histories and likely line-ups for each of the 32 teams involved.
There are many times when the rush of publishing this book are glaring, however. A few more weeks in front of an editor would have done wonders for the book, but would have had to push its release date even closer to the actual event.
Luckily, I was reading this for information / entertainment, not in search of fine writing. The content deserves 5 stars, the writing 2 stars. Overall, a solid 4-star book.
There are many times when the rush of publishing this book are glaring, however. A few more weeks in front of an editor would have done wonders for the book, but would have had to push its release date even closer to the actual event.
Luckily, I was reading this for information / entertainment, not in search of fine writing. The content deserves 5 stars, the writing 2 stars. Overall, a solid 4-star book.
September 5, 2010
A solid guide to the Cup, though the authors underrated the teams that ended up in the final. Has some general information that would make parts of it still valuable with South Africa in the rearview--in other words, worth picking up for a buck from the Used table.
June 23, 2010
What a great book! If you are at all interested in the 2010 World Cup this is the book for you. Lots of interesting detail on all the countries, some World Cup history, bold predictions and more. Even a little blurb on each country's national anthem! Wonderful book!
April 12, 2010
Quick read to get ready for WORLD CUP 2010!!!! I was pretty amped up before...now I can hardly contain myself.
There were so many grammatical errors in this book (almost as if it went from word doc to print), but I don't really care b/c this book is chocked full of interesting tidbits on the backstory for South Africa '10.
GO Yanks!
There were so many grammatical errors in this book (almost as if it went from word doc to print), but I don't really care b/c this book is chocked full of interesting tidbits on the backstory for South Africa '10.
GO Yanks!
May 6, 2010
Unimpressive, superficial analysis. Reads like a mediocre newspaper column, which is not surprising given that the author was a newspaper columnist. Will still likely refer to it during the Cup.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews