The Times 50 Greatest Football Matches


Book Description

From the earliest FA Cup finals in the 1870s between teams of former public schoolboys to the glittering world of 21st-century Champions League matches contested by squads of millionaires, The Times has been at pitchside to write the history of football as it has happened. It is story of great matches: Hungary's historic victory over England at Wembley in 1953, Manchester United's triumph over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final, Brazil's thrashing of Italy in the 1970 World Cup final, Liverpool's remarkable recovery to win the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005. It is a story of dazzling individual performances: Stanley Matthews finally winning an FA Cup winners' medal at Wembley in 1953, Bobby Moore giving a masterclass in the art of defending for England against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo's virtuoso performance as Real Madrid won the 2017 Champions League. It is a story of national highs and lows, from Wembley in 1966 when England ruled the world after defeating West Germany to the humiliation of losing to Iceland in the 2016 European Championship. But above all it is a story of great players, great managers and great personalities in a sport that grips the attention of the world like no other.




Great FIFA World Cup Matches


Book Description

The men's World Cup was first handed out in 1930. The women's tournament began in 1991. Every four years, the greatest soccer players on the planet gather to compete for the ultimate prize in the world's most popular sport. Great FIFA World Cup Matches recounts the stories of four of the best championship matches ever witnessed in the global game.




World Cup Soccer


Book Description

Summarizing the qualifying round of the international soccer competition, comparing the 24 nations that will be in the final round this year in France and highlighting the players to watch, "World Cup Soccer" gives important facts and figures on participating teams and is sprinkled throughout with interesting features, anecdotes, and trivia on World Cup matches. 50 photos. 25 illustrations.




The Beautiful Games


Book Description

From World Cup finals to Premier League finales, to Champions League epics, in this book, we revisit some of the matches that have stood the test of time, have gone down in history as some of the most talked-about and fondly remembered. Those matches that you wish you had been there. Well now you can, as we count down the 50 greatest football matches ever played. Featuring the likes of England, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Liverpool, Manchester United, AC Milan, Napoli, Inter, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and many more... Each match has been selected on its own merit and includes the thoughts of those who were lucky enough to either take part or witness it, such as Alf Ramsey, George Best, Pele, Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Michel Platini amongst others.




A History & Guide to the Cricket World Cup


Book Description

A corker cricket book for longtime fans and rookies alike—a history of each of the eleven World Cup tournaments, including in-depth statistics. The Cricket World Cup is one of the most watched global sporting events and its celebrated history consumes fans around the world. Now, each of the eleven tournaments has been written up to include records of matches and individual performances, as well as a brief setting of the scene. Clear and concise, these chapters include the relevant statistics (highest and lowest totals, match aggregates, highest partnerships, top individual batting and bowling performances and biggest and smallest victory margins, etc.). Quirky findings such as the lowest team total to include a century partnership, birthday performances, most batsmen bowled out in an innings, as well as many more, are revealed in the miscellany section, and are sure to delight cricket lovers. A History & Guide to the Cricket World Cup is informative, factual and engaging, making it the perfect companion for fans.




Great World Cup Moments


Book Description

Presents some of the most memorable moments in World Cup history, including shocking results, strange trivia, and game-winning goals.




Playing It My Way


Book Description

'I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar.' -Shane Warne Readers are in love with Sachin Tendulkar's autobiography: 'A must read for anyone who knows cricket' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An idol . . . An inspiration' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great book by one of the all time greats' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brings back so many wonderful memories'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book has made me feel proud to be a lover of the game and has inspired me to succeed in everything I do.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The story of the greatest cricket player of all time, told in his own words. __________ The greatest run-scorer in the history of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013 after an astonishing 24 years at the top. The most celebrated Indian cricketer of all time, he received the Bharat Ratna Award - India's highest civilian honour - on the day of his retirement. Now Sachin Tendulkar tells his own remarkable story - from his first Test cap at the age of 16 to his 100th international century and the emotional final farewell that brought his country to a standstill. When a boisterous Mumbai youngster's excess energies were channelled into cricket, the result was record-breaking schoolboy batting exploits that launched the career of a cricketing phenomenon. Before long Sachin Tendulkar was the cornerstone of India's batting line-up, his every move watched by a cricket-mad nation's devoted followers. Never has a cricketer been burdened with so many expectations; never has a cricketer performed at such a high level for so long and with such style - scoring more runs and making more centuries than any other player, in both Tests and one-day games. And perhaps only one cricketer could have brought together a shocked nation by defiantly scoring a Test century shortly after terrorist attacks rocked Mumbai. His many achievements with India include winning the World Cup and topping the world Test rankings. Yet he has also known his fair share of frustration and failure - from injuries and early World Cup exits to stinging criticism from the press, especially during his unhappy tenure as captain. Despite his celebrity status, Sachin Tendulkar has always remained a very private man, devoted to his family and his country. Now, for the first time, he provides a fascinating insight into his personal life and gives a frank and revealing account of a sporting life like no other. __________




Rugby World Cups - 2003 and 2015


Book Description

History was made on November 22 2003 - England was crowned the World Champion. Everything was ready for rugby to explode in England, for the national team to kick-on, for the level of the domestic game to continue growing and for the sport to truly become prominent nationwide. It did not eventuate. England lost far too many matches and the Aviva Premiership does not match the French Top 14. The result for Rugby World Cup 2015 is a match schedule allocating more games to Wales than to the north of England. Understanding how this came about and also how and why Wales secured matches is an important part of the puzzle and carries substantial implications for future Rugby World Cups. Local and global issues including decision making, rival sports and nationalized players are all tackled in an analysis that seeks to offer realistic and viable solutions for the benefit of English and global rugby.




Circus Maximus


Book Description

An updated and expanded analysis of the economic tensions behind the Olympics and the World Cup games. Andrew Zimbalist looks beyond the headlines of two of the world’s most beloved sporting events: the Olympics and the World Cup. In the updated and expanded edition of his bestselling book, Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup, Zimbalist tackles the bogus claim that cities chosen to host these high-profile sporting events experience an economic windfall. In this new edition he takes aim at the outrageous FIFA scandal, Boston’s bid for the 2024 summer Olympics, and the criticism surrounding the 2015 Women's World Cup. Circus Maximus focuses on major cities, like London and Barcelona, that have previously hosted these sporting events, to provide context for cities like Tokyo and Rio de Janerio, which are currently bearing the weight of exploding expenses, corruption, and protests. Zimbalist offers a sobering and candid look at the Olympics and the World Cup from outside the echo chamber.