Full Description
Two leading sports authorities explore the culture of soccer around the world, considering the sport as a means to better understand a society's past, present, and future.
How popular is soccer worldwide? Here's one indicator: 3.2 billion people—nearly half of the planet's population—tuned in to watch the 2010 World Cup on television. Soccer matches attract a gargantuan number of fans from around the globe due to the popularity of the sport itself but also because of the nationalism it inspires and the entertainment spectacle of the big games. Distinguished authors and sports authorities, Charles Parrish and John Nauright, examine how soccer impacts societies worldwide by shaping national identities, providing common ground for diplomatic issues, and forging economic and social development.
This one-volume geographic guide studies the places in which soccer has a major impact, examining each region's teams, major tournaments, key players, and international performance. The authors organize the book geographically by region and country, with entries reviewing the history of the sport and cultural impact on the area. Each profile concludes with fascinating game-based statistics, such as winners of major tournaments and top goal scorers. The book covers 20 countries including England, Brazil, Egypt, the United States, Cameroon, and Korea.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Timeline of Important Events in Soccer History
Argentina
Brazil
Cameroon
Egypt
England
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Korea, Republic of
Mexico
The Netherlands
Nigeria
Portugal
Russia
Spain
United States
Uruguay
Appendix 1: Additional Iconic Clubs from around the World
Appendix 2: Additional Legendary Players from around the World
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Authors
