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.

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.

This is the ultimate reference book on the World Cup, with match-by-match articles featuring the biggest names in world football, plus results from every game played. All the statistics are here in one volume, enough to satisfy the most avid of World Cup fans, including team line-ups, goalscorers, stadiums, referees, crowd figures and exact dates, plus an authoritative records and statistics section, as well as detailed reports of every game played in the finals. From the brilliant Italian team, winners in 1934, and Geoff Hurst's hat-trick for England in 1966 to the fabulous Brazilian team of Pele, Tostao and Jairzinho of 1970, and the 1998 French side of Zidane, Deschamps and Desailly, all the fabulous memories and defining moments are captured in this one book. As well as the facts and feats, this book contains archive photographs of some of the most memorable images of football's greatest tournament.

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.

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.

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.