“An eccentric, fascinating exposé of a world most of us know nothing about. . . . Bristles with anecdotes that are almost impossible to believe.” —New York Times Book Review “Terrific. . . . A travelogue full of important insights into both cultural change and persistence. . . . Foer’s soccer odyssey lends weight to the argument that a humane world order is possible.” — Washington Post Book World A groundbreaking work—named one of the five most influential sports books of the decade by Sports Illustrated—How Soccer Explains the World is a unique and brilliantly illuminating look at soccer, the world’s most popular sport, as a lens through which to view the pressing issues of our age, from the clash of civilizations to the global economy. From Brazil to Bosnia, and Italy to Iran, this is an eye-opening chronicle of how a beautiful sport and its fanatical followers can highlight the fault lines of a society, whether it’s terrorism, poverty, anti-Semitism, or radical Islam—issues that now have an impact on all of us. Filled with blazing intelligence, colorful characters, wry humor, and an equal passion for soccer and humanity, How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.

Contains fascinating facts that aren't found in either the sports or business press that reveal the behind the scenes world of international football. Soriano teaches us the importance of strategy as he examines how managers can waste millions of euros making decisions that lack any logic at all in both football and business.

'The F2 are unbelievable - what they do is not possible!' - Pelé We're The F2 and this is our World of Football. Inside we give away the biggest secrets of the greatest footballers on the planet. Want tricks like Neymar? Or to hit free-kicks like Ronaldo? Or to dribble like Messi? We show you how. We've been travelling the world, meeting the biggest stars, like Gareth Bale, Ronaldinho, Mesut Özil, Pelé and Stevie G, and now we give you the lowdown on what they're really like, and how they got their edge. We'll also let you in on our journey from aspiring pros to YouTube superstars with over 10 million followers. Want to know how to become a social media star? That's inside too. There's a free app to download that will make these pages come to life with exclusive videos, tricks and games. So, what are you waiting for? Open, read, learn, download and get out on the pitch and practise. Love, peace and tekkers, Billy and Jez, aka The F2 Enter the F2 World of Football competition!! Submit your pre-order confirmation for a chance to win a selection of amazing prizes, including having your book delivered to your door by Billy and Jez and featuring on their Vlog! Go to www.F2playlikeapro.co.uk for all the details.

"Equally appealing for browsers and avid readers, this is a recommended purchase" - School Library Journal Dive into the world of soccer with this mega book of everything to do with the beautiful game. Learn all the lingo; meet the greatest players, managers, and teams from both the men's and women's games; take masterclasses with the pros; wander through the haircut hall of fame; learn the most iconic goal celebrations; and more. Written by the team at MUNDIAL, the celebrated soccer lifestyle magazine, and filled with fun, colorful illustrations, The Big Book of Soccer by Mundial covers it all: The basics and the lingo that will have you talking like a soccer expert in no time. History of soccer, including how we got from playing with a ball made of feathers to using high-tech soccer balls, the greatest teams of all time and the evolution of soccer cleats. The great players, including Paolo Maldini, Lev Yashin, Joy Fawcett, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Michelle Akers, Sir Stanley Matthews, and Marta Vieira da Silva. Legendary managers and how they did it--learn the favorite killer formations of greats like Rinus Michels and Sir Alex Ferguson. The big cups, with their histories and greatest players. The world's most amazing stadiums, including Wembley, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and San Siro. Uniform hall of fame, from the USSR's (now Russia) classic red sweatshirt with 'CCCP' written across the front to Mexico's green home shirt with Aztec patterns and the giant face of the Aztec god of death. How to take the perfect shot like Ji So-yun, take the perfect set piece like David Beckham, take penalties like Matt Le Tissier, beat the offside trap like Fernando Torres, do the perfect attacking header like Didier Drogba, and more. Weird and wonderful, from the way we describe things that happen in the game (a fox in the box) to the way we celebrate a goal (by pretending to be a robot) or do our hair (shaving it all off except for a triangle at the front). The culture and people surrounding the game, from traditional pre-game food to the referee, commentator, and all-important crowd. This great big book is your essential guide to the wonderful world of soccer.

Football has played a key role in shaping and cementing senses of identity throughout the world. The nature of intra-nation hostility, which may be based in football or used as a theatre for antagonisms, is analysed in this work.