The World Cup: Heroes, Hoodlums, High-kicks and Head-butts

With the 2018 Russia World cup fast approaching (tonight, to be exact), I thought it time to comment on this book by Paul Hansford. It seems like it was commissioned just before the 2014 Brazil World Cup, so it's missing some history - the stand-out being Brazil's 7-1 evisceration at the hands of Germany in the semi-final. I read this to warm up for the finals and it did the job in a light-hearted, sometimes corny, way. 

The chapter titles include; The Evolution of the World Cup, World Cup Suerpstars and Legends, The World Cup's Most Stunning Results and World Cup Conspiracy Theories. Some of the highlights - The 'Battle(s) of Bern and Santiago' in 1954 and 1962 respectively, the very dodgy Argentina 6 Peru 0 match that enabled the albiceleste to reach the final (and subsequently win), possible doping going all the way back to Switzerland 1954 and the foiled terror plot that apparently planned to kill the England and US teams in 1998! 

As a quick, not too serious precursor to the next few weeks of football, it was a nice way to pass the time. Some of the heavier, dictator-tinged sections will require further reading but for now, it did the job. On to the fitbah!!!