Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

There probably won't be a more up front, in your face, warts and all account of England's 1998 World Cup campaign in France than Eddy Brimson's Tear Gas and Ticket Touts: With the England Fans at the World Cup. And why shouldn't Eddy cash in? The main argument of the book is that everyone else has and that the whole event was ruined by manipulative French ticket touts, corrupt police and football authorities, a baying press pack keen to magnify the slightest transgression of the English fans. Oh, and the fact that England also lost in the second round.

As a devout Watford fan, Brimson hits the World Cup trail, ending up in the carnage of rioting English fans on the streets of Marseilles. His arguments and conclusions are violent and crude, but undoubtedly reflect the beliefs of the average England fan, the only figure to come out of the book with any credit. Brimson is particularly good on evoking the atmosphere of the big matches and his description of the climactic England versus Argentina match is a great account of the agony and the ecstasy which anyone who watched the match must have felt. This is a great book for football fans, but its aggressive approach to terrace violence and sausage eaters (Brimson's term for Germans) may well leave some readers cold. --Jerry Brotton

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

Fantastic book, a great read for any footy fan, 14 Oct 2008
Having read "God Save The Team" by the same author, it soon occurred to me that I should have read this book first! Basically "God Save the Team" told the story of Eddy's trip to Belgium and Holland for Euro 2000 and the problems with football violence during the tournament. This book tell Eddy's stories from the 1998 World Cup in France.

Much of the book based around the problems with crowd violence and particularly how England Fans seem to have now become victims of their own reputation. However this isn't purely a book about football hooligans, but a book that tells Eddy own story about his trips to France for the 1998 World Cup, the seemingly impossible mission to find that all important match ticket and the wierd and wonderful charactors he met along the way.

The stories are gripping with great twists of humour, typical of Eddy Brimson. He also addresses some of the issues surrounding crowd violence and in particular how many England fans cannot seem to shake off their unwanted reputation of being trouble makers.

I now look forward to watching "Teargas and Tantrums", which is the video/DVD made to accompany this book.

Great work once again Eddy!

Worth because of the Tunisia vs. England conflict, 15 Feb 2006
This book is not the best involving England fans. It lacks passion, even on the greater moment, Argentina vs. England, which I consider one of the best matches that I ever seen. I can understand the guy was so tense and wrote his honest view of the match, but he could exploit more the atmosphere of that unique game.

Sometimes in the book the guy seems more than a yuppie with a hobby than a football fan, his feet stuck into the bourgeoisie , so I missed the proletarian style of hooligan books.

But there are good points too. Some words of every single WC match he watched and the book seems very honest, is a guy telling things he really saw, not trying to make a best-seller. Also, I like the intelligent way he analizes the loyalty of fans on small clubs agains the "football consumers" of the big ones who may desert as soon the teams go shite. But again, he looks much more like a football conoisseur who studies sociologically the game than a ordinary passionated supporter.

The description of the conflict in Marseille beaches between Tunisians and English is a gem and the best chapter of the book, a shame that it´s in the very early stages of reading, so the rest of it looks like an anti-climax. Recently ordered "Eurotrashed" from the same author and didn´t read yet, but, to be honest, I expected more from "Tear Gas".

The true story of France 98, 16 Dec 2001
An excellent account of the World Cup in France. This book, and 'Toulouse or not to lose' by Jamie Mash, represent the true story of following England at France 98, never mind all the sensationalist and distorted reporting in the media.

A great way for France '98 fans to reminisce, 10 Jun 1999
This book is a must buy for all fans who went to France '98. The stories are so true that your eyes start to itch again after reading about the teargas of Marseille. Another great read from Brimson.

Brimson the Bulldog!, 01 Apr 1999
Best book out of the all the Brimson brothers collection of titles.Guaranteed to raise a smile especially for the lads who actually travelled to France 98.But c'mon Eddy stop trying to paint yourself whiter than white in your books.

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

Fantastic book, a great read for any footy fan, 14 Oct 2008
Having read "God Save The Team" by the same author, it soon occurred to me that I should have read this book first! Basically "God Save the Team" told the story of Eddy's trip to Belgium and Holland for Euro 2000 and the problems with football violence during the tournament. This book tell Eddy's stories from the 1998 World Cup in France.

Much of the book based around the problems with crowd violence and particularly how England Fans seem to have now become victims of their own reputation. However this isn't purely a book about football hooligans, but a book that tells Eddy own story about his trips to France for the 1998 World Cup, the seemingly impossible mission to find that all important match ticket and the wierd and wonderful charactors he met along the way.

The stories are gripping with great twists of humour, typical of Eddy Brimson. He also addresses some of the issues surrounding crowd violence and in particular how many England fans cannot seem to shake off their unwanted reputation of being trouble makers.

I now look forward to watching "Teargas and Tantrums", which is the video/DVD made to accompany this book.

Great work once again Eddy!

Worth because of the Tunisia vs. England conflict, 15 Feb 2006
This book is not the best involving England fans. It lacks passion, even on the greater moment, Argentina vs. England, which I consider one of the best matches that I ever seen. I can understand the guy was so tense and wrote his honest view of the match, but he could exploit more the atmosphere of that unique game.

Sometimes in the book the guy seems more than a yuppie with a hobby than a football fan, his feet stuck into the bourgeoisie , so I missed the proletarian style of hooligan books.

But there are good points too. Some words of every single WC match he watched and the book seems very honest, is a guy telling things he really saw, not trying to make a best-seller. Also, I like the intelligent way he analizes the loyalty of fans on small clubs agains the "football consumers" of the big ones who may desert as soon the teams go shite. But again, he looks much more like a football conoisseur who studies sociologically the game than a ordinary passionated supporter.

The description of the conflict in Marseille beaches between Tunisians and English is a gem and the best chapter of the book, a shame that it´s in the very early stages of reading, so the rest of it looks like an anti-climax. Recently ordered "Eurotrashed" from the same author and didn´t read yet, but, to be honest, I expected more from "Tear Gas".

The true story of France 98, 16 Dec 2001
An excellent account of the World Cup in France. This book, and 'Toulouse or not to lose' by Jamie Mash, represent the true story of following England at France 98, never mind all the sensationalist and distorted reporting in the media.

A great way for France '98 fans to reminisce, 10 Jun 1999
This book is a must buy for all fans who went to France '98. The stories are so true that your eyes start to itch again after reading about the teargas of Marseille. Another great read from Brimson.

Brimson the Bulldog!, 01 Apr 1999
Best book out of the all the Brimson brothers collection of titles.Guaranteed to raise a smile especially for the lads who actually travelled to France 98.But c'mon Eddy stop trying to paint yourself whiter than white in your books.

This is the perfect book for cricket fans, 22 Aug 2000
This book is perfect for all young cricket fans. It, like all the others in the series, combines the games with a good story line. It also throws in many stastics for those who wish to work out averages, top run scorers etc.

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

Fantastic book, a great read for any footy fan, 14 Oct 2008
Having read "God Save The Team" by the same author, it soon occurred to me that I should have read this book first! Basically "God Save the Team" told the story of Eddy's trip to Belgium and Holland for Euro 2000 and the problems with football violence during the tournament. This book tell Eddy's stories from the 1998 World Cup in France.

Much of the book based around the problems with crowd violence and particularly how England Fans seem to have now become victims of their own reputation. However this isn't purely a book about football hooligans, but a book that tells Eddy own story about his trips to France for the 1998 World Cup, the seemingly impossible mission to find that all important match ticket and the wierd and wonderful charactors he met along the way.

The stories are gripping with great twists of humour, typical of Eddy Brimson. He also addresses some of the issues surrounding crowd violence and in particular how many England fans cannot seem to shake off their unwanted reputation of being trouble makers.

I now look forward to watching "Teargas and Tantrums", which is the video/DVD made to accompany this book.

Great work once again Eddy!

Worth because of the Tunisia vs. England conflict, 15 Feb 2006
This book is not the best involving England fans. It lacks passion, even on the greater moment, Argentina vs. England, which I consider one of the best matches that I ever seen. I can understand the guy was so tense and wrote his honest view of the match, but he could exploit more the atmosphere of that unique game.

Sometimes in the book the guy seems more than a yuppie with a hobby than a football fan, his feet stuck into the bourgeoisie , so I missed the proletarian style of hooligan books.

But there are good points too. Some words of every single WC match he watched and the book seems very honest, is a guy telling things he really saw, not trying to make a best-seller. Also, I like the intelligent way he analizes the loyalty of fans on small clubs agains the "football consumers" of the big ones who may desert as soon the teams go shite. But again, he looks much more like a football conoisseur who studies sociologically the game than a ordinary passionated supporter.

The description of the conflict in Marseille beaches between Tunisians and English is a gem and the best chapter of the book, a shame that it´s in the very early stages of reading, so the rest of it looks like an anti-climax. Recently ordered "Eurotrashed" from the same author and didn´t read yet, but, to be honest, I expected more from "Tear Gas".

The true story of France 98, 16 Dec 2001
An excellent account of the World Cup in France. This book, and 'Toulouse or not to lose' by Jamie Mash, represent the true story of following England at France 98, never mind all the sensationalist and distorted reporting in the media.

A great way for France '98 fans to reminisce, 10 Jun 1999
This book is a must buy for all fans who went to France '98. The stories are so true that your eyes start to itch again after reading about the teargas of Marseille. Another great read from Brimson.

Brimson the Bulldog!, 01 Apr 1999
Best book out of the all the Brimson brothers collection of titles.Guaranteed to raise a smile especially for the lads who actually travelled to France 98.But c'mon Eddy stop trying to paint yourself whiter than white in your books.

This is the perfect book for cricket fans, 22 Aug 2000
This book is perfect for all young cricket fans. It, like all the others in the series, combines the games with a good story line. It also throws in many stastics for those who wish to work out averages, top run scorers etc.

FIFA & THE STRUGGLE FOR WORLD FOOTBALL, 17 Dec 2007
Great book. I read this as part of my MSc in The Business of Football and can say that it is well structured and exceptionally researched.

Don't mistake this for your standard football expose book, this is rigourously academic and by no means a light read. However, for serious students it is well wirth the effort.

As it is now £50+ I'd suggest that readers go for Badfellas which is the dumbed down (although only in relative terms) mass market version of the same book priced at £4.

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

Fantastic book, a great read for any footy fan, 14 Oct 2008
Having read "God Save The Team" by the same author, it soon occurred to me that I should have read this book first! Basically "God Save the Team" told the story of Eddy's trip to Belgium and Holland for Euro 2000 and the problems with football violence during the tournament. This book tell Eddy's stories from the 1998 World Cup in France.

Much of the book based around the problems with crowd violence and particularly how England Fans seem to have now become victims of their own reputation. However this isn't purely a book about football hooligans, but a book that tells Eddy own story about his trips to France for the 1998 World Cup, the seemingly impossible mission to find that all important match ticket and the wierd and wonderful charactors he met along the way.

The stories are gripping with great twists of humour, typical of Eddy Brimson. He also addresses some of the issues surrounding crowd violence and in particular how many England fans cannot seem to shake off their unwanted reputation of being trouble makers.

I now look forward to watching "Teargas and Tantrums", which is the video/DVD made to accompany this book.

Great work once again Eddy!

Worth because of the Tunisia vs. England conflict, 15 Feb 2006
This book is not the best involving England fans. It lacks passion, even on the greater moment, Argentina vs. England, which I consider one of the best matches that I ever seen. I can understand the guy was so tense and wrote his honest view of the match, but he could exploit more the atmosphere of that unique game.

Sometimes in the book the guy seems more than a yuppie with a hobby than a football fan, his feet stuck into the bourgeoisie , so I missed the proletarian style of hooligan books.

But there are good points too. Some words of every single WC match he watched and the book seems very honest, is a guy telling things he really saw, not trying to make a best-seller. Also, I like the intelligent way he analizes the loyalty of fans on small clubs agains the "football consumers" of the big ones who may desert as soon the teams go shite. But again, he looks much more like a football conoisseur who studies sociologically the game than a ordinary passionated supporter.

The description of the conflict in Marseille beaches between Tunisians and English is a gem and the best chapter of the book, a shame that it´s in the very early stages of reading, so the rest of it looks like an anti-climax. Recently ordered "Eurotrashed" from the same author and didn´t read yet, but, to be honest, I expected more from "Tear Gas".

The true story of France 98, 16 Dec 2001
An excellent account of the World Cup in France. This book, and 'Toulouse or not to lose' by Jamie Mash, represent the true story of following England at France 98, never mind all the sensationalist and distorted reporting in the media.

A great way for France '98 fans to reminisce, 10 Jun 1999
This book is a must buy for all fans who went to France '98. The stories are so true that your eyes start to itch again after reading about the teargas of Marseille. Another great read from Brimson.

Brimson the Bulldog!, 01 Apr 1999
Best book out of the all the Brimson brothers collection of titles.Guaranteed to raise a smile especially for the lads who actually travelled to France 98.But c'mon Eddy stop trying to paint yourself whiter than white in your books.

This is the perfect book for cricket fans, 22 Aug 2000
This book is perfect for all young cricket fans. It, like all the others in the series, combines the games with a good story line. It also throws in many stastics for those who wish to work out averages, top run scorers etc.

FIFA & THE STRUGGLE FOR WORLD FOOTBALL, 17 Dec 2007
Great book. I read this as part of my MSc in The Business of Football and can say that it is well structured and exceptionally researched.

Don't mistake this for your standard football expose book, this is rigourously academic and by no means a light read. However, for serious students it is well wirth the effort.

As it is now £50+ I'd suggest that readers go for Badfellas which is the dumbed down (although only in relative terms) mass market version of the same book priced at £4.

World Cup, 24 Apr 2006
I am an art fan rather than a football fan and I really enjoyed this book - it would be a great present for anyone who really loves football. This is much more about 'the beautiful game' than mere sports photos and really captures the feeling of the World Cup.

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

Fantastic book, a great read for any footy fan, 14 Oct 2008
Having read "God Save The Team" by the same author, it soon occurred to me that I should have read this book first! Basically "God Save the Team" told the story of Eddy's trip to Belgium and Holland for Euro 2000 and the problems with football violence during the tournament. This book tell Eddy's stories from the 1998 World Cup in France.

Much of the book based around the problems with crowd violence and particularly how England Fans seem to have now become victims of their own reputation. However this isn't purely a book about football hooligans, but a book that tells Eddy own story about his trips to France for the 1998 World Cup, the seemingly impossible mission to find that all important match ticket and the wierd and wonderful charactors he met along the way.

The stories are gripping with great twists of humour, typical of Eddy Brimson. He also addresses some of the issues surrounding crowd violence and in particular how many England fans cannot seem to shake off their unwanted reputation of being trouble makers.

I now look forward to watching "Teargas and Tantrums", which is the video/DVD made to accompany this book.

Great work once again Eddy!

Worth because of the Tunisia vs. England conflict, 15 Feb 2006
This book is not the best involving England fans. It lacks passion, even on the greater moment, Argentina vs. England, which I consider one of the best matches that I ever seen. I can understand the guy was so tense and wrote his honest view of the match, but he could exploit more the atmosphere of that unique game.

Sometimes in the book the guy seems more than a yuppie with a hobby than a football fan, his feet stuck into the bourgeoisie , so I missed the proletarian style of hooligan books.

But there are good points too. Some words of every single WC match he watched and the book seems very honest, is a guy telling things he really saw, not trying to make a best-seller. Also, I like the intelligent way he analizes the loyalty of fans on small clubs agains the "football consumers" of the big ones who may desert as soon the teams go shite. But again, he looks much more like a football conoisseur who studies sociologically the game than a ordinary passionated supporter.

The description of the conflict in Marseille beaches between Tunisians and English is a gem and the best chapter of the book, a shame that it´s in the very early stages of reading, so the rest of it looks like an anti-climax. Recently ordered "Eurotrashed" from the same author and didn´t read yet, but, to be honest, I expected more from "Tear Gas".

The true story of France 98, 16 Dec 2001
An excellent account of the World Cup in France. This book, and 'Toulouse or not to lose' by Jamie Mash, represent the true story of following England at France 98, never mind all the sensationalist and distorted reporting in the media.

A great way for France '98 fans to reminisce, 10 Jun 1999
This book is a must buy for all fans who went to France '98. The stories are so true that your eyes start to itch again after reading about the teargas of Marseille. Another great read from Brimson.

Brimson the Bulldog!, 01 Apr 1999
Best book out of the all the Brimson brothers collection of titles.Guaranteed to raise a smile especially for the lads who actually travelled to France 98.But c'mon Eddy stop trying to paint yourself whiter than white in your books.

This is the perfect book for cricket fans, 22 Aug 2000
This book is perfect for all young cricket fans. It, like all the others in the series, combines the games with a good story line. It also throws in many stastics for those who wish to work out averages, top run scorers etc.

FIFA & THE STRUGGLE FOR WORLD FOOTBALL, 17 Dec 2007
Great book. I read this as part of my MSc in The Business of Football and can say that it is well structured and exceptionally researched.

Don't mistake this for your standard football expose book, this is rigourously academic and by no means a light read. However, for serious students it is well wirth the effort.

As it is now £50+ I'd suggest that readers go for Badfellas which is the dumbed down (although only in relative terms) mass market version of the same book priced at £4.

World Cup, 24 Apr 2006
I am an art fan rather than a football fan and I really enjoyed this book - it would be a great present for anyone who really loves football. This is much more about 'the beautiful game' than mere sports photos and really captures the feeling of the World Cup.

Hours of Good Reading., 19 Aug 2002
This is a great book for all England fans. Great Quality, good pictures and an interesting up to date biography on each squad member. Hours of reading here. On the minus side, there are a couple of errors in the biographies, but nothing that spoils the pleasure. This is the sort of book you can pick up time and time again and find something new to read everytime.

Best football book i've ever read!, 03 Oct 2006
I now look out for Liechtenstein scores every game, I have my Liectensteing shirt, and my Liechtenstein pennant!

I have Harry Zech's autograph!

Great read.

But they lost every game!!!, 23 Jul 2006
A very funny book about Liechtenstein's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign as seen through an English journalist's eyes. For some odd reason he decided to follow their home away and games on the back of a travel book on Liechtenstein bought in a second hand bookstore. His story combines the background of the country, its people and its fledgling football team.

The most strking thing is the strageness of living in a country with only 35,000 inhabitants, and how this permeats their personality. Especially the fact that it is all ran a by a bloke that lives in the big house on the top of the hill.

By the end, I was hoping the team would get a result against someone, or even just score a goal. They didn't, but that's football for you.


Superb, 10 Feb 2006
This is a wonderfully written book about the small country of Liechtenstein and their football team. Great stories, wonderful imagery, well written...it's the perfect book to read on a journey. Brilliant!

Wonderful, insightful fun, 18 Nov 2008
As a sportswriter, this is an invaluable book; it is simply the most informative, comprehensive and accurate reference book there is on the history of the World Cup. Many of the basic errors which remain on FIFA's official match reports are corrected and the length to which Freddi goes to source accurate information, especially on the pre-66 World Cups, puts the rest of us to shame. It has full names, with appropriate diacritics, for all players and accurate goal times and attendance figures. But it is so much more than that.

Freddi is a real writer, not just a sports anorak. Every match from 1930 to 2002 is reported on in an engaging, informative way which does more than simply recycle footballing clichés and received wisdom. They are written with a wry wit, the book is peppered with innumerable delicious asides which rival Bill Bryson and Dara O'Briain for observational humour such as, "Recoba, known as 'El Chino' for the Oriental features he simply didn't have..." and the ingenious "...the bushy haired (Paul) Breitner, a Marxist with Harpo tendencies...". They make it worth ignoring the book's value as a reference and simply reading from cover to cover.

The ultimate World Cup reference book, 17 May 2006
When the first edition of this book was released in 2002, I was hugely impressed with the sheer scope of this book. Fortunately, Cris Freddi has kept up his high standards with a thorough update of this reference book. This book fully lives up to its title as 'Complete book of the World Cup' as it contains every record, every team, referee, match, match report one can think of for the World Cup.

Although many World Cup reference book has much of this material, what sets this book apart from the rest are the fascinating match reports written for every single match played in the World Cup finals. The match reports are witty and offer interesting and individual analysis of the key action.Quite clearly, the book has been exhaustively researched and the material is accessible and clearly presented.

If you were to buy just one book on the World Cup, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for you to buy. A fantastic read.

Chuckle brothers in disguise?????????????, 09 Mar 2005
About as entertaining as their post match interviews & as searching as there hoofs down the line on a Saturday afternoon. Gary fails to mention that he has had such an England career thanks to the awful injuries sustained by Rob Jones many years ago. Apparently Phil could have been a top cricketer but you can't earn £50K for being ordinary in that sport can you? Would rather hear more about the chuckle sister who can throw a ball in a net pretty well by all accounts.

A Fascinating Read, 30 Oct 2001
Whether you love or hate these guys this book is worth a look. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of both the Neville brothers concentrating on their sporting up-bringing and turning into pro's. Coming from a family of sportsmen and women- mum and dad have connections with Bury FC, sister plays netball internationally- both phil and Gaz were bound to turn out into top sportsmen themselves. Whether it was to be in football or cricket was the only question asked.

Fantastic book, a great read for any footy fan, 14 Oct 2008
Having read "God Save The Team" by the same author, it soon occurred to me that I should have read this book first! Basically "God Save the Team" told the story of Eddy's trip to Belgium and Holland for Euro 2000 and the problems with football violence during the tournament. This book tell Eddy's stories from the 1998 World Cup in France.

Much of the book based around the problems with crowd violence and particularly how England Fans seem to have now become victims of their own reputation. However this isn't purely a book about football hooligans, but a book that tells Eddy own story about his trips to France for the 1998 World Cup, the seemingly impossible mission to find that all important match ticket and the wierd and wonderful charactors he met along the way.

The stories are gripping with great twists of humour, typical of Eddy Brimson. He also addresses some of the issues surrounding crowd violence and in particular how many England fans cannot seem to shake off their unwanted reputation of being trouble makers.

I now look forward to watching "Teargas and Tantrums", which is the video/DVD made to accompany this book.

Great work once again Eddy!

Worth because of the Tunisia vs. England conflict, 15 Feb 2006
This book is not the best involving England fans. It lacks passion, even on the greater moment, Argentina vs. England, which I consider one of the best matches that I ever seen. I can understand the guy was so tense and wrote his honest view of the match, but he could exploit more the atmosphere of that unique game.

Sometimes in the book the guy seems more than a yuppie with a hobby than a football fan, his feet stuck into the bourgeoisie , so I missed the proletarian style of hooligan books.

But there are good points too. Some words of every single WC match he watched and the book seems very honest, is a guy telling things he really saw, not trying to make a best-seller. Also, I like the intelligent way he analizes the loyalty of fans on small clubs agains the "football consumers" of the big ones who may desert as soon the teams go shite. But again, he looks much more like a football conoisseur who studies sociologically the game than a ordinary passionated supporter.

The description of the conflict in Marseille beaches between Tunisians and English is a gem and the best chapter of the book, a shame that it´s in the very early stages of reading, so the rest of it looks like an anti-climax. Recently ordered "Eurotrashed" from the same author and didn´t read yet, but, to be honest, I expected more from "Tear Gas".

The true story of France 98, 16 Dec 2001
An excellent account of the World Cup in France. This book, and 'Toulouse or not to lose' by Jamie Mash, represent the true story of following England at France 98, never mind all the sensationalist and distorted reporting in the media.

A great way for France '98 fans to reminisce, 10 Jun 1999
This book is a must buy for all fans who went to France '98. The stories are so true that your eyes start to itch again after reading about the teargas of Marseille. Another great read from Brimson.

Brimson the Bulldog!, 01 Apr 1999
Best book out of the all the Brimson brothers collection of titles.Guaranteed to raise a smile especially for the lads who actually travelled to France 98.But c'mon Eddy stop trying to paint yourself whiter than white in your books.

This is the perfect book for cricket fans, 22 Aug 2000
This book is perfect for all young cricket fans. It, like all the others in the series, combines the games with a good story line. It also throws in many stastics for those who wish to work out averages, top run scorers etc.

FIFA & THE STRUGGLE FOR WORLD FOOTBALL, 17 Dec 2007
Great book. I read this as part of my MSc in The Business of Football and can say that it is well structured and exceptionally researched.

Don't mistake this for your standard football expose book, this is rigourously academic and by no means a light read. However, for serious students it is well wirth the effort.

As it is now £50+ I'd suggest that readers go for Badfellas which is the dumbed down (although only in relative terms) mass market version of the same book priced at £4.

World Cup, 24 Apr 2006
I am an art fan rather than a football fan and I really enjoyed this book - it would be a great present for anyone who really loves football. This is much more about 'the beautiful game' than mere sports photos and really captures the feeling of the World Cup.

Hours of Good Reading., 19 Aug 2002
This is a great book for all England fans. Great Quality, good pictures and an interesting up to date biography on each squad member. Hours of reading here. On the minus side, there are a couple of errors in the biographies, but nothing that spoils the pleasure. This is the sort of book you can pick up time and time again and find something new to read everytime.

The definitive guide to the story so far!, 18 Jun 2006
A very comprehensive review of the World Cup from 1930 to 2002. All the matchs are reveiwed and each tournament has a break down of results at the end. A good read and a must for World Cup fans.

Very Good to very Poor, 14 Jun 2006
Glanville is not a football person - one can tell he never grew up with the game. He is a fine journalist thou. His knowledge of politics and behind the scenes stuff is very good. However his knowledge/understanding of the game itself is very poor - one particularily annoying thing he talks about the great players he has seen - but gets their positions wrong; did he really watch the games?

A true history of the world's greatest sporting competition, 02 Nov 2000
It really is amazing just how much Brian Granville has managed to fit into this wonderful book. However it really is far from just being an excellent source of statistics for each of the world cups. This book is quite simply jam packed with wonderful, and quite often hilarious tales, ranging from the poor organisation and violence that ravaged the first ever world cup in Uraguay, to accounts of individual players. The tale of the pure footballing genius of Garinsha who was also blighted with complete madness makes fascinating reading. A book that every football fan should have on their bookshelf.