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"As Americans increasingly embrace soccer, one of the country's most respected sports columnists has been covering the world's signature tournament for three decades. In Eight World Cups George Vecsey of The New York Times pulls back the curtain on the beautiful game. Blending witty travelogue with action on the field--and shady dealings in the back rooms--Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globetrotting account of the last eight World Cups, chronicling the United States team's slow, episodic rise while evidence of corruption grows in the sport's executive suites. Vecsey immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, devoted fans, and passionate rivalries and gives us his up-close impressions of charismatic stars like S
List of contents
1. The Goal That Changes Everything 1?
2. The Making of a Fan 9?
3. The Best Group Ever 21?
4. Not Ready for Prime Time 42?
5. The Kid Comes Back 47?
6. The Sweetest Fans 63?
7. Marking Maradona 69?
8. Mr. Blatter Comes to America 93?
9. The Big Event 99?
10. America's First Soccer Champion 120?
11. Allons, Enfants 125?
12. Americans Win World Cup-Again 149?
13. The Year of the Outsiders 156?
14. The Home I Was Always Seeking 186?
15. Scandal and Head-Butt 190?
16. Nelson Mandela Meets FIFA 209?
17. Spain Makes a Breakthrough 213?
18. Blatter Scores an Own Goal 229?
19. The Age of Klinsmann 241?
Epilogue: Back to the Roots 252
Appendix: Eight World Cups 255?
Bibliography 257?
Acknowledgments 273?
Index 277
About the author
George Vecsey
