Book Review: “Red Balloons” By Liam Walsh (Halcyon Publishing) * * * * * * * * * * It’s a common truth that following a team is a way to connect with other people, both close and far away. Liam Walsh relies on the anchor of Swindon Town FC of the English fourth tier […]
reviews
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Book Review: Franz Beckenbauer's story, flaws and all
The Three Lives of the Kaiser By Uli Hesse (Simon & Schuster) * * * * * * * * * * A new English-language biography of Franz Beckenbauer has divided his life up into three sections: as a graceful, game-winning libero for Bayern Munich (three times European Cup champion) and the German national team […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
World Cup Book Review, Part 2: Searching for the real Qatar
Inside Qatar: Hidden Stories from one of the Richest Nations on Earth By John McManus (Icon) An Armchair Fan’s Guide to the World Cup: the Story of how Football came to the Desert By Jon Berry (Pitch) Qatar 2022: the Tiny Nation that Dreamed Big By ND Prashant (Pitch) The country of Qatar “doesn’t have […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
World Cup Book Review, Part 1: Dictatorship, USA 94, and the greatest upsets
Over the coming weeks, Ian Plenderleith will be reviewing a selection of the more interesting books that have been published ahead of the 2022 World Cup. * * * * * * * * * * • Blood on the Crossbar: the Dictatorship’s World Cup By Rhys Richards (Pitch) • USA 94: The World Cup […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Tom McCabe chronicles New Jersey's rich soccer history with pride
Tom McCabe‘s T-shirt proclaims: “New Jersey. The Greatest Country in the World.” Residents of other states (and countries) might differ – just as they argue over who is, say, the greatest soccer player ever. But it’s hard to argue about New Jersey’s key role in American soccer history. From the earliest factory-based teams to the […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Moving documentary shows Ronaldinho's Barca rise and decline
Ronaldinho – The Happiest Man in the World (Goldman Pictures) * * * * * * * * * * Once they’re out of the public eye, it’s easy to forget how good some players really were. Sport is focused in the main on the present moment, and current discussions about the best player in […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
U.S. filmmaker Christopher Andre Marks on creating the 'King Otto' documentary
Who was the first person to win a major international soccer tournament while coaching a national team of a country not his own? Hint: Along the way they upended Portugal (with Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo), France (led by Zinedine Zidane) and the Czech Republic (Milan Baros). Still not sure? The improbable champions had never previously […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
The Rochester Lancers: 'the antithesis of the New York Cosmos' — book review and author Q&A
Alive and Kicking: The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers by Michael Lewis (Independently published) * * * * * * * * * * U.S. soccer was not born in the 1970s, but it’s certainly the time when the sport came of age. At the start of that decade, the North American […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: Behind-the-scenes view of soccer cinema making
A visit to set of “High Expectations” reveals the “soccer consultant,” soccer player extras and refs work with the actors and production crew. “High Expectations,” to premier April 7, stars Kelsey Grammer and features 1996 Olympic gold medalist and 1999 World Cup winner Briana Scurry as coach of the Georgia Wild.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Holiday gift ideas: Recommended reading from SA reviews and interviewees
Books we reviewed, reported on, or excerpted, this year may very well help you find presents for your soccer family and friends. From Ian Plenderleith’s review of Football, She Wrote: An Anthology of Women’s Writing on the Game, Foreword by Gabby Logan: This wonderful collection of 20 essays captures much of that struggle against the […]