The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to the World of Soccer

The Simplest Game is the definitive reference to soccer, the world's most popular sport. Fully revised to coincide with the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and the continuing explosion of American interest in the game since the 1994 World Cup, The Simplest Game explores the game, its players, and its history.
Paul Gardner provides an authoritative and entertaining view of soccer's colorful history and lore. Originally published in 1976, The Simplest Game was heralded as "a storehouse of valuable information" by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Now completely revised and updated to reflect the changes the game has undergone since then and published for the first time with photos of the most memorable and talented players, the book offers a wealth of facts, figures, and anecdotes that enable one to become part of the knowledgeable fraternity that speaks intelligently about the sport.
The Simplest Game traces the evolution of soccer from a crude, rustic pastime into a sophisticated worldwide business. It sketches the history and achievements of soccer, highlights world competitions and important players, examines the growth of divergent national playing styles, and spells out what is needed for the United States to develop an indigenous style of play and players of international caliber.
The Simplest Game is for anyone searching for an introduction to, or a better understanding of, the world's most followed sport.

Soccer's premier international event, the World Cup, will take place in the U.S. this summer, so expect a glut of material on the event and the sport--but don't expect to find anything better than this updated overview by one of soccer's most respected reporters. Gardner, currently the author of a column for Soccer America magazine, has covered the sport for decades. He provides historical background on the game's origins before supplying detailed analyses of each of the previous World Cup competitions. He also reports on the funneling systems employed by other countries to develop young players into potential international-caliber stars. Perhaps of most interest to American fans will be Gardner's discussion of the strategy shifts that the game has undergone in recent years. He is especially critical of the modern defense-dominated approach, arguing persuasively that, without enough energy devoted to offense, soccer can become a tedious, dull game. Appended are the international rules, a glossary, and various lists of Cup winners and outstanding players. An excellent, thorough guide to modern soccer. Wes Lukowsky