'GREAT' Independent
'TERRIFIC' Guardian
'WONDERFUL' Time Out
'QUALITY' Mail on Sunday
'DEFINITIVE' FourFourTwo

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book Award
Featured in FourFourTwo's list of 'The 10 Best Football Books Ever'
Featured in Esquire's 'Best Sports Books Ever Written'

Throughout the world, football is a potent force in the lives of billions of people. Whether national, political or cultural identities, football is the medium through which the world's hopes and fears, passions and hatreds are expressed.

Simon Kuper travelled to twenty-two countries from South Africa and Italy to Russia and the USA to examine the way football has shaped them. At the same time, he tried to find out what lies behind each nation's distinctive style of play, from the carefree self-expression of the Brazilians to the anxious calculation of the Italians. During his journeys he met an extraordinary range of players, politicians and - of course - the fans themselves, all of whom revealed in their different ways the unique place football has in the life of the planet.

If you like football, read it. If you don't like football, read it * The Times *
This is a wonderful book written under great duress at times and full of the spirit of youthful exuberance and curiosity that runs way beyond the touchline * Time Out *
Quality soccer books have mushroomed ... but none matches this global examination for originality, breadth and sheer courage * Mail on Sunday *
Another great work on soccer ... effervescent and hilarious * Independent *
A terrific book * Guardian *

Simon Kuper's first book, FOOTBALL AGAINST THE ENEMY, won the WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR in 1994, and went on to become an international bestseller. Born in Uganda in 1969, he spent most of his childhood in Holland. He is a sports columnist for the FINANCIAL TIMES.