Publisher's Synopsis
In the pages of this encyclopaedic book is everything anyone could ever want to know about the World Cup, from the very first finals in Uruguay in 1930 to the last qualifying match for this year's tournament in South Africa. Whether you want to know Czechoslovakia's goalscorer in the 1962 final in Santiago, or the name of the Senegalese referee who officiated in Scotland's 1978 group match in Mendoza, Argentina, or the full details of David Beckham's free kick that secured England's place in Tokyo, this is the ultimate reference work to answer all your questions and supply every statistic. And, above all, it's a celebration of the beautiful game's premier occasion, as every four years the footballing nations come together, pitting the finest players of all against each other, for one of the greatest sporting events in the world. Here is Geoff Hurst in 1966, Pele in 1970, Gary Lineker in 1986 and Gascoigne in 1990 – as well as all the facts, the figures, the points tallies and the penalties, from every minute of World Cup football ever played.
