A work of art... a soccer masterpiece | History of Soccer: The Beautiful Game

Soccer (fotball) 101 | History of Soccer: The Beautiful Game | Terence Stamp, Pele

DVDs:


	• History of Soccer: The Beautiful Game Terence Stamp, Pele Shout Factory, 2003 average customer review:based on 22 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Amazing effort, mostly amazing results

This is a remarkable feat, a obvious labor of love, and if you're from England it's probably heaven on earth.

If you're not from England, you may weary a bit from the rather relentless Anglo-centric viewpoint, but hey--they put it together, they're entitled to their own focus.

As with any project as long as this, some parts fail to impress. The significant amount of time spent on the development of the game in India and on the African continent was (IMO) a little too much. Interesting to see once...but not something I'd likely share with my soccer friends. ("Hey! You've got to see this 30 minute segment on how political and sociological conditions in Ghana influenced the selection of the national team during the 1990's!")

But there is a great deal here that approaches the magnificent. It was worth half the price of the whole package just to see the interview with Maradona where he mocks (MOCKS!) Peter Shilton for the hand-of-God goal. A classic!

In fact the segment on South America (mostly Argentina and Uruguay) was flat-out excellent...followed by an entire hour devoted just to Brazil, with wonderful footage from the '56 World Cup that marked the emergence of Pele at the age of 17.

One unavoidable problem with the disc is that this "history" gets older every year. This was put together just after the 1998 WC--a debacle for the United States. When talking about developing soccer countries, the USA isn't mentioned once. Instead, we have Hugo Chavez from Mexico complaining about how "sure we're the best in North America--but so what? We never get to play anybody good!" Grrrrr.

If you buy this, here's what to expect (the good and bad):

1. Nothing but a few dismissive yawns towards the USA--appropriate in 1998, but wildly inaccurate now.

2. Everything you've ever wanted to know about the various incarnations of the English national side.

3. Wonderful analysis and history of football in South America.

4. A genuinely interesting analysis of the struggles between club teams and national teams, and how players can be caught between them.

5. Lots of interesting video of some of the first cup competitions in Europe, that follows the development of teams in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia (as it was called at the tme) and more.

6. An objective view of the problems of hooliganism (and a commendable willingness to place the blame largely on England, where it belongs.)

7. More than you wanted to know about football in India.

8. A lengthy and more-or-less interesting history of the bureaucracy known as FIFA.

9. The sense that the folks who put this together sincerely love the game.

As you watch it all, you'll love it to.

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A work of art... a soccer masterpiece

This collection of DVD's depicting the history of soccer is truly captivating. For fans who love the game, and can't get enough of it, there is nothing like being able to see over and over the greatest moments in soccer history... it is a dream come true. For those who want a deeper historical understanding of this beautiful game, there is a comprehensive analysis of soccer history... the good, the bad and the ugly... but overall, the sublime phenomena that soccer has become around the world. For wholehearted soccer fans, this a discovery of oneself and one's world... to see the great soccer traditions in China, Sudan, Egypt, India... this is the true definition of the world sport soccer is. Also, growing up in the US, the extras on the NASL were very nostalgic and moving. I wish there were more footage on all the greats that were part of this unique experiment in soccer... George Best, Pele, Eusebio, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Krol...

I just wish there was more of everything. More footage of the great games, interviews of great players (we need to have the words of Cruyff and Beckenbauer), and to also include the history of soccer in Oceania. The DVD collection reaches up until the France 1998 World Cup. I certainly hope Fremantle Home Entertainment builds on this work of art by adding to it the 2002 World Cup, and will continue with the upcoming 2006 World Cup. I would certainly buy each addition every year.

You will enjoy this invaluable collection for years, and will have a greater appreciation for this most universal of all sports... soccer.

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Soccer (fotball) 101

The History of Soccer (Football); The Beautiful Game, is a wonderful set. Its cinematography is outstanding and the narration is very good. The extras are very cool as well (my one complaint is that the type on the bios is a bit small. I liken it to a survey course at university such as a History 101 or 102 course. It is not overall comprehensive but is comprehensive in giving us an understanding of the game from its earliest origins to the modern game all the way up to the 2002 World Cup. Each DVD contains two one hour segments on a different historical theme of the history of soccer, and some extras.

So much is covered hear, from the early origins, a Greek game that the romans adapted to a sort of ruby game that was preserved by both the Italians and the English to the modern games of Rugby and Football. In Soccer cultures the USA (a nice segment on the NASL is included) and Iran are covered as well as Asia and more. From the European superpowers (Italy, France, Germany, Holland, etc.,) to the South American Superpowers, with a whole segment featured on Brazil as well. From Clubs teams to the fans. From Superstars to the Media. And finally the growth in Africa. We get a pretty comprehensive look at the World Cup and good locks at the Europeans championships. All the superstars are hear, the great coaches, the great teams and the scandals are covered too. The different strategies and how they developed are discussed, as well as how the game spread to the fans. And how are why its so important to the fans. Also the political climates are discussed, as pertaining to the development of Soccer, in each country, in which politics has effected the game. Such as Fascism in Europe and a Dictatorship in Brazil.

This is a great set and a great starting place for the novice fan and long time fan of Soccer (Football).

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reviews: 1, page 2, 3, 4, 5

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