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How to Win the World Cup

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents How to Win the World Cup by Chris Evans, read by Joshua Picton.

WATERSTONES BEST BOOKS OF 2022 – SPORT

'A brilliant new perspective on World Cup management... Superbly insightful .' – Jamie Carragher

'Superb – great stories about the greatest tournament' – Daniel Taylor

Master tacticians, crazy tyrants and lucky generals... This insightful investigation reveals the mindsets and, frankly, at times unbelievable approaches of the coaches who strive to deliver football's ultimate prize.

HOW DO YOU WIN THE WORLD CUP?

Godlike genius or the focus of a disappointed nation's fury – the world's most prestigious tournament makes or breaks a national coach. Only 20 managers have guided their team to World Cup glory, so what are their secrets? From revolutionary tactics to hare-brained schemes, this book searches for the keys to the most exclusive club in international football.

They may silently plot on the bench or manically gesticulate from the sidelines, but what can the coach really do to influence their team's performance? Discover the tactical innovations and brilliant strategies as well as the bizarre superstitions, psychological masterclasses and bonkers team-building regimes that managers have employed in the quest for that iconic trophy.

Charting the successes, failures, dramas and controversies of 90 years of World Cup action, through the insights of journalists, players and managers with first-hand experience of World Cup competition, this book comprehensively documents the lengths the man in the dugout will go to in order to bring home the greatest prize.

The book features contributions from leading World Cup stars, including Luiz Felipe Scolari, Geoff Hurst, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Pierre Littbarski, Roberto Martinez, Mick McCarthy, Tomas Brolin, Jamie Carragher, Alexi Lalas, Patrick Barclay, Raphael Honigstein and Graham Hunter.

Critics Review

Superbly insightful … A brilliant new perspective on World Cup management
Jamie Carragher
Superb – great stories about the greatest tournament
Daniel Taylor
A fascinating read
Barry Davies
If you like a rich and rewarding football read, look no further
Patrick Barclay
Detailed, humorous, extensively researched and very difficult to put down
Terry Butcher
A wonderful look into the beautiful game and the quest to unlock the secret to winning its ultimate prize
Alexi Lalas
An incisive analysis of “the beautiful game” at its highest levels… a must-read for soccer fans
Publishers Weekly
Evans takes 19 aspects of both management and the World cup itself (penalty shoot-outs, qualifying, tactics, star players) unearths a succession of stories... and sprinkles them with interviewees.
The i
Insight into how simply punching above one's weight in the qualifying stages is a world cup victory in itself.
When Saturday Comes
Superbly insightful... a brilliant new perspective
talkSport
Evans has spoken to an impressive and eclectic cast of characters with vast experience in the international game. The quality and calibre of those who offer their perspectives in the book really make it stand out … It serves as both a study in how to manage an international time and also a reflection on why international football is so special.
All Sport Book Reviews
...fascinating
BBC Radio 5 Live
Author Chris Evans
Narrator Joshua Picton
Duration 8 hours and 32 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781472990785
Format Audiobook
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Genre Association football (Soccer), Management and management techniques, Sports management and facilities, Sports training and coaching, World Cups and World championships
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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