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

by Paul Gardner

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.

Genres: Sports, Soccer, Nonfiction, Football

Paperback

First published September 1, 1976

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I typically love a good book about soccer. Normally, I would rate a book like this higher, but The Simplest Game fell way too far on the tedious side for me. Yes, it was initially very interesting to read about the early World Cup games, but getting play-by-play descriptions of nearly every single match of every World Cup tournament since 1930 was a touch snooze-inducing. Similarly, I appreciated a chapter on tactics until it droned on and on for endless pages about what seemed like every single tactical trick employed in soccer since the 1890s.

I did enjoy learning more about the historical origins of the sport. And I greatly appreciated learning more about soccer's history in the USA, and some of the reasons why it has had such a hard time gaining a dedicated fan base here.

However, I was really turned off by the author's obvious preferences and biases, which I felt greatly detracted from his credibility. For example, I happen to agree with him that the overly-defensive, "negative" style of play employed by some teams - such as the Italian national team - is both boring and not really in line with the spirit of the sport. But I don't need to hear the author blather on about it endlessly and essentially imply that the sport I love has been forever "ruined." I did read the version written for the 1994 World Cup, though, so perhaps the author has changed his tune since then.

But in a book of facts, I just don't see that there's any room at all for his opinion.

[Dwayne Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich and fascinating overview of soccer's history and greatest moments, from the pen of someone who was a first-hand witness to much of what he describes. Gardner's style is humorous, flowing, and communicates the intense energy of the spectacle that is soccer. This is the book to read if you love soccer, or perhaps if you want a taste of what the fuss is all about.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I skimmed over a large portion dealing with World Cup history. I was really in it for the portion explaining how soccer rooted and bloomed in England and the portion on the development of strategy. His recommendations for improving the game sound sensible but with so much money in it at this point I'm not sure they would ever succeed.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is alright. One of the biggest disappointments is that it is mainly from the British viewpoint. The author is not very positive or interested in what is happening in the United States.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Instructional and informative.

[Gonzalo]

It was awesome, showed my about soccer