This was a relatively concise journey through modern Germany, focused on football, but was exactly what I'd hoped to read - an insight into the country, with interviews from people involved in football that were engaging and informative, but in a wider political context.
Although the page count was fairly small, it didn't feel too short as Holden wrote in a clear manner that covered topics succinctly, and generally as a narrator rather than adding his own views and analysis. Sometimes this meant interviewees went unchallenged, as after an entire book of people saying the fan-led football was more important than money, a womens' team founder suggested that she was criticised for welcoming investment because she wasn't a man, who German society allows to be a big bad capitalist. A few of the other interviewees also made somewhat fanciful, or at least unproven, claims, but I suppose the aim of the book was to broadcast real opinions rather than scrutinise them.
The short portraits still gave me an idea of the character of different places, as well as individual teams. Not all of this was focused on football, but also the superior attitude of Bavarians or the areas with less economic success, and was educational without coming across as patronising at any point. Historical context was there, but the focus was on contemporary attitudes and issues, and any history was for background use.
Holden rarely included any information on the travelling aspect itself, and the stories were told by his interviewees rather than him. I appreciated this approach, and I think this, along with his fairly neat style, made the book seem a lot fuller than its page count would suggest. With the exception of a top-flight president, there were not many figures with a high profile, but I didn't feel that this mattered.