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The Greatest Show on Earth: The Inside Story of the Legendary 1970 World Cup
Shortlisted for Football Book of the Year in the Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year Award
Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Football Book of the Year 2022
One of the Financial Times Top 5 Best Sports Books of the Year
The 1970 World Cup is widely regarded as the greatest ever staged, with more goals per game than any World Cup since. But more than just the proliferation of goals was the quality of the overall football, as some of the finest teams ever to represent the likes of West Germany, Peru, Italy and England came together for a tilt at the world title. But at the heart of the tournament were Brazil; captained by Carlos Alberto and featuring legends like Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino and Tostão, the 1970 Seleção are often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team.
Using brand new interviews alongside painstaking archival research, Andrew Downie charts each stage of the tournament, from the preparations to the final, telling a host of remarkable stories in the players’ own words. The result is an immediate, insightful and compelling narrative that paints a unique portrait of an extraordinary few weeks when football hit peaks it has seldom reached since. This is Mexico 1970. Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth.
Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Football Book of the Year 2022
One of the Financial Times Top 5 Best Sports Books of the Year
The 1970 World Cup is widely regarded as the greatest ever staged, with more goals per game than any World Cup since. But more than just the proliferation of goals was the quality of the overall football, as some of the finest teams ever to represent the likes of West Germany, Peru, Italy and England came together for a tilt at the world title. But at the heart of the tournament were Brazil; captained by Carlos Alberto and featuring legends like Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino and Tostão, the 1970 Seleção are often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team.
Using brand new interviews alongside painstaking archival research, Andrew Downie charts each stage of the tournament, from the preparations to the final, telling a host of remarkable stories in the players’ own words. The result is an immediate, insightful and compelling narrative that paints a unique portrait of an extraordinary few weeks when football hit peaks it has seldom reached since. This is Mexico 1970. Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 10, 2022
Entre mis lecturas que he hecho para el mundial de Qatar 2022, esta ha sido la más disfrutable. Una impecable crónica del mundial de 1970 en México que regresa al lector a un tiempo anterior a la globalización y homogeneización del fútbol. Llevada por testimonios de primera mano de jugadores de todos los equipos, incluyendo algunos de la talla de Pelé, Tostão, Bobby Charlton o Gerd Muller, Downie le pasa el micrófono a los protagonistas del fútbol para que cuenten la historia de la Copa del Mundo más emocionante de la historia y relaten un contexto cambiante.
October 25, 2022
I read recently that the first World Cup tournament you can recall is from when you are aged ten or eleven. In 1970 I was ten years old and can still vividly recall the games and atmosphere which sounded like it was being played far far away (which it was in all fairness as the globe seemed massive in those pre Internet/social media days). We only had a black and white telly and no phone. Only rich people had a phone and colour telly.
Even though it was black and white moving images, with echoing commentary, it felt so colourful and this mighty fine book captures the main moments with perfect clarity. There was no better team than Brazil in 1970 and no better player than Pele. I say that even if Jairzinho was my favourite player of the tournament.
Most definitely an outstanding book which has the memories flooding back.
Even though it was black and white moving images, with echoing commentary, it felt so colourful and this mighty fine book captures the main moments with perfect clarity. There was no better team than Brazil in 1970 and no better player than Pele. I say that even if Jairzinho was my favourite player of the tournament.
Most definitely an outstanding book which has the memories flooding back.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews