The Story of the FIFA World Cup – serie

Every four years, the planet stops dead for an event like no other. The World Cup captures the global imagination in a way that dwarfs every other sporting competition. Glittering Prize tells the full story of its thrilling century-long arc. Volume I looks back at the tournament's first five decades: its embryonic incarnation in 1930; the stunning fall of champions-elect Brazil at the Maracanã in 1950; the equally sensational demise of Hungary's Magic Magyars four years later in Bern; England's glory in 1966; Brazil's joyful conquest of Italy in 1970; the unfulfilled flowering of the Netherlands' Total Football in 1974; and Argentina's tainted triumph against the backdrop of the Dirty War in 1978. Brimming with incredible detail and magnetic characters such as Ferenc Puskás, Garrincha, Gigi Riva, Johan Cruyff and Daniel Passarella, Glittering Prize is a gripping chronicle of the greatest sporting show on earth.

Every four years, the planet stops dead for an event like no other. The World Cup captures the global imagination in a way that dwarfs every other sporting competition. Glittering Prize tells the full story of its thrilling century-long arc. Volume II focuses on what many consider the tournament's golden era: Paolo Rossi's surprise eruption to fire Italy to victory in Spain in 1982; Diego Maradona's almighty show of will and skill four years later in Mexico; the unforgettable exploits of Totò Schillaci and Roger Milla at Italia 90; the glitzy extravaganza of USA 94; and France's vivid triumph on home soil in 1998. Brimming with fascinating detail and compelling personalities such as Michel Platini, Lothar Matthäus, Roberto Baggio and Zinedine Zidane, Glittering Prize is a riveting chronicle of the greatest sporting show on earth.