Publisher's Synopsis
The greatest sporting contest on the planet marks its 80th birthday in 2010 - and this wonderfully illustrated book provides a vivid and evocative celebration of the football World Cup's golden years. Drawing on the vast photographic archive of the Daily Mirror, it focuses on the tournaments of the past, bringing back to life a time of pure sporting theatre, spectacle and glory. Here are the legendary matches and famous players who proudly wore their nation's colours, producing some of football's finest moments in a more innocent age before commercialism took hold of the sport. All the much-cherished World Cup superstars are here: from Pele to Puskas, Maradona to Charlton, Ardiles to Zico. They are pictured alongside the great managers, the atmospheric stadiums and the classic games of each tournament. But When Football Was Football: World Cup is not just about the showcase events and icons of yesteryear: it reveals the World Cup behind the scenes, with the players off duty, the fans, the colour and unique excitement, and the lesser-known stories that together have made the World Cup so special. Revelling in the World Cup's best years, this is the must-have photographic tribute for any football fan
