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GETTING READY FOR WORLD CUP
StarTwo, May 26, 2006
History of Soccer: The Beautiful Game
Running Time: 914 minutes
Distributor: FreemantleMedia Enterprises Ltd
THIS boxed set isn’t for just anybody. You have to be seriously interested in football and its history and its socio-economic influences to watch this. And even then, you have to be in the right frame of mind and have ample time to watch all seven discs.
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History of Soccer |
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Having said that, once you watch the DVDs you will be extremely glad that you did. The DVDs shed light not only on the origins of football but also how the game spread to the rest of the world from England.
There are also all the stories – some great and some sad – about how football changed because of wars, plane crashes and stadium disasters.
To truly understand why Spain still lacks finishing today, why the English are arrogant, why Brazil plays with such flair – you just have to watch these DVDs. All the continents are covered – perhaps with the exception of Australia. You also see the good, the bad, the ugly and the politics. Hard to believe it but people we read about in our history books – Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin – all played a part in football. To them and other politicians (as well as missionaries) football was a tool to be used to spread their message as well as to help align them to the masses.
So many issues exist in football – the standard of football in Africa and Asia who want more voice at FIFA and greater presence at the World Cup, club or country – who loses when schedules clash, the money and the commercialisation of football. All of these are covered in these DVDs.
It is nice to see what really goes on when the cameras are turned off and the players walk off the pitch. Football is big business in the world today. So many events and decisions that happen off the pitch affect the 22 players on the pitch.
I found these DVDs totally fascinating because I had not been aware of the many things that have happened and continue to happen off the pitch. Some shape the way football is played and managed. Others affect and/or have affected players who are so dear to me. If you love football and especially the World Cup, then I suggest you buy this boxed set (available at Amazon.com) and make the time to watch it. You will not regret it.
The seven DVDs are titled Origins & Soccer Cultures, Evolution & European Superpowers, Brazil & South American Superpowers, For Club and Country & The Dark Side, Superstars & The Media, Africa and a Game for All and Futures.
Gole/Hero: Official films of the 1982 and 1986 World Cup
Running Time: 98/86 minutes
AFTER every World Cup, the official film of that World Cup is released (typically a few months to a year after the World Cup ends).
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HERO - The official film of the 1986 World Cup. |
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They are not that easy to find if you’re looking for the official movies of past World Cups. You might have taped them when they were shown on local TV recently or even over the years. Otherwise you might try finding the videotape on Amazon.co.uk or at online auction site eBay. My two personal favourites are Gole – the official film from 1982, and Hero – the 1986 official film.
In Gole, there are a host of heroes to watch – Zico (Brazil), Zbigniew Boniek (Poland), Trevor Brooking and Bryan Robson (England), Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish (Scotland), Roger Milla (Cameroon), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Pierre Littbarski (West Germany) and Paolo Rossi (Italy). This World Cup also saw Diego Maradona’s introduction to this international stage and his early exit – after being sent off in the game against Brazil.
This 1982 Brazil squad was said to be one of the best – after the 1958 team with Garrincha and Pele. However, the dream died in the second round when Brazil was beaten by eventual champions Italy, 3-2.
Hero, still my all-time favourite football movie, sees the 1986 World Cup in hot and humid Mexico. The heroes this time: Preben Elkjaer (Denmark), Michel Platini (France), Gary Lineker (England), Hugo Sanchez (Mexico), Oleg Blokhin and Rinat Dasayev (USSR), Lothar Matthaus and Rudi Voller (West Germany), Enzo Francescoli (Uruguay) and Emilio Butragueno (Spain).
But this World Cup was to belong to just one man – Diego Maradona. Having spent the last four years repenting for his mistake at the last World Cup, Maradona now knew how to out-manoeuvre opposing defenders and outrunning them. He was in a class of his own. Not only was he able to avoid the punishing tackles, he also had extra protection. This time, the referees had been advised to censure players for bad fouls.
Maradona used it all to his advantage and created even more chances while scoring five goals altogether. He led his team to victory, winning the final game against West Germany, 3-2.
FIFA World Cup: 1930-1962, 1966-1974, 1978-1986, 1990-1998
Running Time: 4x90 minutes
Distributor: Reedswain DVD
THIS series currently has four volumes with each volume (in each DVD) consisting of three World Cups. Coverage for each World Cup consists of the goals from important matches showing how the World Cup was won.
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FIFA World Cup 1978 to 1986 |
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This series is interesting because it gives football fans a chance to watch past heroes in action. Very often football fans read and hear names like Eusebio (Portugal in 1966), Ari Haan and Johnny Rep (both played for Holland in 1978) but opportunities to watch them in action are extremely limited.
Although I had always known these names I never fully respected their skills and abilities until I watched these DVDs. Now, if you ask me who are the greatest footballers of all time, Eusebio would be on my list. Reading about the talents of past greats does no justice to watching them in action.
These DVDs also have quizzes so you can test your knowledge, in addition to statistics and other trivia.
If you can’t get your hands on the official World Cup movies of the past, this series would be a good alternative.
The Story of the UEFA European Football Championships
Running Time: 137 minutes
Distributor: Octagon csi
This DVD covers the European Championship from 1960 right up to Euro 2000. It features snippets of matches from each championship and how the winning country journeyed to the final.
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FIFA World Cup 1978 to 1986 |
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There are actually black and white movie clips showing Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin in action in 1960. This is something to look out for because there aren’t many video clips of the legendary goalie in action.
I also enjoyed watching the 1976 Euro final where the match between West Germany and Czechoslovakia ended 2-2. This was followed by a penalty shootout where Czechoslovakia won 5-3 after Uli Hoeness missed a shot for West Germany and Antonin Panenka (of Czechoslovakia) put the ball into the net.
The DVD also features interviews with the players of yesteryear. They all look older but it’s like watching your old friends talking about old times. That’s what it felt like watching Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Gerd Müller, Dino Zoff, Michael Laudrup, Oleg Protassov and Rinat Dasayev recalling crucial matches at past Euro tournaments. Remember Jan Ceulemans and Jean-Marie Pfaff? You can watch both Belgians in the 1980 Euro final.
Then there is Michel Platini in the 1984 Euro. If you ever want to watch this French playmaker at his best – watch the goals he scores at Euro 1984. They will blow your mind.
Then there’s my personal favourite – Holland winning at Euro 88. Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Ronald Koeman were just part of the Dutch team that shared their total football with the world.
To reminisce great days of Euro football, you have to watch this DVD.
Copyright Star Publications
ALSO:
The dark side, June 16, 2006
Up for the Cup, June 6, 2006
Talking Ball With: Shebby, September, 2005
Woosie the Wee Wonder, Feb 18, 1993
The Affable Lineker, June 17, 1991
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