How to Watch Soccer
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3.9 • 12 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
An opinionated masterclass in the art and science of “reading” a match from one of professional soccer’s most respected and beloved international figures.
"For Americans new to European soccer, terms like 'false striker,' 'double accordion' or 'moving trios' need Mr. Gullit’s expert explications." —Wall Street Journal
Ruud Gullit knows better than anyone else that to understand soccer you have to understand strategy. When he started playing soccer, his only “strategy” was to get the ball, outrun everyone else to the other end of the field, and score. At first it served him well, but as he advanced through the sport, he learned that it takes much more than one player's speed to make a winning team. Over the course of his career, he worked his way from the Dutch junior leagues all the way to the legendary AC Milan, eventually retiring from the field to be a trainer, then a manager, and finally a commentator. Each step came with its own lessons, and its own unique perspective on the game. Now, having looked at soccer through every lens possible, Gullit shares his own perspective.
Most spectators simply watch the ball, but in How to Watch Soccer, Gullit explains how to watch the whole game. He shows how every part of a match, from formations to corner kicks, all the way down to what the players do to influence the referees, is important. And he uses his own vast experience to illustrate each point, so his lessons are filled with anecdotes from his years on the field and insights from his observations as a manager and commentator. This exhaustive guide will change the way even the most die-hard fan watches the beautiful game.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this meticulous compendium of soccer tactics, formations, patterns of play, and player psychology, Gullit, who was the captain of the Netherlands team that won the 1998 European Football Championship and the 1990 World Cup, provides the perspective of a former player and coach. His guide provides an insider's take on regional styles of play and football cultures, comparing continental football to the game as it is played in England and elsewhere. Gullit's exhaustive examples can at times feel somewhat dense; the most illuminating moments arrive when he shows how formations, patterns of play, and regional differences in referee calls contribute to wins and losses. Gullit offers reasonable advice for players, coaches, and fans willing to sift through his many examples. For instance, "poor defenders tend to concentrate on the ball," and individuals who want to watch a game properly are wise to shift their attention away from the ball and toward systems and patterns of play. Coaches should "start with the basics, the defense," because what matters to a team "happens when you don't have the ball." Gullit's informative guide may be too dense for those new to the sport, but players and coaches will benefit from this expert's approach to the game.
Customer Reviews
Title is somewhat misleading
The autobiographical information is fine, but the diagrams are not that useful and there are too many assertions not explained at all for me to agree that you will learn how to watch soccer from reading this book.