John Doyle’s The World is a Ball is a soccer masterpiece. It captures the true spirit of “the beautiful game,” from the Eastern European city of Bratislava to the football frenzy known as Buenos Aires (and everything in between).  It is a reminder of our love for the game and what makes our sport universal.  The fans, the stadium, the players, and most importantly the atmosphere create the world’s most popular game and Doyle recreates each with brilliant mastery.

 

The author tackles the worldwide phenomenon known as the FIFA World Cup as well as Europe’s most prestigious international competition, the Euros.  The numbers surrounding the World Cup experience are staggering.  Twenty-six billion people watched the 2006 World Cup in Germany; an estimated 8 out of every 10 people were expected to watch at least a part of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Euros seem to get more attention every cycle and surprisingly some actually prefer the European event over the World Cup.  Regardless of the choice, the pageantry ands passion for the world’s game is alive and well.  

 

Every country and team brings their own flavor and interpretation to the pitch; Doyle is able to able to bring us literally a world of soccer in a little over 300 pages. Purchase the book by clicking here; you won’t disappointed.