- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Mainstream Publishing (24 Sep 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1840184612
- ISBN-13: 978-1840184617
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,527,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Billed and sub-titled as "The Greatest Football Matches Ever", Fields of Fire is a collection of pieces on a selection of football matches dating back to 1942, which for one reason or another will hold an important place in the history of the game. The classics of course are all there. The Hungarians beating England at Wembley in 1953, the Brazilians and their beautiful game in the 1970 World Cup Final, not to mention Real Madrid's thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup Final in Glasgow.
Some of the other choices, meanwhile, are a little off the beaten track. The first account concerns the tragic story of the murder of the Dynamo Kiev team who fearlessly beat a German army side during the occupation of the Ukraine in the Second World War. There are, however, also some notable omissions--no place for example for the England-Brazil game in the 1970 World Cup or the classic semi-final between West Germany and Italy of the same year. Indeed a number of Ludden's choices are rather quixotic. The Italy-Argentina World Cup semi-final of 1990 was hardly a classic, while, despite its thrilling climax, Manchester United's 1999 Champions League Final victory over Bayern Munich looked set to be a distinctly forgettable 1-0 victory for the Bavarians for most of the game. (Surely United's 1968 European Cup Final extra-time victory over Benfica at Wembley is more deserving of classic status?) Nevertheless, despite these quibbles, each game selected definitely has a story behind it, and the author neatly brings the appropriate context to the fore. Although Fields of Fire could have been more accurately sub-titled, it remains a well-written and researched book, sure to be welcome to anyone interested in great footballing stories of the past. --Trevor Crowe
Product Description
"Fields of Fire" kicks off in war-torn Ukraine in 1942, telling the tale of a Dynamo Kiev side forced into a series of propaganda matches against their Nazi occupiers. They are ordered to lose but repeatedly hammer the Germans and are finally forced to pay a tragic forfeit - their lives. This terrible but factual tale is the first of many landmark games examined in John Ludden's collection of milestone matches in football history. The tales are laced with wonderful characters - some good, some bad, some downright scandalous: the cherry-red shirts of Hungary romping through the 1950s; a tubby little genius called Puskas; Di Stefano and his wizards from Madrid; Busby and his tragic, but brilliant babes; and the villainous Argentinean Rattin at Wembley. Moving into the 1970s, Ludden examines Pele and his glorious team exploding in Technicolor; German glory in 1974; Argentinean skulduggery in 1978; in the 1980s we revisit the France-Germany World Cup semi-final and the infamous arrival of Diego Armando Maradona. Onto the 1990s and Gazza's famous tears in Turin and the tragic shooting of Columbian Escobar.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A NOSTALGIC AND EXCITING READ !,
By A Customer
This review is from: Fields of Fire: A Blazing Journey Through the History of Football (Paperback)
This is a wonderful book for those of us hooked in that fantasy world of black and white footage of the old greats. The author has done well in bringing these truly great icons, such as di Stefano and Puskas back to life. WELL DONE ! Stars such as these deserve to shine as bright as ever. For this alone i award five stars. Today's footballers would do well to read john ludden's book and realise just how far behind the true superstars of the sport they are. My partucular favourite chapter is Ludden's telling of the coming together of 'the white arrow; and the great Magyar Ferenc Puskas. Hopefully ludden will do more of a similar ilk. Well done John !
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Entertaining Read,
By A Customer
This review is from: Fields of Fire: A Blazing Journey Through the History of Football (Paperback)
I found fields of fire a very good and engaging read. It is a book which tells of much more than what happens on the pitch. John Ludden has dug deep and discovered some intriging and controversial tales that surround the game of football. Top marks, highly recommmended
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great surprise !!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Fields of Fire: A Blazing Journey Through the History of Football (Paperback)
This is a book which i would highly recommend to anyone remotely interested in the history of asscociation football. Althought the sub title of the ;greatest matches ever; could easily cause endless arguments in any pub, John Ludden has pulled it off in fine fashion with a cracking array of games. Players such as Puskas, di Stefano and Maradona feature heavily in a rollercoaster ride through the years. He begins, rather surprisingly in the Ukraine 1943, and the story of Dinamo Kiev and the match against German luftwaffe team Flakelf. A terribly, tragic tale. Not surprisingly, Ludden finishes his journey through the years with Manchester United breaking Bayern Munich hearts to win the European cup at the last. A wonderful knack of bringing these occasions alive makes this essential for any supporters collection. This is a book i could read over and over.
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