- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown & Company; illustrated edition edition (23 May 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0316859397
- ISBN-13: 978-0316859394
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
412,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > Competitions > World Cup
- #14 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > World Football
- #17 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > Organisations > FIFA
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Product Description
Review
Connelly followed the Liechtenstein's quest to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. What masochistic urge motivates the part-time players of a nation of 30,000 people [with one of the highest standards of living in Europe] to plug away despite the inevitability of defeat ? To answer this question Connelly sampled the delights of the principality where every year the sovereign invites the entire population into his garden for a glass of wine. A wry narrative will delight fans of Bill Bryson and Harry Pearson.
Product Description
Charlie Connelly follows the Liechtenstein national football team through their defeat-strewn qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup. Drawn in a group with Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria and mighty Spain, it was hard ever to see the principality's part-time players scoring even one goal, never mind adding to its meagre international points total. So what motivates a nation of 30,000 people and 11 villages to keep plugging away despite the inevitability of defeat? Travelling to all of Liechenstein's qualifying matches, Charlie Connelly examined what motivates a team proudly to take the field in the shirts of Liechtenstein despite the knowledge that they are, with notably few exceptions, in for a damn good hiding. Sampling the delights of the capital Vaduz such as the Postage Stamp Museum, the State Art Museum and, er, the Postage Stamp Museum again, Connelly provides an evocative and witty account of the land where every year on National Day the sovereign invites the population into his garden for a glass of wine.
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First Sentence
A pint, a paper and a perusal of the bookshops was all I had in mind that rainy afternoon in Charing Cross Road. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
A pint, a paper and a perusal of the bookshops was all I had in mind that rainy afternoon in Charing Cross Road. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a football fan and having lived and worked in Liechtenstein for a year, all I kept thinking as I read this book was: why the HELL didn't I write it? I would recommend this fantastic book to anyone who is either A) interested in football, B) interested in Liechtenstein or C) just wants a good laugh. I lived in Liechtenstein in 1988-99 (I think) and so can totally relate to alot of the things Charlie Connelly says about the country, its people and its football team. The best thing about the book is his hilarious use of irony and understatement which made me laugh out loud. As a student and teacher of German I would have liked Charley to say a bit more about the dialect (which is almost impossible to understand) but the book is about football afterall. A great book! I absolutely loved it! Read it!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For any football fan poisoned by the excess hype and crass commercialism of today's game, this is the perfect antidote. Connolly's account of Liechtenstein's World Cup campaign is charming and funny without ever being patronising. He introduces us to a team that though small (manager Ralf Loose can select from only two hundred players in the entire country) is far from being a Mickey Mouse outfit. From the back room staff through to the players they display a dedication and a professionalism that would put many other countries to shame. In the space of just eight years the team have travelled from being whipping boys (losing 11-1 to Macedonia) to being a well organised side capable of holding a Spanish side containing the likes of Raul, Mendieta and Hiero to just two goals. Not bad for a side containing just six full time professionals. Connolly introduces us to the characters behind the story and in passing gives us an insight into life in this tiny country of which he becomes increasingly fond. We meet Patrick Hefti, the appropriately named centre half, who must organise his career and banking exams around his football; Henry Zech, the sweeper, who is forced to miss a match because his vineyard is at a crucial stage of the harvest; Ernst Hasler the journalist who fills in three pages of sport everyday for the local paper; and Mario Frick the star centre forward who goes on to claim a place with Seri A side Verona. Such is Connolly's skill as a writer that the reader soon begins to empathise with these unlikely heroes as they battle to compete with the giants of football. This is not just a good football book; it's also a fine travel book and like all good travel books, come the end you feel as though you've just passed a journey in excellent company. When you do turn the last page you'll feel privileged to know something about this country and the wonderful people who represent it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
is a great thing. Scandals, club v country, power crazed chairmen, great results away from home, apathetic fans. Just like being at home. A great read with a potted (or maybe not given the size) history of Liechtenstein. Held my interest all the way and I'd recommend it to anyone - even those who don't like football! Up there with Pasavotchka (excuse the spelling).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thoroughly Enjoyable
Charlie Connelly follows Liechtenstein's national football team as they attempt to qualify for the World Cup. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mark Tong
Amongst the Underdogs
A quirky combination of travelogue and soccer aficionado essay, this book succeeds and fails in fits and starts. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2004 by A. Ross
True stars
After reading about the (rare) highs and (frequent) lows of the Liechstenstein I am left in the position that I can only hope my own national side never faces them, as I would... Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2002 by T. F. Kerr
Super Book
Excellent Book and worth a Read. Charlie captures the highs and lows of Football well. From the opening page to the last page Charlie makes this book laugh and cry. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2002 by Neil
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