History of Football - Complete Box Set [DVD] [2002]

The breadth of enquiry is naturally impressive, as is the narrative structure, but it’s the deft handling of the sub-plots that really sets this apart, including: analysis of the dominant club sides such as Liverpool, Real Madrid and Milan (Volume 2); the evolution of Brazil (Volume 3); the superstar casualties, like Maradona and Garrincha (Volume 5); football as an agent of social control in Victorian England (Volume 1); the revolution in French football that created the 1998 World Champions (Volume 4); and the failure, so far, of Africa to fulfil Pele’s famous World Cup prediction (Chapter 6). There’s so little material here that isn’t memorable that it’s difficult to pick highlights, but action aside (and it’s hard to think of an historically important game that isn’t featured), an emotional Maradona exposing the "conspiracy" that fixed the 1990 World Cup final (Volume 2) is an unforgettable slice of football culture.

On The DVD: The History of Football on disc comes complete with a heaving platter of extras (between 33 and 54 minutes’ worth per volume) including, across the set, every single goal from every World Cup Final game; extended interviews with the likes of Pele, Maradona, Zidane and Bobby Charlton; loads of "first-ever-recorded-on-film" material including the 1907 England-Scotland game; text-only biographies of the major interviewees; extended tournament highlights of past European Championships, African Nations Cups, World Club Championships, Asian Cups, and of course, World Cup Finals. The picture itself is presented in 16:9 anamorphic aspect ratio, there’s a well-executed menu system, plus an "easter egg" of additional hidden material in every volume.--Alex Hankin.

DVD Description
The History Of Football - The Beautiful Game takes you beyond great goals and classic match action to focus on every aspect of the game. On and off the pitch, along the corridors of power, from its humble beginnings to the billion pound industry it is today.

Through exclusive interviews filmed in over 50 countries, the series explores the tremendous influence football holds over our lives. We investigate the factors that have enabled football players to become cultural icons and millionaires, recognised throught the World.

Every aspect of the sport is covered, with exclusive footage, groudnbreaking interviews with icons of the game - past and present and revealing insights into why football generates more excitement, passion and wealth across the World than any other sport.

DVD Extras Include
Never before seen footage of the first ever moving pictures od football (1897)
The first ever FA Cup Final on film (Spurs v Sheffield Utd 1901)
The first International match on film (Wales v Ireland)
The first England v Scotland game on film (1907)
Rare footage of the first European Cup Final
Extended interviews with some of the football greats - Pele, Zizinho, Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Siir Bobby Charlto and more
Every single goal from every World Cup Final game.

Must - See viewing for every true fan of the game!

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