Soccernomics : why England loses, why Germany and Brazil win, and why the US, Japan, Australia, Turkey-- and even Iraq-- are destined to become the kings of the world's most popular sport / [print]
Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski.
- New York, New York : Nation Books, (c)2009.
- viii, 328 pages ; 21 cm.
Driving with a dashboard : in search of new truths about soccer -- Why England loses and others win -- The clubs : racism, stupidity, bad transfers, capital cities, the mirage of the NFL, and what actually happened in that penalty shoot-out in Moscow. Gentlemen prefer blonds : how to avoid silly mistakes in the transfer market ; The worst business in the world : why soccer clubs don't (and shouldn't) make money ; Need not apply : does English soccer discriminate against Black people? ; The economist's fear of the penalty kick : are penalties cosmically unfair, or only if you are Nicholas Anelka? ; The suburban newsagents : city sizes and soccer prizes ; Football versus football -- The fans : loyalty, suicides, happiness, and the country with the best supporters. The country that loves soccer most ; Are soccer fans polygamists? : a critique of the Nick Hornby model of fandom ; A fan's suicide notes : do people jump off buildings when their teams lose? ; Happiness : why hosting a World Cup is good for you -- Countries : rich and poor, Tom Thumb, Guus Ghiddink, Saddam, and the champions of the future. The curse of poverty : why poor countries are poor at sports ; Tom Thumb : the best little soccer country on earth ; Core to periphery : the future map of global soccer.