Soccer Titles

Prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team had won just four World Cup matches in 72 years. They'd been humbled with a last place finish at the 1998 World Cup, scoring just once across three games. Major League Soccer was still in its infancy, and generally struggling. But the 2002 squad managed to beat powerhouse Portugal to advance out of the group stages, toppled Mexico 2-0 in the round of 16, and stood up ably to Germany in a quarterfinal loss that nonetheless had the crowd chanting, "USA! USA!" as the players exited the field with heads held high. Fast forward 15 years, and the popularity of soccer in the United States was booming. Cries of "I believe that we will win!" rang out at every match. With greater resources invested, the U.S. was producing talent of a high enough caliber to compete abroad in England's Premier League, and the national team had Jürgen Klinsmann at the helm, promising an injection of worldliness and European flair to the American game. Yet while the American women's team had made World Cup victories a regular expectation, the men failed to even qualify for the 2018 tournament. What happened to the USMNT? Columbia Business School adjunct professor and acclaimed author of The Real Madrid Way Steven Mandis turns his lens inward to examine what it will take for the U.S. men to achieve lasting success on the international stage and how it differs critically from building a successful club team. This meticulously researched, probing investigation challenges conventional wisdom and speaks to the utmost importance of authenticity when cultivating an organizational identity. If the Italians have their cantenaccio, the Spanish their tiki-taka, the Dutch their "total football," and the Brazilians their ginga, Mandis argues that cultivating a unique "American way" of soccer is not only possible but absolutely essential.

Ladyballer (lay-DEE-bawl-er) (noun): A rare breed of awesome female athlete with an incredible passion for the game, a wardrobe consisting of tournament t-shirts, and an appetite fit for a hippopotamus. Featuring hilarious and heartfelt experiences, plus tips on training, nutrition, motivation, balancing soccer with a social life, and choosing the right college, this book is for the girls with bruises, turf burns, and weird tan lines who always find themselves saying, "I can't, I have soccer!"

S is for soccer. F is for football, and fútbol, and fußball… No matter what you call it, everyone loves the beautiful game! The creators of B is for Baller return with a vibrant, stylish parade of soccer legends. Featuring dozens of international superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Pelé, Diego Maradona, Marta, Mia Hamm, and Abby Wambach, G is for Golazo is the ultimate ABC book for budding soccer fans.

From June 7 to July 7 2019, 24 teams from around the world will gather in France for the FIFA Women's World Cup. This official guide provides an insightful, comprehensive preview to get you excited for women's soccer's biggest and greatest tournament. Written by former professional player Jen O'Neill, features include a review of the qualifying campaign, an in-depth analysis of all the participating teams and their star players, a retrospective look at the first seven Women's World Cups, and much more.

Even the most die-hard Seattle Sounders fans don't know everything about their beloved club. Whether you were around for the USL days or were drawn in more recently by the team's incredible 2016 comeback, these are the 100 things all fans need to know. Award-winning sportswriter Geoff Baker has collected every essential piece of Sounders knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom.

The international ruling body of soccer, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), determines the official rules that govern the way the game is played. This book is in accordance with those rules and is the essential resource for serious fans and players. Including information for American play as well as international games, it is an appropriate guide for a thorough introduction to soccer that helps deepen one’s understanding of the sport. Beyond the rules of the game, there are ample appendices that offer helpful diagrams and thorough explanations of standard game play, including the signals made by referees. This new edition provides added clarity by highlighting the latest changes to the regulations of the sport.

Aimed at parents as well as their children, Soccer Skills: Way to Play is a step-by-step guide to the techniques the professionals use to enhance their skills, with expert advice on the tactics of the game and clear analysis of the rules. It contains hints, tips and training drills designed to hone individual skills as well as develop team play alongside practical advice for parents who want to help their children get the most out of the world's most popular game.

Approved by the International Football Association Board, this book is the essential guide to understanding the game of soccer. Including information for American play as well as international games, the book is appropriate for a thorough introduction or to deepen the understanding of the sport. Beyond the Laws of the Game, there are ample appendices that offer helpful diagrams and thorough explanations of standard game play, such as sections on “Signals by Referee and Assistant Referee,” and “The Technical Area and the Fourth Official,” as well as a set of diagrams specifically for understanding the rules surrounding offside. The book provides added clarity by highlighting the latest changes to the Laws, and diagrams are presented in both metric and US customary units measuring systems.

Packed with dynamic photos, authoritative text, and the latest stats, this guide is the perfect introduction to the U.S. Men's National Team as they prepare for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Finding itself ranked among the planet's best as it seeks an unprecedented sixth straight appearance in the World Cup, the team is filled with an amazing collection of young talent, including players competing at the highest levels of European club soccer or starring in America's flourishing Major League Soccer.