"I jump into a sand pit for a living"
World Football Records
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World Football Records 2011, Keir Radnedge, Carlton Books, 2010. 256 pages ISBN 978-1-84732-635-5
OK, four questions to start with:
1 Who is England’s most capped player?
2 Who is Liechtenstein’s leading goal scorer?
3 How many times have the host nation won the World Cup?
4 Whose Wembley shot did Rene Higuita save with a scorpion kick?
If you know the answers to all four, this book is not for you!
If theThe Official English Leagues’ Football Records 2011
was good, this one is outstandingly brilliant. There is something interesting to read on every page. And the material is arranged in short paragraphs which make it easy to dip in and out. There is a very helpful index of names, dates and competitions. That it is by Keir Radnedge gives it an additional authority.
It contains sections on
• 2010 World Cup.
• World Cup records.
• Country by country facts, statistics and trivia (6 pages on England.
• Other major tournaments, Euro Champs, Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations.
• Other FIFA tournaments.
I found the review of FIFA age-group tournaments particularly interesting as these are often not included in books of this nature.
Similarly the eight page section on Women’s football was also welcome. Some may say 8 out of 256 is not much but most football books ignore the women’s game completely.
The great strength of the book is that its full-colour design with several photos on every page makes it attractive and accessible.
And just to show you that I have read it, the list of South Korean most capped players has Lee Young-Pyo in fifth place but with more caps that Cha Bum-Kun who is fourth.
And in case you did not know the answers:
1 Mario Frick
2 Six
3 Peter Shilton
4 Jamie Rednapp
Make someone’s Christmas. Buy them this book!