With four days for the FIFA World Cup to kick off, THE GUIDE did some serious browsing to discover five varied titles that salute and satiate your fix for the world's most popular sport

With four days for the FIFA World Cup to kick off, THE GUIDE did some serious browsing to discover five varied titles that salute and satiate your fix for the world's most popular sport

Seeing Red by Graham Poll: Penned by Premier League and international referee with 26 years of combined experience, Graham poll officiated some of the toughest games in soccer history, over 1,500 in all.
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This retired expert reveals in his frank biography about views and comments from soccer heavyweights including Sepp Blatter, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.

Controversial rulings involving Beckham, Keane, Viera and Terry as well as some of his own on-field misjudgments make this an honest eye-opener.

The Ball is Round - A Global History of Soccer by David Goldblatt: The author brings to life the single greatest simultaneous collective experience that is soccer, particularly the high-points like the World Cup final.
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This book glorifies this global phenomenon and its role in the evolution of modern societies without losing sight of its raw beauty, enthusiasm and excitement on field.

How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer: Apart from the United States, soccer is worshipped in countries like South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
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It's often an expression of the socio-economic, cultural and racial composition.

Foer's book looks at fascinating approaches adopted by soccer-playing nations, and its direct impact on world trade and Western thought processes.

The Fix by Declan Hill: The Fix, a fiction paperback is one the most hard-hitting tales about turning the lid off sports corruption in a generation.
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Its fast-paced plot leaves the reader intrigued till the last page, telling the story of an investigative journalist who steps into unraveling the world of match-fixing in professional soccer.

Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathon Wilson: This modern classic traces the world history of tactics and looks at some of the most crucial innovators in the game, from modern pioneers to its early wizards.
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This insightful book takes a look at legends and thinkers who shaped the game through the 20th and 21st century.

Listed books can be ordered on Amazon.com

Matches to watch out for

Ivory Coast vs Portugal
On June 15, 7.30 pm
At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
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England vs Algeria
On June 18, 12 noon
At Green Point Stadium
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Brazil vs Ivory Coast
On June 21, 12 noon
At Soccer City Stadium

Greece vs Argentina
On June 23, 12 noon
At Polokwane

Portugal vs Brazil
On June 25, 7.30 am
At Moses Mabhida Stadium

Chile vs Spain
On June 26, 12 noon
At Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Second Semi-final
On July 6, 12 noon
At Durban
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Final
On July 12, 7 am
At Johannesburg

Gear Up
Choose from a range of footballs, sweatbands, studs, key chains, stockings, apparel for boys and girls, jerseys of different participating teams and other FIFA gear all under one roof.

At Hypercity, Brookefield
Call 4364 3333
For Rs 99 onwards

Dress like your fav soccer player
Get World Cup National Team Kits (made from recycled plastic bottles) and shoes. National teams of nine countries will be sporting these kits. Pick up your own Jerseys of Netherlands, Brazil & Portugal and shoes.
At Available at select Nike stores.
For Mercurial Vapor Superfly II for Rs 3,700 - 11,900 and Jerseys for Rs 2,795.