Football

CHAPTER ONE

The big match

Today's the day of the big match. And you have a ticket. There are a hundred thousand people there and the noise is getting louder every minute. The players are on the pitch. The game begins.

It's hard, fast and exciting. Both teams are playing well. Your team scores first - a beautiful goal, just before half time: 1-0. Then the other team scores: 1-1. You are afraid to watch but you can't stop yourself. Now the end is ten minutes away. The star of your team falls. He is badly hurt. He is carried off.

And then you hear your name. You are wanted in the changing room. The next thing you know, you are wearing your team colours and you are running onto the pitch.

You feel light and free. The ball is at your feet. You run with it past one player, past another, and then another. The goal is wide open in front of you. The goalkeeper moves to your left. You shoot to the right.

It's a goal! The score is 2-1 and it's the end of the match. Now you are holding the cup above your head. You hear the noise of the crowd, and then... you wake up and remember: today's the day of the big match.

Millions of people have had this dream. Football is the number one international sport today. What is the magic of football?

This book tries to answer the question.