Thirty-One Nil

On the Road With Football's Outsiders: A World Cup Odyssey

Nonfiction, Sports, Football (Soccer), History
Cover of the book Thirty-One Nil by James Montague, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: James Montague ISBN: 9781408851593
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: May 22, 2014
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sport Language: English
Author: James Montague
ISBN: 9781408851593
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: May 22, 2014
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sport
Language: English

In a tiny, decaying aluminium smelting town in southern Tajikistan, a short drive from a raging war zone, Afghanistan take on Palestine in the first Asian qualifier for 2014's World Cup in Brazil. Every player on both teams is risking something by playing: their careers, their families, even their lives. Yet, along with thousands of other footballers backed by millions of supporters, they all dream of snatching one of the precious 32 places at the finals; and so begins a three-year epic struggle – long before the usual suspects start their higher-profile qualifying campaigns under the spotlight.

Named after the greatest victory (and defeat) that the World Cup qualifiers have ever seen (Australia's 31-0 victory over American Samoa), Thirty-One Nil is the story of how footballers from all corners of the globe begin their journey chasing a place at the World Cup Finals. It celebrates the part-time priests, princes and hopeless chancers who dream of making it to Brazil, in defiance of the staggering odds stacked against them. It tells the story of teams who have struggled for their very existence through political and social turmoil, from which they will very occasionally emerge into international stardom.

From the endlessly humiliated San Marino to lowly Haiti; from war-torn Lebanon to the oppressed and fleet-footed players of Eritrea, in Thirty-One Nil James Montague gets intimately and often dangerously close to some of the world's most extraordinary teams, and tells their exceptional stories.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In a tiny, decaying aluminium smelting town in southern Tajikistan, a short drive from a raging war zone, Afghanistan take on Palestine in the first Asian qualifier for 2014's World Cup in Brazil. Every player on both teams is risking something by playing: their careers, their families, even their lives. Yet, along with thousands of other footballers backed by millions of supporters, they all dream of snatching one of the precious 32 places at the finals; and so begins a three-year epic struggle – long before the usual suspects start their higher-profile qualifying campaigns under the spotlight.

Named after the greatest victory (and defeat) that the World Cup qualifiers have ever seen (Australia's 31-0 victory over American Samoa), Thirty-One Nil is the story of how footballers from all corners of the globe begin their journey chasing a place at the World Cup Finals. It celebrates the part-time priests, princes and hopeless chancers who dream of making it to Brazil, in defiance of the staggering odds stacked against them. It tells the story of teams who have struggled for their very existence through political and social turmoil, from which they will very occasionally emerge into international stardom.

From the endlessly humiliated San Marino to lowly Haiti; from war-torn Lebanon to the oppressed and fleet-footed players of Eritrea, in Thirty-One Nil James Montague gets intimately and often dangerously close to some of the world's most extraordinary teams, and tells their exceptional stories.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book After the Fact by James Montague
Cover of the book Beware of the Trains by James Montague
Cover of the book Reign the Earth by James Montague
Cover of the book Bound to be Free by James Montague
Cover of the book Finnish Aces of World War 2 by James Montague
Cover of the book German Heavy Cruisers 1939–45 by James Montague
Cover of the book The Portuguese in the Age of Discovery c.1340–1665 by James Montague
Cover of the book The Sirens' Feast (Dark Hunter 11) by James Montague
Cover of the book Fashion in the 1950s by James Montague
Cover of the book James: An Introduction and Study Guide by James Montague
Cover of the book Fallschirmjäger by James Montague
Cover of the book Saddam Hussein by James Montague
Cover of the book British Children's Literature and the First World War by James Montague
Cover of the book Dornier Do 24 Units by James Montague
Cover of the book West Indian Pentecostals by James Montague
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy