Whether you want to impress friends and colleagues with new-found football wisdom, brush up on details you're unsure about (the offside rule, anyone?) or improve your practical skills, this is the book for you! Covering all the basics of the game, rules and tactics, as well as giving an in-depth history of the sport and how it has evolved to the present day, this indispensable guide will get you up to speed on the most popular game in the world in no time. With dream team formations, tips on football betting and supporting, essential coverage on the World Cup, and stats on current teams, players and managers both at home and abroad, football expert and Guardian journalist Scott Murray keeps it fun, fresh and knowledgeable to get you through the major tournaments and beyond. Football For Dummies includes: PART 1: KICK OFF Chapter 1: The bare essentials Chapter 2: A rich history Chapter 3: Get your boots on - the gear you need PART 2: PLAYING THE GAME Chapter 4: Laying down the laws Chapter 5: Positions and tactics Chapter 6: Honing your skills Chapter 7: Talented training Chapter 8: Coaching, managing and leadership Chapter 9: Putting it all into practice PART 3: THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL Chapter 11: The World Cup Chapter 12: The international scene Chapter 13: The British club scene Chapter 14: Taking on the world Chapter 15: Women's football PART 4: FANS ENCLOSURE Chapter 16: Going to the match Chapter 17: Read all about it... Chapter 18: Compulsive viewing: Football on TV (and film, and DVD...) Chapter 19: Joining in (sort of...) PART 5: THE PART OF TENS Chapter 20: Great players Chapter 21: Great managers Chapter 22: Great matches Chapter 23: Bad behaviour PART 6: APPENDICES Appendix 1: Appendix A: Honour Boards Appendix 2: Glossary Appendix 3: Key Football Organisations

Whether you want to impress friends and colleagues with new-foundfootball wisdom, brush up on details you're unsure about (theoffside rule, anyone?) or improve your practical skills, this isthe book for you! Covering all the basics of the game, rules andtactics, as well as giving an in-depth history of the sport and howit has evolved to the present day, this indispensable guide willget you up to speed on the most popular game in the world in notime. With dream team formations, tips on football betting andsupporting, essential coverage on the World Cup, and stats oncurrent teams, players and managers both at home and abroadfootball expert and Guardian journalist Scott Murray keepsit fun, fresh and knowledgeable to get you through the majortournaments and beyond.Football For Dummies includes:PART 1: KICK OFFChapter 1: The bare essentialsChapter 2: A rich historyChapter 3: Get your boots on - the gear you needPART 2: PLAYING THE GAMEChapter 4: Laying down the lawsChapter 5: Positions and tacticsChapter 6: Honing your skillsChapter 7: Talented trainingChapter 8: Coaching, managing and leadershipChapter 9: Putting it all into practicePART 3: THE WORLD OF FOOTBALLChapter 11: The World CupChapter 12: The international sceneChapter 13: The British club sceneChapter 14: Taking on the worldChapter 15: Women's footballPART 4: FANS ENCLOSUREChapter 16: Going to the matchChapter 17: Read all about it...Chapter 18: Compulsive viewing: Football on TV (and film, andDVD...)Chapter 19: Joining in (sort of...)PART 5: THE PART OF TENSChapter 20: Great playersChapter 21: Great managersChapter 22: Great matchesChapter 23: Bad behaviourPART 6: APPENDICESAppendix 1: Appendix A: Honour BoardsAppendix 2: GlossaryAppendix 3: Key Football Organisations

Introduction 1Part I: Kicking Off 7Chapter 1: Welcome to Planet Football 9Chapter 2: The Ball Starts Rolling: A Potted History of Football 19Chapter 3: Getting Your Boots On: The Gear You Need 31Part II: Playing the Game 45Chapter 4: Laying Down the Laws 47Chapter 5: Players, Positions and Tactics 67Chapter 6: Honing Your Skills 91Chapter 7: Keeping Fit for Football 115Chapter 8: Coaching, Managing and Leadership 129Chapter 9: Getting the Game On 141Part III: Exploring the World of Football 153Chapter 10: The World Cup 155Chapter 11: Surveying the International Scene 169Chapter 12: The Club Scene 187Chapter 13: Focusing on Famous Clubs 213Chapter 14: Women's Football 239Part IV: The Fans' Enclosure: Following the Game 255Chapter 15: Going to the Match 257Chapter 16: Compulsive Viewing: Football on Screen 271Chapter 17: Read All About It! 287Chapter 18: Other Football-based Pastimes 305Part V: The Part of Tens 319Chapter 19: Ten Great Players 321Chapter 20: The Ten Greatest Teams of All Time 331Chapter 21: Ten Great Matches 339Part VI: Appendixes 347Appendix A: Roll of Honour 349Appendix B: Glossary 361Index 369