Soccer's Most Wanted™

Book excerpt: Ernie Brandts of the Netherlands scored a goal for each team and injured his own goalkeeper in a 1978 World Cup match against Italy. Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler was suspended for four games and fined for pretending to snort the white chalk endline while celebrating a goal. In 1970, after El Salvador defeated Honduras in a World Cup qualifying match, the two countries severed diplomatic relations, and a four-day “Soccer War” broke out, in which more than 10,000 people died. A 1995 match in South Africa between the host Moroka Swallows and the Qwa Qwa Stars was delayed after the visiting team accused the host of using magical powers against them. Soccer's Most Wanted™ features the most outrageous players, the oddest injuries, the strangest matches, the most fantastic finishes, the greatest champions, and the most inept teams. In short, it covers the best and worst moments in the history of world soccer. Die-hard fans as well as newcomers to the sport will enjoy this irreverent guide to soccer trivia.