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Essential reading for soccer fans as the 2022 World Cup approaches, this lively and lyrical book is "an ideal guide to the worlds most popular sport" (Simon Kuper, coauthor of Soccernomics) .. Soccer is not only the worlds most popular game; its also one of the most widely shared forms of global culture. The Language of the Game is a passionate and engaging introduction to soccers history, tactics, and human drama. Profiling soccers full cast of characters - goalies and position players, referees and managers, commentators and fans - historian and soccer scholar Laurent Dubois describes how the games low scores, relentless motion, and spectacular individual performances combine to turn each match into a unique and unpredictable story. He also shows how soccers global reach makes it an unparalleled theater for nationalism, international conflict, and human interconnectedness, with close attention to both mens and womens soccer.. Filled with perceptive insights and stories both legendary and little known, The Language of the Game is a rewarding read for anyone seeking to understand soccer better - newcomers and passionate followers alike.