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Private Notes
Beginning the series in great style, episode one looks at the origins of the game. It looks at the various possible beginnings from many different nations including China, Mexico, Japan and Italy. Many countries lay claim to being the inventors of the sport and many can prove very early forms, some of these are still re-enacted to this day. These can be seen in Florence where men literally beat each other in an attempt to score a goal and also in Scotland where the entire village is involved trying to move a ball to a certain place. This episode also looks at the creation of the first professional league, know as the Football Association in England, regarded by many as the true origin of the game as it is played today.
This episode looks at varying cultures and how they have developed the same basic game to incorporate their own cultural diversity. It looks into great detail at Africa in the 50s and how the attempt at creating the United States of Africa failed. Many would consider this not to be football related, but this episode shows how football had an impact on this failure. It also looks at early attempts to build the game in the USA and why it failed there. Even with its massive financial backing and the importation of some major football stars it still failed at this time. The episode also looks at Spain and the differing cultures there. The Basque region is the main focus, with a detailed look at how clubs in this region have tried to maintain their Basque heritage. Iran also gets attention we learn how religion had an impact.
The third episode looks at how football took its shape in Europe. It shows how much influence Scottish players had on the early game in Europe as many were imported into England's professional league. It also looks at the formation of FIFA and the teams that dominated the early years. These teams were relative minnows by today's standards, but this was at a time when all players were paid the same rate, allowing the smaller clubs to be able to entice the stronger players. The Italian team of the time is also looked at and the way that the dictator Mussolini used the team for his own political gain. The Hungarian team were also dominant during the 50s and the West German team were an emerging force on the world stage. Both are covered in this episode.
As the name suggests, this episode looks at the clubs that have become the big powers in European football. Clubs such as AC Milan, Internationale and Real Madrid were the dominant powers and showed a great flare for attacking football. This dominance by southern Europe was challenged when Glasgow Celtic from Scotland won the 1967 European Championship. This had followed the previous year's memorable win by England in the World Cup. The early 70s saw the emergence of Dutch teams on the European stage delivering some eye catching technique. Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenord were the leaders from Holland with Ajax winning several European Cups in the process. The period also saw the English league begin to make a mark in Europe with Liverpool being the dominant team winning four European titles over a ten year span. On a national scale the 70s and 80s saw Holland, West Germany and Italy as the powerhouse teams, something that has continued to the present day.
Considered by many to be the most prolific nation in football terms, this episode looks at the South Americans and their impact on the game. They are without doubt the most successful nation of all time, having won the most World Cups, the most recent being in Japan and Korea in 2002. Their flamboyant style stems from when the racial problems were overcome and black players were incorporated into the national team. This worked well for the team until they were hosts of the World Cup in 1950 and a new format was trialled where rather than having a final, teams would play a round robin format. The Brazilians lost to neighbours Uruguay therefore failing on their home soil and the blame was aimed at the black players. This feeling changed however at the 1958 World Cup when the introduction of Pele saw the team succeed yet again. The debate as to whether Pele was the greatest Brazilian player of all time still rages to this day as many feel it was Garrincha. Brazilians may produce the best players in the world, but they also produce the worst administrators, this topic is also covered here.
This episode looks at the South American region and goes into great detail of its history. Maradona is focussed on and his role in the 1986 finals where he cheated by handling the ball into the net, claiming it to be the "hand of God" and then later in the same game scoring one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history. It looks at the River Plate region of Argentina and the power clubs in that area along with Uruguay's golden era. It also looks at Argentina's isolation and the divide between Europe and South America. Colombia is looked at in detail along with an insight into the passion that is renowned in South America.
The first topic of focus in this episode is the French and how they have recently become a force in world football, since their memorable win on home soil in the 1998 World Cup. They currently house some of the biggest names in football with players such as Zidane, Henry and Pires to name but a few. Also covered in this episode is the World Club Championships, Juventus, Manchester United, how playing for a club can sometimes conflict with international duty as clubs have tried for many years to restrict their players participating in international matches through fear of injury. You could say we are more than aware of this scenario with constant speculation about Australian players Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell constantly stating their desire to play for the Socceroos, yet having to battle their club's wishes.
This interesting episode looks at the darker side of football. The general perception of the public around the world is that football fans are hooligans and racists and this episode shows some examples of why this perception is held. It also looks at the plane crashes that killed the Torino and Manchester United teams in the late 40s and 1968 respectively, as well as the Zambian national team disaster. It looks at the conflict between El Salvador and Hondures in 1970 which was said to have been caused because of football. Stadium disasters are covered including the collapse in Peru in 1964, the Heysel Stadium tragedy and the Hillsborough disaster. Hooliganism is covered, but I must say this is not a true look at the phenomena. It focuses on the English game, but most will be aware that this is not just an English problem, South American and other European countries are rife with the problem also, so it is a little unfair to single out England. (Editor's note: Spoken like a true Pom, Adrian!)
The general public who have no idea about football will still be aware of some of the biggest names in the game the superstars. Names such as Maradona, Pele and Ronaldo are instantly recognisable. Other names like Zidane, Shearer, Maldin and Garrincha will not be as recognisable to Joe Public, but are names of note for football followers. This episode looks at some of the biggest stars of the game and how they attained the status of superstar. It looks at how they have impacted on the game over the years and now earn extravagant salaries and endorsements through advertising. Football may be a short career, but if someone is good enough they can earn more in week than the average person can earn in ten years, not bad to be paid such money for doing something you love.
This episode looks at the football media and how they are both needed for the game and at times its worst enemy. Without the media the game would never reach the world audience that it does or create as much interest, this is the good side of the media. The bad side is when they publicise football violence, drug scandals and the like. These are all considered newsworthy and therefore the public has a right to know but it ends up putting an over negative slant on the game that could be avoided. This episode also looks at how media effects the players, Maradona for example being constantly under the spotlight and this eventually caused his own undoing. Early forms of media are also covered, along with the importance of radio before television made such an important impact.
This episode looks at the growth of football in Africa. It covers how the game was first introduced and the changes it has undergone over the years. It looks at the North African Cup which began in the 40s, the politics of the region and their effect on the game and the exclusion of South Africa due to apartheid. It looks at many stars from Africa including the 1990 World Cup hero Roger Milla, who got Cameroon to the quarter finals only to lose to a very good English side led by Paul Gazza Gascoyne. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is also covered in great detail.
This episode if more about the history of FIFA than anything else, covering its inception 1904. It looks at the rule of Jules Rimet as president from 1921 until 1962 and the reign of Stanley Rous until replaced by Havelange in 1974. How FIFA grows with the aid of big business and the politics that accompany its growth. UEFA get a brief mention, along with poignant moments from the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cup Finals. Women's football being banned in England is touched upon, along with where the game is headed in the future in the eys of FIFA.
What does the future hold for football? Will it remain the dominant sport? This episode looks at the continued growth in countries such as China, India, the Middle East, Korea and Japan, all hugely populated areas with a hunger for football. The evidence shows that although the sport is currently dominated by Europe and South America, maybe one day the powerhouses of world football may come from Asia. As for the National Soccer League here in Australia, which is not covered, well we live in hope. Optimism after all is a prerequisite of being a football fan.
