The Best World Cup Trivia Book Ever

All my life I’ve collected weird and wonderful facts. Even before ‘trivia’ was (or should that be ‘were’?) invented, I’ve been obsessed with the pursuit of what you might call worthless knowledge. Now, after a lifetime’s devotion to the cause, I’m proud to present to you my favourite facts of all time. My greatest hits, if you will. Most of what you will read has been acquired organically, from reading books, magazines and newspapers. However, I am happy to acknowledge material culled from the internet. I have tried to source – and/or get permission to use - these wonderful items but to no avail. However, I'm sure that their original authors would appreciate this wider audience.

The FIFA World Cup is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the sporting calendar, with the World Cup final attracting an estimated global audience of over 700 million people but how much do you really know about this major football tournament? Who is the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup finals up to 2010? What was the name of the World Cup winning England captain in 1966? Who is the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final? These are just some of the 350 challenging questions in this new quiz book. Covering the vast history of the World Cup, this book includes records, milestones, goal scorers, World Cup firsts, legends and trivia. Recall classic performances from legendary greats such as Pele, Cruyff and Maradona as well as modern day superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This riveting quiz will inform, entertain and undoubtedly test your knowledge of the 'greatest show on earth'. Whether you are a long-time aficionado of the beautiful game or a World Cup novice, this is a must-have for all football fans.

The FIFA World Cup is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the sporting calendar, with the World Cup final attracting an estimated global audience of over 700 million people but how much do you really know about this major football tournament? Who is the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup finals up to 2010? What was the name of the World Cup winning England captain in 1966? Who is the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final? These are just some of the 350 challenging questions in this new quiz book. Covering the vast history of the World Cup, this book includes records, milestones, goal scorers, World Cup firsts, legends and trivia. Recall classic performances from legendary greats such as Pele, Cruyff and Maradona as well as modern day superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This riveting quiz will inform, entertain and undoubtedly test your knowledge of the ‘greatest show on earth'. Whether you are a long-time aficionado of the beautiful game or a World Cup novice, this is a must-have for all football fans.

ICC Cricket World Cup is one of the top three sport carnivals in the World. First edition of the tournament took place in 1975 in England. Starting from England, tournament travelled to Indian sub-continent and then to southern hemisphere in Australia & New Zealand, Africa and then to Caribbean as well. The tournament has thus been hosted in every part of the globe. So far there have been ten editions of this tournament and eleventh is slated for early next year in Australia and New Zealand. Tournament has evolved since its inception in 1975. It started off with players wearing traditional white cloths and matches with 60 overs for each side. There were four teams in each of the two groups. During 1975 and 1979, each team played other team in the group only once. However in 1983 World Cup, team in same group played each other twice. After first three tournaments in England, tournament moved out to Indian sub-continent in 1987 and innings size was also reduced to 50 Overs. 1992 was a defining moment for the cup as first time colored clothing, white ball and day-night matches were introduced. South Africa also played first time during 1992 edition after South Africa came out of international boycott, once miserable era of apartheid was over. In 1999, 2003 and 2007, there were three stages in the tournament with group stage, super six/eight and then knockout. In 1996 & 2011, there were only two stages but knock out match started from quarter-final (group of eight) thus winner had to play and win three knock-out matches. During this journey of four decades, the tournament has come across numerous amazing records, created by hundreds of players and teams, who participated in various editions of Cricket World Cup. Greatest cricketers of all time like, Clive Llyod, Viv Richards, Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne and many more allured the tournament with their electrifying performances in the field. This Book provides snapshot of all the editions of the tournament clubbed with numerous facts & records. It is not a mere record book; it gives reader a deep insight in history of Cup with extremely interesting trivia, which would definitely leave Cricket lovers enthralled.

An all-encompassing, chronological guide to football's World Cup, one of the world's few truly international events, in good time for the June 2018 kick-off in Russia. From its beginnings in 1930 to the modern all-singing, all-dancing self-styled 'greatest show on Earth', every tournament is covered with features on major stars and great games, as well as stories about some less celebrated names and quirky stats and intriguing essays. Holt's focus is very much on what takes place on the field, rather than how football is a mirror for economic corruption, or how a nation's style of play represents a profound statement about its people, or how a passion for football can lift underpaid, socially marginalised people out of poverty. From the best World Cups, in 1958 and 1970, to the worst, in 1962 and 2010, he looks behind the facts and the technical observations to the stories: the mysterious sins of omission; critical injuries to key players; and coaching U-turns. He explains how England's World Cup achievements under Sven-Göran Eriksson, far from being a national disgrace, were actually quite impressive, and looks at why Alf Ramsey didn't take Bobby Charlton off in 1970, but this is no parochial, jingoistic account. The book also asks why Brazil did not contribute in 1966, despite having won the previous two tournaments and going on to win the next one? Why the greatest players of their day did not always shine at the World Cup - George Best and Alfredo Di Stefano, for example, never even made it to the Finals. Why did Johann Cruyff not go to the 1978 World Cup? And why did one of Germany's greatest players never play in the World Cup? There are lots of tables, some filled with obvious, but necessary information, but others with more quirky observations. Alongside accounts of epic games, there are also brief biographies of all the great heroes of the World Cup.

Football fans love trivia and this book is crammed full of fascinating facts on the World Cup. It includes full details of the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Which charismatic Kiwi batsman is also the cousin of Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Russell Crowe?Which South Africa-born motivational speaker played a key role in India's 2011 World Cup win and Germany's 2014 FIFA World Cup victory?Which former cricketer, besides being a successful coach of several teams - including India - is also credited for devising Zimbabwe's car registration system?Which batsman piloted the special flight that flew Arjuna Ranatunga's victorious Sri Lankan team home from Lahore in 1996?The HarperCollins Book of World Cup Trivia is not a mere collection of factoids and cricket records. It skilfully combines history, highlights, statistics and information in one comprehensive and ambitious edition. Starting from the first tournament in England in 1975, to the 2011 edition in the Indian subcontinent, this book is the perfect knowledge companion to the only quadrennial tournament that truly matters in world cricket.