{"product_id":"masters-of-modern-soccer-how-the-worlds-best-play-the-twenty-first-century-game-9780307408617","title":"Masters of Modern Soccer: How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game","description":"\u003cb\u003eHow do some of soccer's smartest and most accomplished figures master the craft of the game? This in-depth analysis of modern soccer reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field to execute in high-pressure situations.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A worthy addition to any soccer fan's shelf.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eMasters of Modern Soccer, \u003c\/i\u003eAmerica's premier soccer journalist, Grant Wahl, reveals what players and managers are thinking before, during, and after games and delivers a true behind-the-scenes perspective on the inner workings of the sport's brightest minds. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWahl follows world-class players from across the globe, examining how they do their jobs and gaining deep insight from the players on how goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards function individually and as a unit to excel and win. He also shadows a manager and director of soccer as they juggle the challenges of coaching, preparation, and the short- and long-term strategies of how to identify and acquire talent and deploy it on the field. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThese central figures share the little details that matter, position by position: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e- Attacking midfielder \u003cb\u003eChristian Pulisic\u003c\/b\u003e explains why he wears his soccer cleats a size too small to make his first touch even better. \u003cbr\u003e- Forward \u003cb\u003eJavier \"Chicharito\" Hernández\u003c\/b\u003e reveals the Mexican national team's secret synchronized patterns that create space for him in front of the goal. \u003cbr\u003e- Defender \u003cb\u003eVincent Kompany\u003c\/b\u003e tells you why his teammates' pressure on the ball means he can defend his man more tightly in the penalty box. \u003cbr\u003e- Defensive midfielder \u003cb\u003eXabi Alonso\u003c\/b\u003e describes his disdain for slide tackles and the tendency among even the best professional midfielders to play too closely to one another. \u003cbr\u003e- Goalkeeper \u003cb\u003eManuel Neuer\u003c\/b\u003e tells the origin story of his sweeper-keeper role, which has allowed him to redefine the position for the modern game. \u003cbr\u003e- Head coach \u003cb\u003eRoberto Martínez\u003c\/b\u003e explains the differences between coaching clubs and national teams and why one of the first things he looks for in any game situation is numerical advantage. \u003cbr\u003e- Director of football \u003cb\u003eMichael Zorc\u003c\/b\u003e discusses what he looks for when it comes to identifying players he can buy low and sell high, \u003ci\u003eMoneyball\u003c\/i\u003e-style, while still competing to win trophies. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe definitive analysis of the craft of soccer, \u003ci\u003eMasters of Modern Soccer\u003c\/i\u003e will change the way any fan, player, coach, or sideline enthusiast experiences the game.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrant Wahl\u003c\/b\u003e was one of the world's leading soccer journalists. He was the owner and creator of the \u003ci\u003eFútbol with Grant Wahl\u003c\/i\u003e website and podcast, did television work for CBS Sports, and produced documentary films. His book \u003ci\u003eThe Beckham Experiment\u003c\/i\u003e was the first soccer book to make the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestseller list. Wahl spent twenty-five years at \u003ci\u003eSports Illustrated, \u003c\/i\u003e where he wrote more than three dozen cover stories. He covered thirteen World Cups (eight men's, five women's). Grant Wahl died in 2022.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Crown Publishing Group (NY)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50556036415762,"sku":"9780307408617","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7f2c5810-06ea-4d05-9d22-05926f3a8d04.jpg?v=1731747321","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/masters-of-modern-soccer-how-the-worlds-best-play-the-twenty-first-century-game-9780307408617","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}