Eso no estaba en mi libro de historia los mundiales

Welcome to the other side of the World Cup. Did you know that Maradona practiced the goal he scored against England in Mexico '86 at Wembley beforehand? Or that the first match in World Cup history was watched by just 300 people? Did you know that one of the most famous referees in this tournament demanded a boat in case he had to flee the country after officiating a final? Can you imagine a goalkeeper giving up playing in the World Cup quarterfinals to commentate on a match on the radio? Or that Di Stéfano, one of soccer's greatest legends, never played a single match in a World Cup? Have you ever wondered what role politics played in Argentina's 1978 victory? Or what drove the Jackal to attempt to kidnap the star of the Israeli national team at Mexico '70 shortly after Honduras and El Salvador declared war on each other following a qualifying match for that same World Cup? World Cups aren't just played on the field. They are also played out in boardrooms, in politics, in the press, on the streets, and in the collective memory. They are the stage for feats, controversies, conspiracies, and gestures that have transcended the realm of sports to become part of the cultural history of the 20th and 21st centuries. With a curious and rigorous eye, Toni Cruz guides us through the lesser-known episodes of the World Cups: legendary stadiums, epic matches, unforgettable characters, and surprises that will help us understand why this tournament is much more than just soccer. Because every four years the world stops... and another story begins.