Reddit reviews Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey -- and Even Iraq -- Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport

Inverting the Pyramid

Soccernomics

Fever Pitch

Alex Ferguson

I am the secret footballer

The numbers game

Currently reading Soccernomics, which is a look at soccer through a sports economics/sabermetrics viewpoint. Really good so far!

Read this book "Soccernomics" for a great ELI5 on the issue.
http://www.amazon.com/Soccernomics-England-Germany-Australia-Destined/dp/1568584814

Why the interest? I read [this fantastic book] (https://www.amazon.com/Soccernomics-England-Germany-Australia-Destined/dp/1568584814) recently, and became interested. Occasionally, I've noticed the table in the Sunday New York Times, and now I've started to become more and more fascinated.

There's a great book (Soccernomics) - which perfectly describes this scenario in its opening chapter

Book had a couple of dull segments - but overall was excellent

I suggest you read Soccernomics. I'd never advise you to download a pirated pdf version online, so don't do that. I'm sorry for the lame reply, it's 03:17am and I'm almost asleep. But you should find interesting answers to your question there.

Basically: people who used stats proved to be more effective (winning more) than those who didn't. Kind of how Moneyball did in American baseball.

difference is that we are richer than those two countries, with a stronger sporting culture, and lots of opportunity for athletes to forgo a real job to focus on a sport, even if it doesn't pay well. It is explained well in a book I read a while back called soccernomics. A country needs three things to be great at a sport. A population big enough to have enough elite athletes on the team at the same time. Enough wealth to find and train them. And I believe the third is built in knowledge or experience. You can bring in a coach from another country to give some experience, like the US soccer team did but you still have to build up a bit.

I don't know if the bot will let me link to the book on Amazon, but here is a try.

https://www.amazon.com/Soccernomics-England-Germany-Australia-Destined/dp/1568584814/186-1621754-3403460?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

But yes, in 50 years, China and India will probably dominate the Olympics and other sports.

"Fear and Loathing in La Liga" is essential, a must read.

Non-Barça, but still interesting read (but hey - if anyone writes about futbol - there will be mentioning of FC Barcelona and their players):

"Inverting the Pyramid" - evolution and analysis of game tactics.

"Soccernomics" is more general, but a very interesting read as well.

Didn't see electronic version, but this one is worth mentioning: "Angels with Dirty Faces", history of Argentinian football.

Check out Soccernomics and Bamboo Goalposts.