Cold War Football

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A gargantuan battle for hearts and minds, the Cold War is the supreme example of a 'people's war'. But what did the 'people's game' have to do with it? From Dynamo Moscow's stormy tour of Britain in 1945 to the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall chart the clash between capitalism and communism in ten iconic football matches. They take us across Europe, Asia, South America and Africa to uncover football's part in bolstering democracies and dictatorships and in the struggle for influence in the developing world. They show how these matches offered a rare opportunity to see what life was like on 'the other side' of the Iron Curtain, making friends of enemies but also fuelling revolution. Featuring legendary players, goals and on- and off-field controversies, this is a fascinating history of how the Cold War shaped football and how football shaped the Cold War.

• The first full exploration of football's dramatic and important role in the Cold War
• Features classic World Cup, European Championship and club encounters games including Arsenal vs. Dynamo Moscow in 1945, West Germany vs. Hungary in 1954, Spain vs. Soviet Union in 1964, North Korea vs. Portugal in 1966, Chile vs. Soviet Union in 1973 and Zaire vs. Yugoslavia in 1974
• Tells a people's story of the Cold War through the eyes of players, coaches, journalists and fans
• Examines the long and rich history of what is today called sportswashing