Simon Kuper

Football is called "beautiful game" because of its simplicity and popularity, as opposed to ice hockey or baseball, it can be played on a patch of dirt with nothing more than a bundle of rags. However, football, like any other human activity, reflecting the more people play the game than just a scorecard or trophy. Simon Kuper's new book Soccernomics looking deeper into the world's most popular game on the planet to understand trends, suggest reasons for the current global hierarchy, and suggest people to become the next superpower in the world competition.

Cooper begins with a simple question. Football in contemporary speech began as the Association of British football clubs and universities. The working man game, it lacks "gentlemanly" rules of cricket, while emphasizing the physical stamina of the game and the strategy and positioning. England, therefore, had a head start, which was as much as a century and a half longer than some countries, but they boast only one win in the World Cup in the last hundred years. Why, asks Soccernomics, the Titans did not fall?

The book delves deeply into the matter. It has never been the case, says Cooper, England, but weak in execution: a small island nation is too small to support a large talent pool, too cold to maintain the long years of play, too isolated from the competition to forge improved. He explores the financial decisions of the English clubs and explains their poor showing time and time again.

The book also jumps in terms of football in the global circuit.

Economics and the performances are linked throughout the text. If the big clubs to sign during the major players for big money? If an organization can run a business or as a model of success on the pitch? Can expect a hot franchise player to repeat its success? Cooper often goes against conventional thinking, using examples of rational statistical trends, rather than subjectivity fans and ownership.

Soccernomics highlights how different the country is ready to erupt. Nations such as England, France and Italy have a great talent pool and a history of success, but the recent conquests in what was then considered a poor country football hegemony proved to be falling apart. Growth of Asian and African countries powerhouses like Japan and South Korea come to mind. Such shocks, Soccernomics requirements, are sure to be the rule rather than exception in the near future in the sport.