Chasing the Game: America and the Quest for the World Cup - Hardcover

Library Journal Well known "New York Daily News" columnist Bondy tackles American soccer, from the heights of a 1950 stunner over England to the depths of 2006, when the U.S. squad could barely get a shot on goal. Bondy treats readers to an inside view of the current American team that will chase after World Cup glory in South Africa this summer--like players Landon Donovan and Joey Altidore, goal tender Tim Howard, and coach Bob Bradley. Placing soccer within a social, economic, and sporting context, the author provides readers with a fast-paced, enjoyable read about the game and the quest. A remarkable account; essential for all fans of the game. Highly recommended. "Library Journal," 5/15/10 "A remarkable account; essential for all fans of the game. Highly recommended." "New York Times," 5/11/10 ..".chronicles the evolutionary fits and starts of soccer in America, from the grass roots to the fields of South Africa." "Los Angeles Daily News" and "San Bernardino Sun," 5/11/10 "Bondy's insights are meaningful whether a reader only pays attention to soccer once every four years or is a devoted fan...an excellent primer for those who want to understand American soccer's place in the sport and the world before the tournament begins." The Bleacher Report, 5/11/10 "An excellent recap of the USNT qualifying for the 2010 World Cup." Global Post, 5/11/10 "A useful primer for both knowledgeable fans and those who, after a four-year hiatus from soccer, want to catch up with our lads...Bondy provides a remarkably comprehensive modern history of American soccer and its World Cup experience... exceedingly well written." Dr. Harvey Frommer on Sports, 5/13/10 "Highly recommended for soccer zealots." "GQ," June 2010 "The odyssey of our national team, which is a lot weirder and more fascinating than you'd expect." "Barnes & Noble Review," 5/31/10 "Bondy entertainingly describes the highs and

The U. S. mens soccer team was a huge disappointment at the World Cup in 2006, but a newly constituted team exceeded all expectations in June 2009 with their inspired play at the Confederations Cup in South Africawhere they upset the number one team in the world, Spain, and lost late in the championship game to a supremely talented Brazilian squad. Their impressive showing gave fans, including the ever-loyal Sams Army, a renewed sense of hope that when the team plays up to its capabilities, the Americans can compete with anyone in the world. In Chasing the Game, Filip Bondy describes the U. S. teams path to qualifying for this years World Cupto be held on the African continent for the first time ever, in South Africa in June 2010. Bondy also reveals the back-and-forth saga that resulted in the hiring of Bob Bradley as the American coach, and serves up engaging profiles of several core players, including the U. S. national teams all-time leader in scoring and assists, Landon Donovan, acrobatic goalie Tim Howard, hip-hop devotee and opportunistic goal-scorer Clint Deuce Dempsey, up-and-comer Jozy Altidore, and the coachs son, the reticent yet dependable Michael Bradley. Chasing the Game also recounts the glorious highlights of past World Cup matches, like the U. S. mens teams stunning 10 victory over England in 1950 and the 2002 teams advance to the quarterfinals, as well as heartbreaks like the fiasco in 2006, when the U. S. mustered only four shots on goal in three games. Finally, Bondy also traces the origin of soccer and the evolution of the game in the U. S. , chronicling how soccer academies like the one in Bradenton, Florida, have impacted the game at both the youth and national levels. Its all here for the first time in one bookthe complete story of American soccer on the global stage.