{"title":"Stefano Bizzotto","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStefano Bizzotto\u003c\/strong\u003e offers readers a captivating journey through the world of sports, blending historical insight with engaging storytelling. His works explore the significant moments and matches that have shaped the culture and history of soccer, inviting fans to see the game from a fresh perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a knack for highlighting the drama and legacy behind iconic sporting events, Bizzotto’s books are perfect for those who appreciate the deeper narratives behind the beautiful game. Expect a thoughtful, richly detailed approach that connects sport with broader historical themes.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-history-of-the-world-in-12-soccer-matches-by-stefano-bizzotto-9781685892296","title":"The History of the World in 12 Soccer Matches","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn epic tale of war, revolution, economic crisis, and social transformation told through the story of twelve historic soccer games, with a gallery of unexpected heroes, thwarted tragedies, and stunning, world-changing results...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSoccer has always intersected with history—sometimes during an anonymous match, sometimes in a major world final—because, from the sport's beginning in 1848, echoes of what's happening off the pitch have reached the global playing field in unthinkable ways. Soccer can spark a war, but it can also have the opposite effect—interrupting conflict, even just for a few hours or days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, the story that begins this book: when French, Belgian, English and German World War I soldiers climbed out of their foxholes to kick the ball around with their enemies for a brief few hours during a Christmas Truce. This is just one of 12 matches \u003cem\u003eThe History of the World in 12 Soccer Matches\u003c\/em\u003e covers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOthers include the game between Dinamo Zagreb and the Red Star Belgrade in Croatia in 1990, when clashes between fans and police made it clear that Yugoslavia was about to have a bloody split. Or Chile vs. the USSR in 1973, held in Santiago, Chile, shortly after Augusto Pinochet took over in a bloody coup, and in the very stadium where he'd imprisoned, tortured, and murdered thousands of political prisoners. The home team won by scoring on an empty goal—the Soviets had refused to take the field in protest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlternating between journalism and first-hand accounts from the protagonists, this work invites us to look at our past and present from a new point of view. Because, beyond what we may think, sometimes history happens while someone, somewhere, is kicking a ball around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47754204971244,"sku":"9781685892296","price":60.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781685892296-the-history-of-the-world-in-12-soccer-matches.jpg?v=1781659525"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/stefano-bizzotto.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}