{"title":"Tom Williams","description":"\u003cp\u003eTom Williams crafts engaging stories that capture the spirit and drama of the sporting world. His writing combines fast-paced action with vivid characterisation, drawing readers into the highs and lows of athletic competition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith titles like \u003cem\u003eVa-Va-Voom\u003c\/em\u003e, Williams explores themes of determination, teamwork, and personal growth, making his books a rewarding read for sports enthusiasts and those who appreciate dynamic storytelling alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"va-va-voom-by-tom-williams-9781399403962","title":"Va-Va-Voom","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExcellent\u003c\/b\u003e – Simon Kuper, author of the bestselling \u003ci\u003eFOOTBALL AGAINST THE ENEMY\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe definitive story of how French football came of age\u003c\/b\u003e – Christian Karembeu\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eErudite and engrossing\u003c\/b\u003e – Vincent Duluc, lead football writer, \u003ci\u003eL’ÉQUIPE\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE PLAYERS, THE TEAMS, THE GOALS, THE GAMES, THE SCANDALS, THE GLOOM AND THE GLORY: THE STORY OF FRENCH FOOTBALL’S TURBULENT EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrench football is an enigma: a mixture of brilliance and farce, flair and frailty, stunning success and abject failure. Its domestic league is mocked on social media as an uncompetitive ‘Farmers League’ and its clubs ridiculed for underachieving in European competitions. But France have reached four of the past seven men’s World Cup finals, French players star for the world’s best clubs and at its best – the roar of the Vélodrome, the glamour of the Parc des Princes, the shimmering brilliance of Zinédine Zidane, Éric Cantona and Kylian Mbappé – French football has few equals. When it comes to scandal, meanwhile, the French are the best in the business, from sensational match-fixing affairs to squabbles over sex tapes and meltdowns within the national squad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTom Williams brings to life French football’s evolution over the last 40 years. He details how the idealistic romanticism of the national team in the early 1980s gave way to an Italian-style pragmatism that would lead \u003ci\u003eLes Bleus\u003c\/i\u003e to the summit of the international game, and examines how several star-studded club sides grappled with the thorny notion of how to win. By delving into French football's rich history, the book explains the myriad ways – tactical, technical and cultural – in which France has shaped the game’s evolution around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing exclusive interviews with great figures of the French game such as Alain Giresse, Jean-Pierre Papin, Emmanuel Petit and Blaise Matuidi, and with a cast of characters that also includes Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Chris Waddle and Lionel Messi, it's a book no football fan will want to miss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA comprehensive account of the highs, lows and scandals of French football\u003c\/b\u003e – Jonathan Wilson, author of the bestselling \u003ci\u003eINVERTING THE PYRAMID\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47664194945260,"sku":"9781399403962","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399403962-va-va-voom.jpg?v=1779662184"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/tom-williams.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}