THE DEFINITIVE, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BOOK ABOUT FOOTBALL ''Football conquered the world with its capacity to astonish, and this is its definitive history'' The IndependentThere may be no cultural practice more global than soccer. Rites of birth and marriage are infinitely diverse, but the rules of soccer are universal. No world religion can match its geographical scope. The single greatest simultaneous human collective experience is the World Cup final. In this extraordinary tour de force, David Goldblatt tells the full story of football''s rise from chaotic folk ritual to the world''s most popular sport. The Ball Is Round illuminates football''s role in the political and social histories of modern societies, but never loses sight of the beauty, joy, and excitement of the game. ___________________________________''Goldblatt writes with authority, humour, and passion, not least in the accounts of famous or significant matches scattered throughout the book'' Times Literary Supplement''Since it became a worldwide phenomenon, nobody has attempted to write an overall history of the game. Now David Goldblatt''s stunning book will be the measure against which all other such volumes are judged'' The Guardian ''Goldblatt''s magnum opus . . . Anyone with a brain and an interest in football will enjoy this book'' The Daily Telegraph (London)