Join us on a magical football journey back to the 80s! Relive Norway’s legendary triumph against England at Ullevaal Stadion (1981), the best Brazilian national team of all time at the World Cup in Spain (1982) and Danish dynamite at the World Cup in Mexico (1986). In a fascinating mix of fiction and fact, The Dream Team tells the story of the most important football moments and biggest stars of the 80s – Zico, Preben Elkjær, Kenny Dalglish, Bryan Robson, Hallvar Thoresen and many more.
The Dream Team is a wonderful dose of football nostalgia from a decade when kick-off was taken on Saturday afternoons, and the players went to the pub with the fans after.
The author does not include perhaps the greatest of them all; namely Diego Armando Maradona. But the best Maradona is still frequently mentioned throughout the stories of other players. The angle and development are thus brilliant, and which helps Jacobsen to place omitted players in central positions in the stories. It is brilliant.
A kick at the ball. A free kick, A special save, A goal and A penalty kick. It’s quick to explain. Therefore, the author uses his discretion to go back in time and tell about, for example, what has led them to the situation they are in now. Whether it is growing up, football matches or private victories. Then occasionally he breaks into the “present tense” again to hold on to the situation, before he goes back in time and continues his story. This works surprisingly well, while also building up to the ultimate climax.
The 80s were the last decade where football was football and men were men. The football that was played before the money galore made its entry in the 90s is today just nostalgia. That’s why it’s extra fun to read and reminisce about the time when players had a pure passion for their profession, and where they could walk freely in the streets and in bars without everyone throwing themselves at them. Something the author also emphasizes in several of his stories.
INTERVIEW: @Peter_Shilton shares his #WorldCup memories, including Maradona's 'Hand of God' – http://t.co/ZKp4xs1fWX pic.twitter.com/GbJnSTO6cq
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 31, 2014
The book is 271 pages. Peter Shilton is one of the players in Geir’s dream team, Shilts is given 17. Peter Shilton’s story begins at Estadio Azteca and ends there too. It takes us down memory lane from the early days at Leicester City. It continues through, until that crucial day in 1986.
To read all the chapters and excitting journey of Peter Shilton, you will have to buy the book, but our extract will give you great clues and a fantastic look in to a story not even Shilts himself would be able to tell you.
GOALKEEPER – DREAM TEAM
1 / PETER SHILTON
England – Argentina, World Cup quarter final, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, 22. juni 1986.
Peter took the last steps in one step. It was like running into a brick wall. The heat hit him so hard he had to take a step backwards, and as he was falling, he felt a hand holding him up, giving him his balance back. Peter turned to see who had saved him, but there were no one there. Just like an invisible “Hand of God”. It felt very much a freezing moment, but he shaked it off and ran onto the field as his adrenalin was pumping. He survived the potential disaster, to fall from the top of the stairs.
The sun shone scorching hot and chalk white. The light was so bright that he had to shade his eyes with both hands. The newly won energy vanished in a blink of an eye. All of the newly discovered energy dissipating into the stadium grass. He closed his eyes and walked on like a mole chased out of his den at the wrong time of the day.
Even the Mexicans seemed to be affected by the boiling heat. Along the sideline, the usually festive and gesticulating mascot Pique subbed tenaciously away, with his mustache and sombrero hanging limply towards the ground. Peter was already wet with sweat and his shirt stuck to his back. Of course, it didn’t help to show up in longsleeve.
Peter Shilton made his debut for Leicester in May 1966. This was a home game at Filbert Street, playing Everton. The Leicester kitman had given his young debutant goalkeeper a choice, short or longsleeve. Shilts grabbed the one on top, the longsleeve. He never really thought about what jersey he took, had all his concentration on settling his nerves. He had a briliant debut, kept a clean sheet. A great 3-0 win and a special and great start for the young debutant.
The career and football journey of Peter Shilton is well known. Being left out of the 1970 England World Cup squad to Mexico. His major blunder vs. Poland, one that ment he had to see the 1974 World Cup on telly st home. His record transfer move to Stoke in 1974. The Potters manager John Waddington, paying £325.000 for his services. A world record fee for a goalkeeper.
Reading this special story, one with elements of facts and fiction, should not bother you much. Understaning, you will enjoy this experience in full. The author also provides insight into life after that special game in Mexico. Shilts’ career continues further, playing one more World Cup for England. He is one of the trusted members in Bobby Robson’s semi-final team in Italy four years later.
Peter Shilton is one of the most iconic English goalkeepers of all time. His total tally of full international caps was 125. He played 1005 league games in total. A first team career starting in 1966 and ending in 1997.
Just enjoyable to have a recap of Shilts’ career. If you like to order this book or other publications on Peter Shilton, pick and choose below,
FOOTBALL RESULTS
LIVE SCORES
WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
SV TV
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