by Bob Walch

July 1, 2010 — The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Kingfisher, $19.99) by Clive Gifford has been fully revised and updated for the 2010 World Cup competition. This excellent guide not only explains the key rules, skills and tactics, but it also examines issues in and around the game, such as rabid fans, media coverage and the demands made on the players.

There are also special chapters of the book devoted to the legends of the game as well as some of the great club and national squads. A new section about this year’s championship site in South Africa has been added. A detachable, poster-size, color wall chart will help the avid fan track the winners in all the brackets that lead up to the final on July 11.

Those fascinated by soccer trivia will enjoy the “fact files” sprinkled throughout the text that contain all sorts of interesting information. For example, in 1970, Brazil’s coach, Mario Zagalo, became the first person to have both played in and coached a World Cup winning team. Also, tied games at the knockout stage of a competition were once settled by tossing a coin or drawing straws. The tie-breaking shoot-out format began in 1970.

There’s a staggering amount of information crammed into this comprehensive soccer guide, and the pages are filled with color action photos of individuals and teams. Although the book is intended as an introduction for readers age 8 and above, most adults will also find this a fascinating book.

With its in-depth coverage of every aspect of the game — plus the latest statistics and the “Hit the Net” boxes that direct the reader to websites with more information about players, international results and team histories — this volume offers far more than just a quick glimpse of soccer.