The Nearly Men

The Greatest Teams Never to Win the World Cup

Aidan Williams

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781801502580
• Year: 2022

The Nearly Men tells the fascinating stories of some of the most revered international football teams of all time. Through the history of the World Cup there are many sides who thrilled us all with their elegance and style, or who revolutionised the game, only to fail when it mattered most. They are the teams that could, and in some cases perhaps should, have won the World Cup, yet remain memorable for what they did achieve as well as what they didn't. They all left a lasting legacy, be that of unfulfilled potential, crushed dreams or the artistry they produced that could have seen them prevail. Their exploits and accomplishments are frequently hailed more than those of the winners. The Nearly Men celebrates these teams: what made them great, what saw them fail, the legacy they left and why onlookers remember them so fondly. It is a tale of frustration and disappointment, but also of footballing beauty and lasting legacy, in homage to the kind of greatness that isn't defined by victory.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. Argentina 1930
• 2. Austria 1934
• 3. Brazil 1950
• 4. Hungary 1954
• 5. Portugal 1966
• 6. Netherlands 1974 and 1978
• 7. Brazil 1982
• 8. Denmark 1986
• 9. Italy 1990
• 10. Yugoslavia 1994
• 11. Netherlands 1998
• 12. Argentina 2014
• Epilogue
• Bibliography
• Photos