elhugh's review
3.0
The Football Crónicas was published to coincide with the Brazil World Cup of 2014; the first time it had been held on Latin American soil for almost 30 years. As a labour of love with proceeds going to charity it can be faulted. It's a nice book to have. Personally, those 3 pieces of short fiction weren't for me but that's the luck of the draw. The crónicas were all enjoyable if not all essential. The story of Alcides Ghiggia has been told many times but it's done again with panache here. My favourites were the tales of the Argentine prison team, the indigenous women's team from the mountains of Peru and account of fans travelling from Chile to Argentina for a Libertadores semi final. Even Romário is a relatively appealing figure in his new career as a politician.
Nothing groundbreaking but really great to have available in English. A great job by the squad of translators. Just a shame I didn't manage to read it during the World Cup.
Nothing groundbreaking but really great to have available in English. A great job by the squad of translators. Just a shame I didn't manage to read it during the World Cup.
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