The World Cup only happens every four years, and each tournament brings with it its own ups, downs, trials, tribulations, surprise contenders, and thrilling finales. The 2019 Women's World Cup saw the USA win the trophy for a second consecutive tournament; Qatar 2022 gave Lionel Messi a fairy tale ending at last.
Almost sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it?
Luckily, soccer has been the topic of many films through the years. In this article, we will detail 14 of the best-known, including comedies, biopics, romance, murder mysteries, and documents of real-life tragedies. Along the way, you'll find everyone from the legends of the sport, including the sadly departed Pelé and Diego Maradona, to Hollywood superstars such as Sylvester Stallone and Will Ferrell. Within the bounds of "The Beautiful Game," almost anything is possible.
Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)
Our first movie, "Mike Bassett: England Manager," is a mockumentary that stars Ricky Tomlinson...
Almost sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it?
Luckily, soccer has been the topic of many films through the years. In this article, we will detail 14 of the best-known, including comedies, biopics, romance, murder mysteries, and documents of real-life tragedies. Along the way, you'll find everyone from the legends of the sport, including the sadly departed Pelé and Diego Maradona, to Hollywood superstars such as Sylvester Stallone and Will Ferrell. Within the bounds of "The Beautiful Game," almost anything is possible.
Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)
Our first movie, "Mike Bassett: England Manager," is a mockumentary that stars Ricky Tomlinson...
- 1/26/2023
- by Geoffrey Wessel
- Slash Film
Football on TV - it's a hard nut to crack.
Sure, there's blanket coverage of the sport itself - plus highlights shows - but when it comes to dramatising the beautiful game, things are a little more thin on the ground.
With this season drawing to a close and the 2014 World Cup getting underway in a little over a month, here's a look back at five times that telly took aim at footy - the results, as you'll see, are variable!
The Hurricanes (1993-1997)
This animated effort from '90s cartoon legends Dic Entertainment charted the misadventures of a fictional soccer team and their coach Jock Stone - a character based on Celtic Fc's 1951–57 manager Jock Stein.
The Hurricanes was top notch entertainment for kids - with a rocking theme tune - and there was a respectably high level of actual football content, even if our heroes always pitted their...
Sure, there's blanket coverage of the sport itself - plus highlights shows - but when it comes to dramatising the beautiful game, things are a little more thin on the ground.
With this season drawing to a close and the 2014 World Cup getting underway in a little over a month, here's a look back at five times that telly took aim at footy - the results, as you'll see, are variable!
The Hurricanes (1993-1997)
This animated effort from '90s cartoon legends Dic Entertainment charted the misadventures of a fictional soccer team and their coach Jock Stone - a character based on Celtic Fc's 1951–57 manager Jock Stein.
The Hurricanes was top notch entertainment for kids - with a rocking theme tune - and there was a respectably high level of actual football content, even if our heroes always pitted their...
- 5/9/2014
- Digital Spy
A sequel to 2001's Mike Bassett: England Manager will begin shooting later this year.
Titled Mike Bassett: Interim Manager, the comedy will see Ricky Tomlinson reprise his role as the fictional football coach as he's brought back into the national team setup to assist German coach Jorgen Mannstein.
Steve Barron, who directed the first film, will return to oversee the sequel alongside screenwriters Rob Sprackling and John R Smith.
"Bassett was the last England manager to take the national team to Brazil. We reached the semis then, who knows what we could achieve this time?" Barron said.
Footballer and actor Andy Ansah, who starred in Dream Team and coined Soccer Am's "unbelievable tekkers" segment, is so far the only other cast member confirmed to return from the previous film.
"As the years have gone by, Bassett seems to have dug deeper into football folklore," Barron added of the hapless fictional coach.
Titled Mike Bassett: Interim Manager, the comedy will see Ricky Tomlinson reprise his role as the fictional football coach as he's brought back into the national team setup to assist German coach Jorgen Mannstein.
Steve Barron, who directed the first film, will return to oversee the sequel alongside screenwriters Rob Sprackling and John R Smith.
"Bassett was the last England manager to take the national team to Brazil. We reached the semis then, who knows what we could achieve this time?" Barron said.
Footballer and actor Andy Ansah, who starred in Dream Team and coined Soccer Am's "unbelievable tekkers" segment, is so far the only other cast member confirmed to return from the previous film.
"As the years have gone by, Bassett seems to have dug deeper into football folklore," Barron added of the hapless fictional coach.
- 3/17/2014
- Digital Spy
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