Tor!: The Story of German Football

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Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger

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Pages: (Paperback)

ISBN: 095401345X

Pub: WSC Books Limited

Pub date: 2003-07-15

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 86492

Editorial Review:

Tor! The Story of German Football does exactly "what it says on the tin". As the author explains, his aim was to write an entertaining history of the German game. He has certainly achieved his goal, or "tor" as they would say in Germany. Hesse-Lichtenberger sets out to prove that football in Germany is not necessarily the efficient, predictable machine that those of us believing in the German stereotype might think. Again, he succeeds. From the foundation of the game to the present day (and dare I mention the historic 5-1 defeat at the hands of the English in Munich in September 2001), the narrative finds plenty of room to include the quirky, amusing and unexpected. The seemingly curious names of many German club sides are dissected, while the fact that the national side managed to win the 1954 World Cup before the advent of the first professional national league only serves to amaze. The author proclaims his belief that it is people who shape events, and misses no opportunity to investigate the diverse personalities who have made the German game what it is, from the obsession of Herberger to the maverick brilliance of Netzer. The upshot is a wonderfully colourful history, and one that will no doubt surprise even most the avid of Europhile football followers. The latest in the line of recent books in English on European football, Tor!, like a number of German teams of the past, is a clear winner. --Trevor Crowe

Reader Reviews:

Do NOT miss! (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is a truly wonderful book. 2nd only in my 40-odd years of sports book reading to John Arlott's Fred.

The author has a light and natural style, which is saying something for a German, as it isn't his native language. Not that you'd ever guess this from his prose, which is dry without being ascerbic, but also builds wonderfully well in the build-up to the 1954 World Cup win.

That's an even better achievement, as Herr Hesse-Lichtenberger wasn't born until 1966! This book is full of information without being in the remotest a statistical litany, and looks at all the underlying passions in German football from its' very beginnings in the 1890's.

It pulls no punches, either with German clubs who were busy expelling Jews months before ordered to do so by Hitler's men, nor with a National side that managed to combine cynical disregard for the spectator with winning at all costs between 1982-1998 on too many important occasions-his thoughts, by the way, not mine.

And, just as an afterthought on quite how good this is, how many ENGLISH sportwriters could fluently write about the Premiership in German?

an informative and enjoyable account of German Football (0/1 people found this helpful)

I would recommend this book to any football supporter. Lichtenburger has produced a marvellously detailed account of his country's footballing history, and has presented it in a way which amply explains German terminology and gives even novices a understandable and detailed knowledge of Germany's football history. My only criticism is that I found myself slightly disappointed by the lack of detail of football in East Germany, in comparison to the vast information contained on West German football during the same periods. Nevertheless, Lichtenburger's knowledge and love his subject is evident, and Tor is a valuable, informative and enjoyable read.

Does exactly what it says on the tin (3/3 people found this helpful)

Fantastic introduction to, and comprehensive history of German football - from its beginnings up to the 2002 World Cup. Puts right a few myths and misunderstandings, explains the culture of the game to outsiders (e.g. why certain teams are hated so much and a few very "un-German" scandals) and shows that the English and German game share a lot in common. A really interesting and enjoyable read.

like every other review of this book,5 stars.Buy it! (2/2 people found this helpful)

what i feared would be a dry account of the footballing nation almost everyone loves to hate turned out to be an absolute treat.
A historical account of the german game is made utterly fascinating by the inclusion of countless titbits of information.The authors love for his national game is evident and,while he obviously has his "hobby horses",he is scrupulously fair even when discussing teams and players he dislikes-for example he is no Bayern Munich fan and i too have always harboured a hard-to-explain dislike for this team,but he has made me look at them in a totally different,more positive light.
This book is worthy addition to any world football fans' library and "When Saturday Comes" can be proud to have this as a sister volume to their Spanish football book "Morbo"

Fantastic (3/4 people found this helpful)

I read this cover to cover in about a week, and enjoyed every word - this has got to be one of my favourite football books ever. So much so that I now see Rudi Voller in a completely different light, Lothar Matthaus in exactly the same light and now (this is the most bizarre bit) feel sorry for Oliver Kahn after his 'mare in the 2002 World Cup Final.

The shambles that was German national football, incredible as it seems, is explained in full as is football's position within the Nazi regime.

If you have any interest in football, or Germany, buy this book, it's fantastic. Perhaps if you're one of the 'no surrender' brigade, don't bother but get your kids to read it as they'll grow better for it!

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