{"product_id":"no-show-the-world-cup-teams-that-never-were","title":"No Show – The World Cup Teams That Never Were","description":"\u003cp\u003eA treasure trove of famous and forgotten stories of the greatest teams that failed to qualify for the World Cup – from the 1950s to the 21st century – told together for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom continental giants that became inexplicable absentees to heartbreaking tales of underdogs coming oh-so-close to a place on the world stage, these are stories that stand alone as remarkable accounts of misfortune, whether through refereeing decisions, late goals or even global politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead and discover:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTales from around the world, including major powerhouses falling short and outsiders battling against the odds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow some of the greatest players of all time failed to reach the World Cup, including Alfredo di Stéfano, George Best, Eric Cantona and George Weah\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow Johan Cruyff could easily have joined this list, but for a moment of controversy in a deciding qualifier\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClassic tales of woe for the home nations, including Scotland in 1970, England in 1978 and Wales in 1986\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA special insight into African sides as the author draws on his expertise on the subject\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether, these captivating stories create a patchwork that tells the tale of the trials and tribulations of World Cup qualifying, one of the greatest challenges in world football. Published in 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 144mm x 223mm –320 pages.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soccer Books Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57196687851902,"sku":"9781836802358","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/0546\/6903\/files\/NoShowWorldCup.jpg?v=1775047470","url":"https:\/\/soccer-books.co.uk\/products\/no-show-the-world-cup-teams-that-never-were","provider":"Soccer Books Limited","version":"1.0","type":"link"}