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Animals!: The Story of England v Argentina Paperback – Illustrated, 30 Jun. 2010

by Neil Clack (Author)
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England v Argentina is a fixture with baggage, a clash of playing styles and cultural misunderstandings that has provided international football with some of its most controversial incidents: Ramsey's animals comment at Wembley; Maradona's Hand of God goal; Beckham's infamous red card; and his redemptive penalty four years later in Japan. Argentinian-based British journalist Neil Clack uncovers the story of how a once gentlemanly event has developed into one of the bitterest of grudge matches in world football, and tells a remarkable tale packed full of suspicion, namecalling, fisticuffs and intrigue. With a chapter dedicated to each of the 15 internationals played between the two countries, the story is told through the eyes of the players who played in those matches, accompanied by extensive background research, tactical analysis and personal anecdotes. Featuring exclusive interviews with Antonio Rattin, Ossie Ardiles, Ricky Villa, Carlos Roa, Juan Sebastian Veron, and Mario Kempes, Animals! not only give a fascinating insight to the history of England v Argentina, but also includes startling new revelations about one of international football's bitterest rivalries.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Know the Score Books
  4. Publication date
    30 Jun. 2010
  5. Dimensions
    15.24 x 2.03 x 20.32 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1848184085
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1848184084
  8. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

Author Biography Neil Clack is a freelance sportswriter based in Buenos Aires, and the Independent's South American football correspondent.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Know the Score Books (30 Jun. 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1848184085
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1848184084
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.03 x 20.32 cm
  • Customer reviews:

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
13 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

dce
5.0 out of 5 stars Spot On
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 September 2010
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I live in London but lived for a year in Argentina and my misses is Argentine - I really enjoyed the book it was an interesting and fun read - not only was it full of great anecdotes on the matches between Arg and Eng by those involved - but it also gave some really interesting insights on social and football history. I particularly enjoyed the observations of Argentinian life many of which made me laugh - the writer got some observations spot on and told them in an entertaining style - I think required reading not only for football fans but for anyone going to visit Argentina and wanting to understand how it ticks.
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Dennis Payne
4.0 out of 5 stars England v Argentina
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2015
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I enjoyed the early chapters of the book. However when the book started to cover matches I'd watched I began to have my doubts. The greatest conflict I had was the 1966 World Cup. Clack's 66 chapter examines whether the Argentina England quarterfinal was fixed for England to win. Apparently Argentinians believe the whole tournament was fixed so that England could win. Now I am a football nerd. I own and have watched every World Cup game from 66. So when the author makes suggestions that I believe are untrue to enhance the drama of the chapter I will have my say.

Clack suggests England struggled through the group stage. England didn't struggle. They won two and tied one. They didn't allow a goal in three matches. They outplayed their opponents in all three matches. Only Uruguay gave them trouble, they could have played France and Mexico for weeks and not conceded a goal. Argentina "cruised" to the Quarterfinal, yet England entered the match with a better goal differential (both had 5 points).

There are comments that Alf Ramsey was not "polite and modest" because of his prediction that England would win the World Cup. I have no idea if Ramsey was polite or not but the conclusion drawn from the prediction is shaky to say the least. The book is called, "Animals", Ramsey's famous quote after the Argentina-England game. There is an anti-Ramsey feeling throughout the chapter, which to me obviously suggests a pro-Argentine outlook.

Argentina were worried before the match about the referee. This is to suggest that the idea of a fix was already in the heads of the Argentine players and their media. I suggest it is more likely Argentina were weary of the referee because they feared an official who would not be intimidated and tolerate their gamesmanship.

When we get to the match Clack cherry picks his moments. Citing Bobby Moore's handling of the ball and receiving no stern talking to from the referee. What I recall about Moore was his discipline and when Argentina players would shout and push him in scrums he would passively step away from the antics. We are told more than once that Bobby Charlton was apparently awful in this match. The truth is no one stood out. It was a get the ball and quickly make a play or be fouled match. No one could stand out in this type of match. Picking on Charlton here makes no sense other than to suggest England's best player had an off match so England could have been beaten.

The match was dirty, foul after foul from both sides. The difference was that after the foul Argentina were apt to wave their arms or push the English player and complain to the referee. Rattin, was sent off late in the first half for complaining. England scored late (a Hurst header) and win 1-0. Many Argentina players are interviewed, they all say the match was fixed, they outplayed England, one even states the fans started cheering for Argentina. The truth is Argentina were outplayed before Rattin was sent off. After he was sent off Argentina just played the same defensive style. Argentina were outplayed with 11 men and with 10.

Then we get the interview with Rattin. He has no regrets because England aren't the winners in his mind. England fixed the match because the World Cup was a financial failure. Clack makes a point earlier about the British press complaining that the public were not interested in the World Cup because matches were not sold out. Every match may not have sold out but attendance was the best ever by miles. Watching the games one sees the great atmosphere at every match. Full stands. The World Cup was already a huge success and the people loved the games.

There are continual references from author and players about the 1964 mini World Cup in Brazil, which Argentina won. As if to say, Argentina were the better team because they beat England in 64. That argument just makes no sense at all. We beat you in 64, so if you won in 66 it was a cheat?

The conspiracy theory wears on my nerves. It's an excuse by a nation who lost to a better team. Believe it if you must, but the truth is England outplayed Argentina. The referee sent a player off for complaining during a match. In the end, Clack finally says he doesn't believe the match was fixed. But by this point I've read so many pro-Argentine ramblings I don't care what he believes.

The chapter doesn't really conclusively determine whether the match was fixed or not. But it does tell you one thing, that people will believe what they want to believe.
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Steve Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining indeed
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 October 2010
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I didn't think I was going to find this book interesting. "Forty years of hurt" watching England has really taken its toll. But this book tells you so much more than a Wisden version of recording football matches. It's really insightful about what goes on behind the scenes and in everyday football-connected life in Argentina. Very funny too, particularly the beginning. Highly recommended.
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Daf
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book despite the errors
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 February 2013
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it would have got 5 stars but for the proof-reader who should give their fee back to the author - it's littered with spelling errors and the member of Spinal Tap with the South American moustache is the bass player, not lead guitarist (you'll see what I mean). Buy and read this book anyway, it will throw new light on the age-old rivalry. Even though I'm Welsh, I shall be egg-ing England on to the next WC in the hope that we'll get to see a new instalment of this fascinating fixture.
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steven b.
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is by far the best that i have read on football that bar none ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 April 2015
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This book is by far the best that i have read on football that bar none This is an excellent study of this amazing rivalry.containing some of the best sporting black comedy ever.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2017
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Wonderful!
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travelkev
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, entertaining and meticulously researched.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2010
A thoroughly enjoyable book, some excellent interview and anecdotes structured round each of the matches in which England and Argetina have met. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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DCollins77
4.0 out of 5 stars Good memories
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2012
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An engaging, memory-provoking journey through some great games. Grudge matches and rivalries and bitterness are part of what makes football such a brilliant sport, and England v Argentina has always been engrossing down the years. A good read.
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Top reviews from other countries

Charlie Bartel
5.0 out of 5 stars A Slip of the Tongue?
Reviewed in the United States on 8 June 2013
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In the early 40's European Football was paralyzed by the second World War. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Argentina had given rise to a legendary generation of Football stars. There were the great stars of River Plate including Adolfo Pedernera, Angel Labruna, Nestor Rossi, and young player named Alfredo DiStefano. There were probably the best national team in the world, but no one in Europe ever saw them play.

Finally in 1951 Argentina accepted an invitation and traveled to London to play an England team that included Billy Wright, Stan Mortenson, Jackie Milburn, and Tom Finney. The English papers called it "the game of the Century." And thus began a legendary rivalry between Argentina and England that thrills fans world wide to this day.

It's all here. Amazing details about every match. The Author (Neil Clack) went to great effort to track down key figures from every encounter, including Santiago Vernazza, an unused substitute who sat on the bench for that 1st match in 1951. Most amazing of all was the detailed interview he conducted with Antonio
Rattin, the team captain and controversial figure from the 1966 World Cup Quarter Final match. It is just possible that Argentina had the best team at the 1966 World Cup, but for Rattin's Red Card suspension they would have beat England and wound up winning the entire tournament.

All the matches are from, from that first meeting in 1951 through a Friendly match in 2005 are covered in impressive detail. All the stars are here, from Diego Maradona to David Beckham, from Mario Kempes to Kevin Keegan, and all the others who graced this amazing rivalry. Special notice is given to Ozzie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa, the first Argentine heroes to play for English clubs (both played for Tottenham). They were there during the build up to and the aftermath of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Their anguish was especially poignant.

I found this a terrific book. You will too!
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Leoni Verlaine carvalho
5.0 out of 5 stars The english too???
Reviewed in the United States on 23 May 2014
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I am Brazilian so i am biased. Nevertheless i was quite baffled to realize that someone else hates the argentinians even more than we do when it comes to football (argentina is a wonderful country in every other aspect). But the english are anything but innocent. The political aspect plays a part and there is no agreement in sight unfortunately.
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