The football World Cup kicks off today over in Russia and the sport is expected to dominate our TV screens and bars for the next month.
Millions of pounds are expected to be spent in the bars and pubs around the world and on merchandise branded with the official World Cup logos, not to mention football strips. There will also be hundreds of thousands of pounds laid on the best online betting sites throughout the tournament too.
As the football frenzy grips the nation, we though we’d take a look at five of the very best football-themed movies that have graced our screens over the years.
Escape To Victory
The film that starred the likes of Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and even football pros Pelé, Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles, Escape To Victory was set during the height of WWII as a some of our boys took on the German national team in Nazi-occupied France.
The Damned United
One of the best football biopics of all time wasn’t made all that long ago. The Damned United based upon the life and career of Brian Clough, played expertly by Michael Sheen. The film focusses primarily on the English manager’s time at Leeds football club in the 1970s.
Mike Bassett: England Manager
A proper World Cup-themed movie, Mike Bassett: England Manager was released back in 2001 and revolved around Ricky Tomlinson’s title character, a Norwich FC manager propelled into the limelight as the national coach just who surprisingly qualify for the world championships at the last minute.
Fever Pitch
An absolute must for fans of the game. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, the film is an early movie outing for Colin Firth who plays a teacher who has a deep passion for Arsenal football club. The film is set during the club’s 1988/89 league-winning season and centers on Firth’s character, based loosely on Hornby himself, and his romance with Sarah Hughes (Ruth Gemmell).
Bend It Like Beckham
Released in a World Cup year, Bend It Like Beckham was the career launch-pad for none other than Keira Knightley who plays a young woman who dreams of the big time with her friend Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra (Parminder Nagra). The two are part of a local club who soon make it to the top of the league and thus getting the pair recognised for their talents at a national level.
