Soundoff: Nominate Your Favourite Football Films

By: Daryl | November 6th, 2009

cinema paradisoMovies and soccer. Two things that traditionally don’t mix well. In documentary form, maybe. But in scripted Hollywood form? No. For various reasons, it usually ends in either cheesy emotions, unconvincing action, or Robert Duvall’s Scottish accent in A Shot at Glory.

But not always. There are a handful of good football movies out there. So we want to hear from you. Which football movies are worth watching?

This post is both traditional Offside Soundoff (where we ask for your opinions) and also shameless self-promotion. Don’t worry, The Offside has not made a low-budget football movie. (Although… a “behind the scenes of The Offside” documentary might be interesting. Let’s tentatively title it “Behind the Lines: A Blogumentary.”) But Taylor from Man Utd Offside and myself have been co-hosting a talk show on public radio, and this week’s episode is focused on football movies. We ask why they’re so often so very bad, but also speculate which directors’ soccer movies we’d like to see and finally each list our Top 5 favourite football movies.

If you’ve got 27 minutes and 57 seconds to spare, then click here to listen (and if you like the show, then subscribe via iTunes)

If you don’t have 27:57 to spare, then no worries. But we still want to hear from you in the comments. Which football movies are worth watching. And why?



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  • BootsnAll |  November 6th, 2009 at 11:45 am

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    Escape to Victory: great to see famous players acting & kicking the ball around. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at Sly Stallone’s involvement though.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Daryl |  November 6th, 2009 at 11:49 am

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    I think Stallone’s presence works. Especially because they don’t try and pretend he can play. That scene where he’s trying to play outfield in the practice (or was it tryouts?) and runs around like a headless chicken is one of my favourites.

    Posted from United States

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  • elle |  November 6th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

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    I liked the first Goal movie…but the next one was a travesty.

    Also, the Game of Their Lives was alright, from a historical perspective. Also it shows the US beating the British, which is always nice.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Laurie |  November 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm

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    I have already “come out” on this to Daryl, but now I guess I need to confess to the world. My favorite footy movie? “Bend it Like Beckham.”

    Posted from United States

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  • Mark Chalcraft |  November 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

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    I’ll go with Fever Pitch. The fact it’s not full of football for football’s sake is good. Plus it has proper actors, and Colin Firth. Plus, I still remember being allowed to stay up late and seeing that Michael Thomas goal

    Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

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  • Brett |  November 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

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    Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Johonna |  November 6th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

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    I love Bend it Like Beckham, but one of my all time favs is a German movie called “Guys and Balls.” It is hysterical but with a heart of gold.

    I also liked the Real Madrid movie – not so much for the actual part with the players, but for the vignettes.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Jem |  November 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

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    Some Escape to Victory Triva (from IMDB.com):
    Sylvester Stallone initially received training from England’s World Cup winning goalkeeper, Gordon Banks. After only a few days of training Stallone dismissed Banks, saying that anybody could play in goal without trouble and he didn’t see what all the fuss was about. During filming however, Stallone constantly kept flinging himself about in an exaggerated acrobat-like manner and dislocated a shoulder, broke two ribs and received extensive bruises. Afterwards he admitted that he should have listened to Banks more carefully and commented that it was harder than fighting in the Rocky movies. Stallone also reportedly broke a finger trying to stop Pele from scoring a goal.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Francesco |  November 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

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    Big Green anyone?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Green

    One of my favorites as a kid.

    Posted from United States

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  • Jatin |  November 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm

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    Rudo y Cursi

    Everything to do with soccer player’s downfall.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • Joseph |  November 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

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    I know we’re not talking about documentaries, but I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve watch the 2006 world cup doc “The Grand Finale”. It’s more than just the “All the Goals of the … WC” movies however they do cut a tun of fairly important games out. I think its worth commenting on.

    Posted from United States

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  • matthew |  November 6th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

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    Phorpa (The Cup). Filmed in Bhutan, I believe. Absolutely fantastic.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Hana |  November 6th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

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    I just saw it this summer when I was over in the UK, but I’m incredibly fond of ‘Looking for Eric’. Lovely film and anything with Cantona is gold.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Hana |  November 6th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

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    …And yes, yes add me to the “Bend It” fanlist. Jonathan Rhys Myers can coach me any day.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Daryl |  November 6th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

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    Hana, I saw a random French film titled “La Vie Est A Nous!” where Cantona played the leader of a group of French lorry drivers who go on strike. Bizarrely, he had angel wings tattooed on his back, which he liked to flex. Decent film though.

    Posted from United States

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  • romaromaroma |  November 7th, 2009 at 12:44 am

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    Hot Shot… no question.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkd9pNGWCQk&feature=related

    Posted from United States

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  • tomas |  November 7th, 2009 at 2:58 am

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    just last week i was reading up on the true story behind Escape to Victory. absolutely incredible:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_Match

    Posted from United States

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  • Kate Boardman |  November 8th, 2009 at 9:39 am

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    Mike Bassett_ England Manager I DETEST football but this film had me in stitches. Closely followed by Escape To Victory. Brilliant, even with Stallone in it. :-)

    Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

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  • Kyle |  November 9th, 2009 at 11:29 am

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    Without hesitation the greatest football film is Shaolin Soccer. Everything about it is worth watching in either the english audio or the subtitled versions. Absolutely brilliant.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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