Throughout the world football is a potent force in the lives of billions of people. Focusing national, political and cultural identities, football is the medium through which the world's hopes and fears, passions and hatreds are expressed. This is an examination of the way in which football has shaped 22 countries from all corners of the globe. It is also an examination of what lies behind each nation's distinctive style of play, from the carefree expression of the Brazilians to the anxious calculation of the Italians.