5 football movies to watch while most of the leagues are suspended at least till the first week of April due to the coronavirus spread.
March has always been one of the hectic football months in the season, but with the outbreak of the COVID-19, most of the football being played around the world is either suspended or being played behind closed doors.
Thus, on social media, fans are wondering what to do, while football is at a pause. One of the things which can be done during this unprecedented break is to watch football movies.
With that one can remain connected with the game and would get to know in-depth perspective around the game. Luckily, there have been only a handful of movies made on football.
So, it was easy to pick out top-5 movies, which we are going to reveal ahead in the article and one should watch these movies while the real-life game is at a halt.
This would also help in spending time in isolation, as remaining away from the crowded places is the best option possible for everyone at this given point of time.
Disclaimer: These are only movies, documentaries have not been included in this list.
1. The Damned United
The Damned United is a 2009 film directed by Tom Hooper and adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace’s bestselling novel The Damned Utd. The story is around Brian Clough’s 44-day reign as the coach of the English football club Leeds United.
Clough before joining Leeds has been a critic of their physical game-style played under his rival manager Don Revie. Eventually, the former replaces Revie at the Leeds, who are at the top f the English football.
Prior to joining Leeds, Clough spent his time with Hartlepool and Derby County, where he executed his vision along with his trusted deputy Peter Taylor.
The movie shows in the dynamic journey of Clough in the Leeds’ dressing room where he is without Taylor and amidst the players who still have their loyalties with Revie.
2. Offside
Amidst the gender discrimination in Iran, six women decide to disguise themselves as boys to enter into Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to watch the 2006 World Cup Asian zone qualifier between Iran and Bahrain.
However, soon their presence is soon discovered, and all of them are arrested one by one. The movie brilliantly speaks upon the inequality between both genders in Football, especially in Iran, where the ban on women entering into stadiums was till 2019.
Iranian women were barred from attending football games because they’re not allowed to see strange men with bare legs and arms or be exposed to the foul language of the crowd.
Moreover, it brilliantly talks about the arbitrary justice conducted in an authoritarian society. Surely, one can discover the great storytelling of Jafar Panahi in this movie.
3. United
United is based on a true story of the Munich air disaster of Manchester United’s “Busby babes”, it was the youngest side ever to win the Football League and the air crash took lives of eight players.
The film brilliantly showcases the return of Manchester United from the lowest phase of their history. Jack O’Connell was cast as Bobby Charlton and was impressive in the movie.
Undoubtedly, this movie is very close to Manchester United fans, but it would also make a deep impact on any non-Manchester United fan. Hence, a top recommendation.
4. Victory
Based during the onset of World War II, Major Karl von Steiner (Max Von Sydow), the camp commander, once a member of the German national soccer team, decides to put together a soccer match between a team of Allied prisoners.
Led by Captain John Colby (Michael Caine), a former English international soccer player. The game is to be played in Colombes Stadium in Paris and exploited for maximum propaganda effect by the Nazi publicity machine.
The movie also stars Sylvester Stallone, who plays the character of Robert Hatch and he is assigned to assist the Allied prisoners to train for the event. But, in fact, the Allies are planning a risky escape during the soccer match.
The movie has famous appearances by former Brazilian legend Pele, along with Bobby Moore, the captain of Britain’s 1966 World Cup champions, and Argentine soccer star Osvaldo Ardiles.
5. Green Street Hooligans
Greenstreet hooligans is a movie based upon the passion for the club, which often turns into violence against the rival fan groups. a document on the subculture of soccer thugs.
The movie begins when the lead character Matt Buckner is wrongfully expelled from Harvard University, making him flee to his sister, who resides in England.
Once there, he is befriended by her charming and dangerous brother-in-law, Pete Dunham, and introduced to the underworld of British football hooliganism.
While surrounded around the violent football culture on the streets of England, Buckner understands the secrets of this world. A movie for the passionate and die-hard fans.
