There are few people who don’t enjoy ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentaries. On April 15th, ESPN kicked off the release of 8 different soccer stories with the documentary "Hillsborough” – an account of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster that occurred during the 1989 FA Cup Semifinal. If you’re not excited about this series of films, please visit your local doctor.
The stories will be a mix of 30-minute mini documentaries and full length feature films. ESPN is already doing an in-depth series on the USNMT's training and preparation leading up to the World Cup and decided to add more content to their already great coverage of the World Cup.
“With ESPN being the home of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, we know that sports fans will be looking forward to high quality content focused on what is perhaps the world’s most revered sport,” said Connor Schell, VP of ESPN Films and Original Content. “We feel this is the perfect time to expand upon the success of our 30 for 30 series by focusing this collection on some of the incredible stories of soccer’s legendary past.”
The Two Escobars is the only other soccer story within the 30 for 30 series.
Tuesday, April 15, 8 pm ET
“Hillsborough”- An account of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster that occurred during the 1989 FA Cup Semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The story will focus on the before, during and after the unfortunate events that left 96 people dead and 766 injured.
Tuesday, April 22, 7 pm ET
"Maradona ’86” - An ode to one of the greatest performances in soccer history by Argentine Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Followed by “The Opposition” - How in 1973 Cold War politics affected the outcome of a World Cup qualifier between Chile and the Soviet Union.
Tuesday, April 29, 7pm ET
“The Myth of Garrincha” – A story on Pelé’s teammate Mané Garrincha who is also remembered as one of the best soccer players of all time. Despite doctors telling him he was unfit to play professionally due to bent legs, Garrincha helped lead Brasil to two World Cups and became an irresistible spectacle before dying of alcoholism at the age of 49.
Followed by “Ceasefire Massacre” - At 1994 World Cup in the US, during Ireland’s opening game verse Italy, two masked gunman burst into a small bar in Northern Ireland killing six men watching the match. Now, 20 years later, the relatives of the victims believe the British government has questions to answer about their own role in the massacre.
Tuesday, May 6, 7 pm ET
“Mysteries of the Rimet Trophy” - The Jules Rimet trophy was awarded to the nation that won the FIFA World Cup and was one of the most coveted prizes in all of sports. This story focuses on the Nazi plan to steal the Rimet trophy from Italy during WW2 and how Italian official Ottorino Barassi tries to protect it.
Followed by “Barbosa: The Man Who Made Brazil Cry” - A story how one of the world's best goalkeepers became an entire nations anti-hero. Moacir Barbosa of Brasil conceded a goal to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup Final in Brasil that stunned the 175,000 in attendance sending Brasil into a state of mourning and forever tainting Barbosa’s reputation.
Tuesday, July 1, 8 pm ET
“White, Blue and White” - At a time when overseas players was still new to the English league, Argentine Ossie Ardiles became a cult hero in England leading Tottenham Hotspur to victory at the 1981 FA Cup. But after Argentinian troops landed on the British ruled Ralkland Islands, Ardiles returned to Buenos Aires with his future in question.
