Films to help with World Cup withdrawal

Goal: The Dream Begins (2006) 

A Mexican cook in Los Angeles gets a chance to follow his dream of playing professional football. A talent scout with contacts in the United Kingdom spots him and offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance: If he can find a way to England, he can try out for the Newcastle United team.

Director: Danny Cannon

Cast: Kuno Becker, Anna Friel, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham

Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016)

Pele’s meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17 is chronicled in this biographical drama.

Directors: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist

Cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta

She’s the Man (2006)

When her brother decides to ditch for a couple weeks, Viola heads over to his elite boarding school disguised as him, and proceeds to fall for one of his soccer teammates, and soon learns she’s not the only one with romantic troubles.

Director: Andy Fickman

Cast: Amanda Bynes, Laura Ramsey, Channing Tatum

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.

Director: Stephen Chow

Cast: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yat-Fei Wong

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

A wrongfully expelled Harvard undergrad moves to London, where he is introduced to the violent underworld of football hooliganism.

Director: Lexi Alexander

Cast: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani