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Others with a connection to football made brief appearances:
Others with a connection to football made brief appearances:

Revision as of 21:23, 21 June 2007

Goal!
Goal! film poster
Directed byDanny Cannon
Written byMike Jefferies
Adrian Butchart
Dick Clement
Ian La Frenais
Produced byMike Jefferies
Matt Barrelle
Mark Huffam
StarringKuno Becker
Alessandro Nivola
Marcel Iures
Stephen Dillane
Distributed byTouchstone Pictures
Release dates
September 30, 2005 UK
Running time
118 min.
LanguageEnglish

Goal! (also known as Goal! The Dream Begins in the United States) is a 2005 film directed by Danny Cannon.

This is the first installment of a trilogy named Goal!. This film was made with full cooperation from FIFA, which is one of the reasons actual teams are used throughout the movie. The second installment, Goal! 2: Living the Dream..., was released in February 2007. The third and final installment, Goal 3, is currently being filmed and follows Santiago as he participates in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Plot

A young Mexican man named Santiago Muñez dreams of making it big in the world of football. When he crosses the United States–Mexico border illegally as a child with his family, he drops his football and leaves it behind, but brings his spirit and continues to play for a local team as a young man. He ends up living in a barrio in Los Angeles working a day job with his father doing landscaping work, and a night job as a bus boy in a Chinese restaurant.

His only relief comes in the form of his local soccer league, of which he is the star. When Glen Foy, a former scout for Newcastle United, sees Santiago's natural talent, he offers a try out for the team if only Santiago can make it to England. While that would fulfill his dreams, his father only wants a new truck to start his very own business. Both of their dreams come true, but at a cost. Santiago's father gets his truck, but steals Santiago's saving to help pay for it. Feeling sorry for him, Santiago's grandmother buys him a ticket to London, by way of Mexico City. Upon arriving, Santiago calls Glen, who puts him up for the time being.

The very next day, Santiago meets Erik Dornhelm, the manager of Newcastle. He agrees to let Santiago train at Newcastle's training camp. Santiago plays, all the while hiding his asthma and the frequent need for his inhaler that comes with it. Having never before seen the mud caused by England's infamous rainstorms, Santiago spends more time on his back than on his feet. Glen pleads with Mr. Dornhelm to let Santiago stay, and he agrees to gives him a one month trial. At his physical, Santiago lies and tells nothing of his asthma, to the very beautiful Nurse Harmison. Santiago makes friends with reserve teammate Jamie Drew, and enemies with others as he learns to pass the ball. He is a skilled player.

With his inhaler crushed by a teammate before his reserve game debut, Santiago suffers greatly against Manchester United. He's fired and goes to say goodbye to Roz Harmison. While in the cab to the train station, Santiago is sidetracked when his cab has to pick up Gavin Harris, the Newcastle United star who's very late to training. Santiago tells Gavin of his asthma, and the resulting consequences. Gavin goes out on a limb for Santiago and talks to Mr. Dornhelm about letting the kid stay. Santiago is back on the field with some medical help, another chance, and a new friend. In the reserve game against Queens Park Rangers, Santiago scores his first goal, and gains even more standing among his teammates.

Santiago continues training and scores another goal against Middlesbrough F.C.. He even moves in with Gavin, who introduces him to the party lifestyle. Santiago calls home, but his father refuses to speak to him.

For the next game in London, Santiago is moved up to the first team. He plays as a substitute in place of an injured teammate, but is again chastised by his manager for not passing (though he does win a penalty for his team). His father even proudly exclaims, "That's my son" from the bar where he is watching the game. Gavin takes him out for a night on the town, but pictures end up in the papers of his partying. Confronted by Mr. Dornhelm about the identity of his partying teammate, Santiago doesn't give up Gavin, but ends up even with Gavin. Trying to explain to Roz, Santiago sees Jamie, who tore up his knee, and will never play football again.

Santiago tells Gavin to clean up his act, and gets thrown out for it. Back at home, Santiago's younger brother finds their father slumped over in the yard. Facing the news of his father's death by heart attack, Santiago sits in the airport on his way home to LA and decides to stay in England, and stick it out. He becomes more confident in himself, able to escape the negativity his father bestowed on him. Gavin confesses to Dornhelm about dragging Santiago to the party, and takes on the responsibility of being a good role model. In the final game deciding Newcastle's chances of being in the UEFA Champions League, Santiago is moved up to starter. Gavin scores a goal, but Liverpool F.C. equalise and then take the lead. With Santiago's assistance, Gavin scores another goal to tie things up. Santiago scores from a free kick, with his grandmother and brother watching on TV in a Los Angeles bar. They learn that his father saw Santiago's professional debut in the previous game, letting Santi finally let his father go in peace.

Cast listing

Cameo appearances

The film was notable for the large number of cameo appearances, most of them by football players playing themselves:

Others with a connection to football made brief appearances:

Release dates

Trivia

  • Michael Winterbottom was originally signed to direct the film.
  • AC/DC singer Brian Johnson, made a cameo appearance.
  • Santiago Muñez has a profile on the footballing community Joga.com.
  • The final scene where Santiago scores to win the game against Liverpool F.C. is the actual goal scored by Laurent Robert in real life. It is noticeable that Santiago, a right footed player throughout the movie, shoots with his left foot in this scene.
  • When Gavin Harris is scoring a goal on the playstation, it is the free kick taken by Munez (Laurent Robert) at the end of the film.
  • The first reserves teamlist that Santiago features on (versus Manchester United) also includes Darren Ambrose, Shola Ameobi and David Edgar, all players that have played in Newcastle Uniteds first team.

External links

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