India, June 12 -- "And perhaps deep down, I had been frightened that I might not have been able to stay dry during the World Cup and would end up making a fool of myself." Only George Best could say it like this and not be censured.

Best would have been 36 when Spain hosted the World Cup but in 1981, Northern Ireland coach Billy Bingham thought he was good enough to be included for a qualifier against Scotland. Bingham changed his mind, says Best in "Blessed", his autobiography, because he felt Best, then playing in the North American Soccer League, lacked fitness.

"But it was not the end of my World Cup dream," he writes. There was an offer to join Middlesbrough and help them stay in the top division. "Show Billy Bingham that you can s...