The Game of Their Lives (released on DVD as The Miracle Match) is a 2005 American drama film directed by David Anspaugh. The screenplay by Angelo Pizzo is based on the 1996 book of the same title by Geoffrey Douglas. Plot The film is based on the true story of the 1950 U.S. soccer team which, against all odds, beat England 1–0 in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil during the 1950 FIFA World Cup. The story is about the family traditions and passions that shaped the players who made up this team of underdogs. One group of teammates were from The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. Another group came from the Corky Row district of Fall River, Massachusetts. Cast Gerard Butler as Frank Borghi (from St. Louis) Wes Bentley as Walter Bahr (from Philadelphia) Jay Rodan as Frank Wallace (from St. Louis) Gavin Rossdale as Stanley Mortensen (on visiting English team) Costas Mandylor as Charlie Colombo (from St. Louis) Louis Mandylor as Gino Pariani (from St. Louis) Zachery Ty Bryan as Harry Keough (from St. Louis) Jimmy Jean-Louis as Joe Gaetjens (from Haiti) Richard Jenik as Joe Maca Nelson Vargas as John Souza Nino Da Silva as Eddie Souza John Harkes as Ed McIlvenny Bill Smitrovich as Admiral Higgins Terry Kinney as Dent McSkimming Patrick Stewart as Older Dent McSkimming John Rhys-Davies as Bill Jeffrey Tim Vickery as BBC Announcer Production In September 1996, Douglas' book was published. In November 1996, the film rights to it were purchased by producer Peter Newman. Newman was unable to secure financing for production, however, and finally sold the rights to Philip Anschutz, one of the founders of Major League Soccer. Anschutz wanted to generate interest in the fledgling soccer league, and hired Pizzo to write the screenplay and Anspaugh to direct. Anspaugh was initially hesitant, thinking that the success of his previous sports films (Hoosiers and Rudy) would be difficult to top and that a film about soccer would not be warmly received in the U.S. Coincidentally, the same day that Anspaugh was approached about the film, Pizzo was discussing the 1950 match with Indiana Hoosiers men's soccer coach Jerry Yeagley. Casting began in September 2002. The actors were chosen mostly for their soccer skills. Scotsman Gerard Butler, for example, grew up playing the game, although he portrayed a goalkeeper in the film. Wes Bentley was the only major exception. American