Goal II: Living the Dream

"Goal II" and "Goal 2" redirect here. For the 1992 video game, see Goal! Two.

Goal II: Living The Dream
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jaume Collet-Serra
Screenplay by	Adrian Butchart Mike Jefferies Terry Loane
Story by	Mike Jefferies Adrian Butchart
Produced by	Mike Jefferies Matt Barrelle Mark Huffam
Starring	Kuno Becker Alessandro Nivola Anna Friel Rutger Hauer Sean Pertwee Stephen Dillane Zinedine Zidane David Beckham Nick Cannon
Cinematography	Favio Labiano
Edited by	Niven Howie
Music by	Stephen Warbeck
Distributed by	Buena Vista International
Release dates	9 February 2007 (UK) 27 August 2008 (US)
Running time	115 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom Spain Germany
Languages	English Spanish

Goal II: Living the Dream is the sequel to the football film Goal!. It was written by Adrian Butchart and producer Mike Jefferies and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. It was released on 9 February 2007 in the United Kingdom and 29 August 2008 in the United States.

Plot

Goal! II carries on from Goal! in which Santiago Muñez, who is now a successful footballer, gets transferred from Newcastle United to Real Madrid. His girlfriend Roz Harmison (Anna Friel) stays in England to complete her nursing training but they plan to see each other as much as possible. He has a good start for Real as he substitutes former teammate Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola), who is in bad form. However, life starts to get complicated when his half-brother Enrique tracks down Santiago and shows him a picture of his mother, who left his father years ago and now also lives in Madrid. This news sends Santiago into an emotional tail spin, after which his life goes downhill, as his fame and success begins to catch up with him, and he becomes more arrogant and selfish.

When he gets his first chance to start for Real Madrid, he messes up after a bad tackle on Valencia's Vicente Rodríguez, leading to him getting sent off. Soon after, he gets into an argument with his girlfriend Roz, who leaves, frustrated, to return to the United Kingdom, and he rashly fires Glen Foy as his agent when he gets him an advertising deal with a sushi restaurant just because he hates sushi. Things get worse when he gets injured. Unable to cope with the forces around him, and without anyone to guide him, Santiago is lured into a kiss with an opportunistic sports television presenter Jordana Garcia which becomes back page news.

His young brother Enrique, meanwhile steals Santiago's Lamborghini after he has an argument with Santiago; he crashes and badly injures himself. Santiago then beats up a photographer and gets arrested, and when he calls Glen for help, he is firmly informed that he is on his own. Soon after getting released, his girlfriend finds out about Santiago's affair and dumps him, leaving him sad and depressed.

At his lowest ebb, he realizes he needs to put things right and visits his mother, who explains why she ran away when Santiago was a young boy. He tries multiple times to call his girlfriend and make up to her but she does not answer and the audience see, but unknown to Santi, that she is pregnant with his child.

Real Madrid reach the final of the UEFA Champions League and they are lined up against Arsenal. Santiago learns that Harris has to get a place in the starting line-up in the final in order to ensure an extension of his contract and a place in his national squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. He asks the coach to let Harris start instead of him in the final. Harris gets his chance, but almost squanders it by fouling Arsenal player T.J. Harper in the first half – which leads to a penalty and Real Madrid concede the first goal. The final turns into a nightmare for Real Madrid after this. The star players can hardly build any chances and Arsenal have a firm grip on the game in the first half.

Contrary to speculation and despite the bad form of Harris, Santiago is brought onto the field – but not as a substitute for Harris. In the second half the two former Newcastle teammates get the chance to link up at the front to bring Madrid back to life. However the game gets worse as Arsenal go 2-0 up. Arsenal are denied an even bigger lead when Casillas superbly saves another penalty. Following this save, Real Madrid get to counter-attack with Santiago finally creating a moment of magic with Harris, who scores to make it 2-1. In the final few minutes of the game, with Madrid needing a goal to stay in the game, Santiago gets his chance and makes it 2-2. Finally, with only seconds left, David Beckham scores from a free kick to win the Champions League for Real Madrid.

The film ends with the Real Madrid CF players celebrating a famous win and is "to be continued...".

Cast

• Kuno Becker as Santiago Muñez
• Alessandro Nivola as Gavin Harris
• Anna Friel as Roz Harmison
• Stephen Dillane as Glen Foy
• Rutger Hauer as Rudi van der Merwe
• Frances Barber as Carol Harmison
• Míriam Colón as Mercedes
• Sean Pertwee as Barry
• Elizabeth Peña as Rosa María
• Leonor Varela as Jordana García
• Mike Jefferies as Mad Director
• Jorge Jurado as Enrique
• Nick Cannon as TJ Harper
• Shammi Aulakh as The Doctor

Cameo appearances

Many past and present Real Madrid players portray themselves, as does a club president and the President of Honour, and other opponents.

• David Beckham - Himself
• Ronaldo - Himself
• Sergio Ramos - Himself
• Roberto Carlos - Himself
• Ronaldinho - Himself
• Robinho - Himself
• Zinedine Zidane - Himself
• Iván Helguera - Himself
• Thomas Gravesen - Himself
• Carles Puyol - Himself
• Samuel Eto'o - Himself
• Iker Casillas - Himself
• Thierry Henry - Himself
• Guti - Himself
• Jens Lehmann - Himself
• Cesc Fàbregas - Himself
• Raúl - Himself
• Raúl Bravo - Himself
• Robert Pires - Himself
• Arsène Wenger - Himself
• Freddie Ljungberg - Himself
• Roberto Soldado - Himself
• Vicente Rodríguez - Himself
• Lionel Messi - Himself
• Víctor Valdés - Himself
• Florentino Pérez - Himself
• Steve McManaman - Himself
• Juninho- Himself
• Mahamadou Diarra - Himself
• Diego López - Himself
• Tiago - Himself
• Milan Baroš - Himself

Music

• “Morning Glory” - Oasis
• "Ave Maria" - Barbara Bonney
• "Bright Idea" - Orson
• "I Like the Way (You Move)" - BodyRockers
• "I See Girls (Crazy)" (Tom Neville Remix) - Studio B
• "Friday Friday" - Boy Kill Boy
• "Letting the Cables Sleep" - Bush
• "Turning Japanese" - The Vapors
• "Denial" - Stereo Black
• "No Tomorrow" - Orson
• "La Camisa Negra" - Juanes
• "Feeling a Moment" - Feeder
• "E246" - Coco & Puttnam
• "Toe the Line" - Trademark
• "Push the Button" - Sugababes
• "Here Without You" - 3 Doors Down
• "Nothing" - 'A'
• "DESTINATION" - Year Long Disaster
• "Cógelo" - Muchachito Bombo Infierno

External links

• Goal II: at the Sports Movie Database
• Goal II: Living the Dream at IMDb
• Goal II: Living the Dream at Rotten Tomatoes
• Q&A with Steve McManaman, Kuno Becker, Mike Jefferies and Anna Friel at Phase9.tv