VMLIFE

As we prepare ourselves for the Brazil 2014 World Cup it is all to easy to get sidetracked by the multi-million pound stadiums, world record transfer fees and lucrative sponsorship deals of modern football.

'Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more than that'... Bill Shankly's famous words have never been more apt, especially in the case of the 100,000's of fans heading to South America this June to support their national teams. But, although this summer's quadrennial tournament will be put on the global stage for all see, it can seem a far-cry from the true essence of football which is played by millions of people around the world everyday.

In celebration of the beautiful game we've taken a look at the work of Austen Ezzell, a photographer who has captured images of football around the world. His photographs show no super-fancy patterned turf, no millionaire managers and no giant advertisement screens - just the realistic, simplistic and serene beauty of football and how it is enjoyed around the planet.

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