Soccer enthusiasts might enjoy the kinetic displays of real-life skill and smooth inclusion of actors Kuno Becker and Alessandro Nivola amongst superstars like Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham, but Goal II is as much a soap opera as it is a celebration of the sport. The second in a planned trilogy, it concerns hero Santiago Munez’s (Becker) switch from playing for Newcastle and house-shopping with fiancée Roz (Anna Friel) to a position on Real Madrid’s all-star lineup. There he’s reunited with former teammate Gavin Harris — played by Nivola, who adds a comic touch as the bumbling, aging buddy.

The movie tries to complicate itself with various plot threads — not only does Santiago have to play high-pressure soccer, he has to deal with a mother and half-brother he’s never met, his wife’s thick English accent and the advances of a covetous TV host (Leonor Varela). All of that starts to drag when compared with the forward motion of the game scenes. Rutger Hauer is fun to watch as the hard-assed coach, but as far as second parts of trilogies go, Goal II is no Empire Strikes Back.