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| − | [[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is [[Miroslav Klose]], a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]] | + | [[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is Miroslav Klose, a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]] |
| | '''Soccer''' is a sport played with a round ball generally played using the player's feet. | | '''Soccer''' is a sport played with a round ball generally played using the player's feet. |
| − | In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a penalty area. The object of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; the team with the most goals at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner. If both teams at the end of two 45 minute periods are level on goals, the result is a draw, or the teams may rematch or play a period of extra time and penalty kicks to force a result. | + | In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a penalty area. The object of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; the team with the most goals at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner. If both teams at the end of two 45 minute periods are level on goals, the result is a draw, or the teams may rematch or play a period of extra time and penalty kicks to force a result. Outside the [[United States]], it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol''). |
| − | Outside the USA, it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol''). | |
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| − | Soccer is a popular sport for children and adults alike: | + | Televised soccer, with low scoring and virtually no violent contact, is less [[addiction|addictive]] for spectators than [[American]] [[football]] is. Americans gambled $1.8 billion on the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]],<ref>https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/19/fifa-world-cup-2022-americans-to-bet-1point8-billion-dollars.html</ref> but wager $10 or so billion on the [[Super Bowl]]. |
| − | *As Stephen H. Webb wrote at First Things last year, to contemporary American parents, "Baseball is too intimidating, football too brutal, and basketball takes too much time to develop the required skills ... Soccer is the perfect antidote to television and video games. It forces kids to run and run, and everyone can play their role, no matter how minor or irrelevant to the game."<ref name=media-goal /> | + | |
| | + | Competitive soccer by women has a high rate of [[lesbianism]], perhaps due to its encouragement of physical aggression. |
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| | + | Soccer has drawbacks as a sport, however. Girls can ruin their knees playing soccer, while boys can suffer head injuries while heading the ball, particularly if hardened. Practicing not to develop hand-to-eye coordination as required by soccer is unhelpful for other sports. |
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| | + | As an occasional hobby, soccer can be an easy, popular sport for children and adults alike: |
| | + | *As Stephen H. Webb wrote at ''First Things'', to contemporary American parents, "Baseball is too intimidating, football too brutal, and basketball takes too much time to develop the required skills ... Soccer is the perfect antidote to television and video games. It forces kids to run and run, and everyone can play their role, no matter how minor or irrelevant to the game."<ref name=media-goal /> |
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| | ==Origins== | | ==Origins== |
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| − | The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "As<u>soc</u>iation Football",.<ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London''</ref> Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[Middle Ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century which came from the universities of England. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules. | + | The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "As<u>soc</u>iation Football."<ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London''</ref> Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[Middle Ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century which came from the universities of England. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules. |
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| | ==Rules of the Game== | | ==Rules of the Game== |
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| | ==Diving (Cheating)== | | ==Diving (Cheating)== |
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| − | Soccer is well known as a sport for cheats. Players will often exaggerate or completely fake infringements or injuries in order to win penalty kicks. While there are penalties for deliberately faking a fall, the benefits far outweigh the risks in such a low-scoring game and players are encouraged by their coaches and fans to try and win un-just free kicks. There have been numerous highly controversial instances of high level games being decided by such acts, such as the recent opening game of the 2014 World Cup. | + | Soccer is well known as a sport for cheats. Players will often exaggerate or completely fake infringements or injuries in order to win penalty kicks. While there are penalties for deliberately faking a fall, the benefits far outweigh the risks in such a low-scoring game and players are encouraged by their coaches and fans to try and win unjust free kicks. There have been numerous highly controversial instances of high level games being decided by such acts, such as the recent opening game of the 2014 World Cup. |
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| | ==Great Players== | | ==Great Players== |
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| | + | * [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be the greatest soccer player to ever kick the ball. |
| | * [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time. | | * [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time. |
| | * [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper. | | * [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper. |
| − | * [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be the greatest soccer player to ever kick the ball.
| + | * [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentina|Argentinian]] midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest. |
| − | * [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest. | |
| | * [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever centre-back. | | * [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever centre-back. |
| | * [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals. | | * [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals. |
| | * [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional. | | * [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional. |
| | * [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery. Began the rebuilding of Barcelona when he became their manager and his ethos and style of play remains to this day. | | * [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery. Began the rebuilding of Barcelona when he became their manager and his ethos and style of play remains to this day. |
| − | * [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest. | + | * [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentina|Argentinian]] midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest. |
| | * [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, he had won almost every trophy and competition his team had competed in. Retired shortly after headbutting an Italian a World Cup final match in 2006. Is the current manager of [[Real Madrid]] where he has lead them to back-to-back [[Champions League]] titles for the first time in the competition's history. | | * [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, he had won almost every trophy and competition his team had competed in. Retired shortly after headbutting an Italian a World Cup final match in 2006. Is the current manager of [[Real Madrid]] where he has lead them to back-to-back [[Champions League]] titles for the first time in the competition's history. |
| | * [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]]. Considered one of the all-time greats not just for [[Real Madrid]] but in all of football. | | * [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]]. Considered one of the all-time greats not just for [[Real Madrid]] but in all of football. |
| | * [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]]. | | * [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]]. |
| − | * [[Claude Makélélé]], [[French]] holding midfield player. While not generally thought of as one of the best players of all time, his style of play revolutionised the midfield. Breaking up attacks, playing simple football and allowing the more attacking players to play without as many defensive duties. | + | * [[Claude Makélélé]], [[French]] holding midfield player. While not generally thought of as one of the best players of all time, his style of play revolutionized the midfield. Breaking up attacks, playing simple football and allowing the more attacking players to play without as many defensive duties. |
| | * [[Gianluigi Buffon]], [[Italian]] goalkeeper who has played over 650 league games, played in 3 [[World Cup]]s (was selected for the 1998 World Cup but never played), and considered one of the best goalkeepers to have ever graced the game. | | * [[Gianluigi Buffon]], [[Italian]] goalkeeper who has played over 650 league games, played in 3 [[World Cup]]s (was selected for the 1998 World Cup but never played), and considered one of the best goalkeepers to have ever graced the game. |
| − | * [[George Weah]], [[Liberian]] striker who is regarded as one of the best players to have come from [[Africa]]. The first African player to be named World Player of the Year. | + | * [[George Weah]], [[Liberian]] striker who is regarded as one of the best players to have come from [[Africa]]. The first African player to be named World Player of the Year. Weah later became President of Liberia; his son Tim was on the 2022 United States World Cup team. |
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| | ==Criticisms== | | ==Criticisms== |