Footballreferstoanumberofsportsthatinvolve,tovaryingdegrees,kickingaballwiththefoottoscorea

goal.Themostpopularofthesesportsworldwideisassociationfootball,morecommonlyknownasjust
"football"or"soccer".
Variousformsoffootballcanbeidentifiedinhistory,oftenaspopularpeasantgames.Contemporarycodes
offootballcanbetracedbacktothecodificationofthesegamesatEnglishpublicschoolsintheeighteenth
andnineteenthcenturies.TheinfluenceandpoweroftheBritishEmpireallowedtheserulesoffootballto
spreadtoareasofBritishinfluenceoutsideofthedirectlycontrolledEmpire,thoughbytheendofthe
nineteenthcentury,distinctregionalcodeswerealreadydeveloping:GaelicFootball,forexample,
deliberatelyincorporatedtherulesoflocaltraditionalfootballgamesinordertomaintaintheirheritage.
]
In
1888,TheFootballLeaguewasfoundedinEngland,becomingthefirstofmanyprofessionalfootball
competitions.Duringthetwentiethcentury,severalofthevariouskindsoffootballgrewtobecomeamong
themostpopularteamsportsintheworld.
Historyoffootball
ThereisevidenceinChinathatmilitaryforcesaround2ndand3rdcenturyBC(HanDynasty)playeda
game,originallynamed"TsuChu",thatinvolvedkickingaleatherballstuffedwithfurintoasmallhole.Like
Soccer,nohandswerepermittedduringtheplayofthegame.
FirstsoccergamesplayedinBritainwereplayedbythelocalseastofEngland,startingaftera'legendary'
gamethatinvolvedkickingaroundtheseveredheadofaDanishprincethattheyhavedefeatedinawar.
KingEdwardIIbannedEnglish'mobfootball'owingtoseriousinjuriesanddeathsthatoccurredduring
games.AnumberofEnglish,FrenchandScottishkings,includingEdwardIIIofEngland(1349),PhillippeV
ofFrance(1319),andJamesIofScotland(1424),alsopassedlawsforbiddingthegame.
WilliamShakespearecoinedtheword'football'inhisplayKingLear.
Inthehistoryoffootballthe19thcenturywasacrucialtime.Thegame'srulesbecameestablished
clubs,someofwhichstillexisttoday,wereformedandthefirstinternationalmatcheswereplayed.
EtonCollege,inEngland,establishedthefirstsetofrulesforthegameof'football'thathadbeen
playedbystudentsatbothOxfordandCambridgeUniversitiessincethe14thcentury.
Thepenaltykickswereintroduced
Goalnetswereinvented.
Thehistoryoffootballinthe20thcenturywasdominatedbytheformationofFIFAandregional
confederations.TheWorldCupandregionalnationsandclubtournamentswerealsofoundedand
thesportwasshownliveontelevision.
FederationInternationaledeFootballAssociation(FIFA)wasformedbydelegatesfromFrance,
Belgium,Denmark,Holland,Spain,SwedenandSwitzerland.
Commonrulesamongthesportsinclude:
Twoteamsofusuallybetween11and18playerssomevariationsthathavefewerplayers(fiveor
moreperteam)arealsopopular.

Aclearlydefinedareainwhichtoplaythegame.

Scoringgoalsorpoints,bymovingtheballtoanopposingteam'sendofthefieldand
eitherintoagoalarea,oroveraline.

Goalsorpointsresultingfromplayersputtingtheballbetweentwogoalposts.

Thegoalorlinebeingdefendedbytheopposingteam.

Playersbeingrequiredtomovetheballdependingonthecodebykicking,carrying,
orhandpassingtheball.

Playersusingonlytheirbodytomovetheball.
Inallcodes,commonskillsincludepassing,tackling,evasionoftackles,catchingandkicking.[7]In
mostcodes,therearerulesrestrictingthemovementofplayersoffside,andplayersscoringagoal
mustputtheballeitherunderoroveracrossbarbetweenthegoalposts.
Positionofsoccerplayers
Strikers
Forwards(orstrikers)aretheplayerswhoarepositionednearesttotheopposingteam'sgoal.The
primaryresponsibilityofforwardsistoscoregoalsandtocreatescoringchancesforotherplayers.
Forwardsmayalsocontributedefensivelybyharryingoppositiondefendersandgoalkeeperswhilst
notinpossession.Themostcommonmodernformationsincludebetweenoneandthreeforwards
forexample,alonestrikerina4231,pairedstrikersina442orastrikerandtwowingersina
433.
Coacheswilloftenfieldonestrikerwhoplaysontheshoulderofthelastopposingdefenderand
anotherattackingforwardwhoplayssomewhatdeeperandassistsincreatinggoalsaswellas
scoring.Theformerissometimesalargestriker,typicallyknownasa"targetman",whoisused
eithertodistractopposingdefenderstohelpteammatesscore,ortoscorehimselfthelatteris
usuallyofquickerpace,andisrequiredtohavesomeabilitieslikefindingholesintheopposing
defenceand,sometimes,dribbling.Inothercases,strikerswilloperateonthewingsofthefieldand
worktheirwaygoalwards.Yetanothervariationisthereplacementofthetargetmanwithastriker
whocanthreadthroughballs.
Playerswhospecialiseinplayingasatargetareusuallyofaboveaverageheightwithgood
headingabilityandanaccurateshot.Theytendtobethe"outlet"playerforbothmidfieldersand
defenders,ableto"holdtheballup"(retainpossessionoftheballinanadvancedpositionwhile
teammatesrunforwardtojointheattack).Theytendtoscoregoalsfromcrosses,oftenwiththe
head,andcanusetheirbodystrengthtoshieldtheballwhileturningtoscore.
Otherforwardsmayrelyontheirpacetorunontolongballspassedoverorthroughtheopposition
defence,ratherthancollectingtheballwiththeirbacktogoallikeatargetman.Someforwardscan
playbothoftheserolesequallywell.
Midfielders
Midfielders(originallycalledhalfbacks)areplayerswhosepositionofplayismidwaybetweenthe
attackingforwardsandthedefenders.Theirmaindutiesaretomaintainpossessionoftheball,
takingtheballfromdefendersandfeedingittothestrikers,aswellasdispossessingopposing
players.Mostmanagersfieldatleastonecentralmidfielderwithamarkedtaskofbreakingup
opposition'sattackswhiletherestaremoreadepttocreatinggoalsorhaveequalresponsibilities
betweenattackanddefence.Midfielderscanbeexpectedtocovermanyareasofapitch,asat
timestheycanbecalledbackintodefenceorrequiredtoattackwiththestrikers.Theyaremore
oftentheplayersthatinitiateattackingplayforateam.
CentreMidfield
Centralmidfieldersprovidethelinkbetweendefenceandattack,fulfillinganumberofdutiesand
tendtooperatemostlyinthemiddlethirdofthepitchbetweenopposingpenaltyboxes.Theywill
supportattackingplaybytheteamandwhentheballislosttheywillendeavourtowinitbackand
trytobreakuptheopposition'sownattackingplaybeforetheyreachthelastthirdoftheplaying
field.Acentralmidfielderwillendeavourtoinitiateattackingplayafterreceivingtheballoutfrom
thedefenceorafterwinningtheballbackandcanbesometimesdescribedasplaymakers.They
willalsoofferanadditionallineofdefencewhentheteamisundersustainedattackandwhen
defendingcorners.Centralmidfieldersarealwaysbusyinagameandareoftentherefore
sometimesdescribedastheengineroomoftheteam.
DefensiveMidfielder
Adefensivemidfielder(holdingmidfielderormidfieldanchor)isacentralmidfielderwhoisstationed
infrontofthedefenderstoprovidemoredefensiveprotection,thus"holdingback"whentherestof
themidfieldsupportstheattack.
AttackingMidfielder
Anattackingmidfielderisacentralmidfielderwhoisstationedinanadvancedmidfieldposition,
usuallybehindthestrikers.Theseplayerstypicallyserveastheoffensivepivotoftheteam,and
aresometimessaidtobe"playinginthehole",althoughthistermcanalsobeusedtodescribethe
positioningofadeeplyingforward.Thisspecialistmidfielder'smainroleistocreategoalscoring
opportunitiesusingsuperiorvisionandskill.
WideMidfielder
Awidemidfielder(leftmidfieldandrightmidfield,orgenerallysidemidfielder)(historicallycalled
lefthalfandrighthalf,orwinghalf)isamidfielderwhoisstationedtotheleftorrightofcentral
midfield.
Defenders
Defendersplaybehindthemidfieldersandtheirprimaryresponsibilityistoprovidesupporttothe
teamandtopreventtheoppositionfromscoringagoal.Theyusuallyremaininthehalfofthefield
thatcontainsthegoaltheyaredefending.Tallerdefenderswillmoveforwardtotheopposing
team'spenaltyboxwhentheirteamtakescornerkicksorfreekicks,wherescoringwithone'shead
isapossibility.
Centreback,Sweeper,Fullback,Wingback
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeperisthemostdefensivepositioninfootball.Thegoalkeeper'smainjobistostopthe
otherteamfromscoringbycatching,palmingorpunchingtheballfromshots,headersand
crosses.Unliketheirteammates,goalkeeperstypicallyremaininandaroundtheirownpenalty
areaformostofthegame.Asaresult,goalkeepershaveabetterviewofthepitchandoftengiven
advicetotheirdefencewhentheotherteamisontheattackorduringsetpieces.Goalkeepersare
theonlyplayersonthepitchwhoareallowedtohandletheball,butthisisrestrictedtotheirown
penaltyarea.Positioningisanotherimportantjobandisoneofthehardesttomasteraskeeper.
Goalkeepersmustalsowearadifferentcolouredkitfromtheoutfieldersandofficials.Common
coloursincludeyellow,green,grey,blackandshadesofblue.Sincethe1970s,goalkeepershave
alsotypicallywornspecialisedgloves.Theyprovidebettergripontheballandprotecttheirhands
fromhardshotsandheaders,aswellmakingiteasiertopunchorpushtheballaway.Capswere
commonbetweenthe1910sand1960s,aswellaswoollyjumpersbutthisismuchlesscommon
today.
Footballdribblingmoves.
ElasticoElasticoisadribblingmove,orfeint,infootball,usedtofooladefensiveplayerinto
thinkingtheoffensiveplayer,inpossessionoftheball,isgoingtomoveinadirectionhedoesnot
intendtomovein.Playersperformitbyusingtheexterioroftheirdominantfoottopushtheball
towardstheirdominantside,thenquicklymovethedominantfootaroundtheballandusesits
interiortopushtheballtotheirnondominantside.
StepoverThestepoverisadribblingmove,orfeint,infootball,usedtofooladefensiveplayerinto
thinkingtheoffensiveplayer,inpossessionoftheball,isgoingtomoveinadirectionhedoesnot
intendtomovein.
RaibowflickTherainbowflickisdonebytheplayerpickinguptheballwiththeirfeetandgettingit
putthroughtheirlegs.Then,theplayerreleasestheballfromtheirlegsandrollsituptheirback
heelandflicksitwiththeirbackheelovertheirhead.
NutmegAnutmeg(ortunnel)isatechniqueusedinsoccerfootballtosliptheballbetweenthe
legs,whensuccessfullydoneithumiliatestheopponent.
RouletteThemanoeuvreismosteffectivewhentheopposingplayerapproachesheadonorfrom
thesideoftheplayer'smasterfoot.
Thefirstdragbackenablestheplayertoretaincontroloftheballbyremovingtheballfromthearc
oftheopposingplayer'stackle.Thebodyspinpositionsthebackofthedribblingplayer'sbodyin
betweentheopposingplayerandtheballtoshieldtheball.[2]Theseconddragbackchangesthe
directionoftheball,and,whencombinedwiththecompletionofthespin,allowsforbothplayerand
balltomoveinthesamedirectionandhencegainmomentumforacontinuedrunorashot.
Thebestsoccerplayersofpastandpresent
LionelMessiFourtimesWorldPlayeroftheYear,Messiisbysomedistancethebestplayeronthe
planet.Hisabilitytomesmerizedefenderswithamixofskillandpaceisunmatchedanditoften
appearsasthoughtheballisgluedtohisfeet.TheBarcelonastarisversatileenoughtoplay
anywhereacrossthefrontline,buthiscountryArgentinahavesofarfailedtofindawaytogetthe
maximumoutofthisextraordinarytalent.Alreadyoneofthebestsoccerplayersofalltime.
CristianoRonaldoRonaldomayhavelessofaninfluenceongamesthanMessi,butheisstronger
andtallerthantheArgentine,andhisgoalstogamesratiosimilar.SincejoiningRealMadridfrom
ManchesterUnitedin2009,Ronaldohasbeenarevelation,makingtheworldrecordoutlayof
US$131looklessoutrageouswitheveryhattrick.Hisfamousstepoverisimitatedinparksright
acrosstheworld.
ZidaneZidanewastheattackingmidfielderfortheFrenchnationalteam,JuventusandReal
Madrid.Renownedforhiselegance,visionandtechnique,ZidanewasnamedthebestEuropean
footballerofthepast50yearsbyUEFA,andhasbeendescribedasoneofthegreatestplayersin
thehistoryofthegame.
AndresIniestaIniesta'sunderstandingwithclubmateXaviHernandezbordersonthetelepathicat
times.Theshort,eyeoftheneedlepassingthepairproducecanpierceholesinthemoststubborn
ofrearguards.Iniestaisalsoverymodest,nevercreatingproblemsforthecoachesheworks
under.ScoredthewinnerintheWorldCupfinalagainsttheNetherlands.
RonaldinhoRonaldinhoisaBrazilianfootballer.Hismainplayingpositionisasanattacking
midfielderorforward.HewontheFIFAWorldPlayeroftheYearawardin2004and2005.
Renownedforhisskill,tricks,dribbling,overheadkicks,blindpassesandfreekicks,Ronaldinhois
widelyregardedtobeoneofthebestfootballersofhisgeneration.
Footballisagameforthemasses,itcanbeplayedonafootballpitch,onthestreetsoranywhere
youcanthinkof.ItisaversatileandeverchangingsportThebeautifulgamehasmesmerized
millionsofpeopleinspiredgenerationsofyouths.Inthirdworldcountries,playingfootballistheir
meansofgettingoutofpovertyinhopeofbeingpickedupbyfootballtalentscoutsandtoplayin
theEuropeanleague.Footballhasbringallnationsunitedasoneandforgetaboutprejudice
towardsoneanother,itistrulyoneofthegreatestinventionsofmankind.