FOOTBALL

Look at the 6 photos and answer the following questions:

a. What do you think is happening in each one?

b. Are the photographs of outdoor or indoor events?
c. What do you think connects all the photographs?
d. Describe one of the pictures

Useful language:
I think Picture A is a/an … because …
Picture A could be a/an … because …
In my opinion Picture A is used for … because…
I don’t think Picture A could be a a/an … because …
It looks like a/an …
It resembles a/an …

From your own knowledge, make a list of:

a. Soccer/football teams
b. Compare it with your partner’s
c. Talk about your favourite football stars

Read the following text:

Soccer or football is probably the most popular sport in the world. Two teams of 11 players
attempt to guide an inflated ball into goal cages at opposite ends of a playing field. Soccer is
unique because of its restriction on the use of the hands; only the goalkeeper may handle
the ball, and then only within a limited area. The other 10 players must advance the ball
using primarily their feet, although a proficient soccer player can use almost every part of
the body -including the head - to control the ball.
The continuous action and fast pace of soccer have made it a major spectator sport
throughout the world, and for the same reasons it has attracted millions of players. In
countries other than United States soccer is called football. The word soccer is a shortening
and altering of association football.
The rules of soccer/football are relatively simple, and little equipment is required. A soccer
game begins when one team kicks off, the kicking team usually retaining possession because
the ball must move only the length of its circumference with the kickoff. Play is continuous,
stopping only when a goal is scored, the ball is out of bounds. Each goal scored is worth one
point, and the team with the most goals at the end of play wins. A soccer game is 90
minutes long, played in halves. Almost all levels of competition have provisions for some
kind of overtime play to produce a winner if regulation time ends with the teams tied.

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In international play substitution is generally limited to one or two players per game; players
removed from a game for any reason (injury, ejection, substitution) cannot return.
The game is controlled by a referee on the field who is assisted by two linesmen, one on
each sideline. Intentional contact with the ball from the shoulders to the hands is forbidden,
and the following constitute offenses against the opponent: intentional kicking, charging
from behind or in a dangerous manner, striking, holding, pushing, tripping. For these
the referee will stop play and award a direct free kick, from the point of the infraction,
against the offending team. It is possible to score a goal directly with such a kick. If one
of the offenses is committed by a player inside the team's own penalty area, then the other
team gets a penalty kick; the ball is placed on the penalty spot, 12 yd (11 m) from the
goal, and only the goalkeeper may defend.
Other, lesser offenses include obstruction and dangerous play, for which an indirect free
kick is awarded; in this case one pass must be made before a goal can be scored. An
indirect free kick is also awarded for offside violations. A player is offside if the following
conditions exist: the player is in the opponent's defensive half of the field, the player's
team - but not that player - has possession of the ball, there are less than two defenders
between that player and the goal, and that player is in a position to affect the play.
The linesmen have two main functions: (1) to spot offside infractions; and (2) whenever
the ball goes out of play, to indicate which team has possession and where. When a ball
goes beyond the sidelines, it is returned to play with an overhead, two-handed throw, with
the player's feet touching the ground. When the ball goes over the goal line but not into
the goal, it is either a corner kick for the attacking team (in which case the ball is kicked
toward the goal) or a free kick for the defending team.
Soccer like games undoubtedly backdate recorded history. The earliest evidence of soccer
dates from about 200 in China, where a form of the game was played that emphasized the
ability of players to dribble a leather ball. The Greeks and Romans also participated in a
variation of soccer that permitted ball carrying.
The modern-day outgrowth of soccer is known to have started in England, and the first ball
reportedly was the head of a dead Danish brigand. Although King Edward III prohibited
soccer in 1365 because of its excessive violence and for military reasons playing took time
away from archery practice the game had become too popular to be curtailed.
In 1904 a world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association
(FIFA), was created to coordinate all of the national soccer associations in the world. The
result has been the development of spectacular international competitions such as the World
Cup, instituted in 1930, which have sparked soccer's growth into the world's most popular
sport. Professionalism arrived in continental Europe in the 1920s and in South America less
than a decade later.

Questions:

Is soccer/football the most popular game worldwide?

Where did the earliest evidence of soccer/football appear?
What is necessary for the soccer game to begin?
By whom the game is controlled on the field?
Where the first soccer/football club was formed?
What is FIFA?
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Is soccer/football an Olympic game?

Look at the list of words taken from the text:

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Soccer
Kickoff
Free kick
Penalty kick
Corner Kick
Overtime play
Referee
a. Translate the words into Romanian
b. Choose any five words and write a definition or explanation of each one.
Study the list of definitions you have been given and decide which words are being
defined. If you are not sure, look back at the text and try to work out the word from
context.
Soccer/Football Glossary
Attacker – any player on the team that has
possession of the ball.
Attacking Midfielder – the most forward-playing
midfielder, playing right behind the forwards; they
support the offense by providing passes to forwards
to set up goals.
Attacking Team – the team that has possession of
the ball. Also see Offensive Team and On Offense.
Back – a defender.
Call – a decision made by the referee.
Cards – soccer is often played between players and
fans who may not speak each other's language, so
the card system was devised as the universal symbol
of fouls.
Center Circle – a circular marking with a 10-yard
radius in the center of the field from which kickoffs
are taken to start or restart the game.
Center Line – a line that divides the field in half
along its width. It is parallel to the goals. See also
Midfield Line.
Center Spot – a small circular mark inside the
center circle that denotes the center of the field from
which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.
Central Defender – a player who guards the area
directly in front of their own goal in a zone defense;
does not exist in a man-to-man defense.
Clear – to kick the ball away from one's goal.
Clearing – the act of moving the ball out of the
vicinity of one’s own goal area by throwing
(goalkeeper only) or kicking it (generally up the
sideline or out of play).
Linesmen
Sideline
Striking
Holding
Pushing
Tripping
Club – a team that plays in a league. Not to be
confused with a team. In soccer a National team is
generally referred to as a team.
Corner – direct free kick taken by an attacking player
from the corner of the defending team's end of the
field in an attempt to score; awarded to an attacking
team when the ball crosses the goal line last touched
by the defending team.
Corner Arc – a quarter-circle with a radius of 1 yard
located at each of the 4 corners of the field; on a
corner kick, the ball must be kicked from inside this
arc. See also Corner Area.
Corner Area – a quarter-circle with a radius of 1
yard located at each of the 4 corners of the field; on
a corner kick, the ball must be kicked from inside this
area.
Corner Flag – the flag located at each of the 4
corners of the field, inside the corner area.
Corner Kick – direct free kick taken by an attacking
player from the corner of the defending team's end of
the field in an attempt to score; awarded to an
attacking team when the ball crosses the goal line last
touched by the defending team.
Counterattack – an attack launched by a defending
team soon after it regains possession of the ball.
Cut Down the Angle – when the goalie comes out
of the goal several feet to make themself closer and
larger to an attacker, leaving the attacker less open
net to shoot at.
Cut Off – when a defensive player keeps their body
between an attacker and the defender's goal, forcing
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the attacker out towards the sidelines and thus
making them less dangerous to score a goal.
Cut Off the Line – a defensive tactic against teams
that throw "down the line" on throw-ins.
Dangerous Play – when a player attempts a play
that the referee considers dangerous to that player or
others. Play that is likely to cause injury. Examples
are high kicking, playing while lying on the ground, or
playing the ball while it is in the possession of the
goalkeeper.
Defending Team – the team that does not have
possession of the ball.
Dribbler – a player who advances the ball while
controlling it with their feet.
EPL (English Premier League) – the 1st division
(top) English professional football league.
European Champions League – a club
competition; in addition to the UEFA Cup, which
matches clubs which won their national leagues the
previous year in a head-to-head, home-and-away
tournament. The league is an elimination tournament
and is played in addition to the regular league
schedule. It is one of the most prestigious club
competitions in the world.
European Cup UEFA – sanctioned competition
which occurs every four years between World Cup
finals. The field includes national teams from
throughout Europe that have passed a qualifying
tournament. The tournament was started in 1960
and is thought to be the most competitive national
tournament outside of the World Cup.
European Cup Winner's Cup – a recently ended
club competition pitting the winners of league cups in
the prior year in head-to-head competition. Cup
tournaments were opened to all divisions of national
leagues, meaning that quite a few surprise teams
found their way into the European Cup Winners Cup
tournament. This tournament was an elimination,
home-and-away tournament.
Extra Time – time added to the end of any period
according to the referee's judgment of time lost due
to player injuries or intentional stalling by a team.
Generally between 1-3 minutes but it is up to the
discretion of the referee to add as much as they see
fit.
Fake a move – by a player meant to deceive an
opposing player.
Field Players – any of the 11 players on the field
except a goalkeeper.
FIFA – (Federation Internationale de Football
Association) world governing body of soccer that was
founded in 1904 and based in Zurich, Switzerland.
The president is Joseph "Sepp" Blatter of Switzerland
and the current membership stands at 203 nations.
FIFA World Cup – the international soccer competition
held by FIFA every 4 years between the top professional
teams in the world, pitting nation against nation; the
most watched event in the world, attracting a television
audience of over 3 billion viewers. Held in a host country
with national teams representing 32 countries
(increased from 24 following the 1994 World Cup); 30
teams qualify in competitions with automatic bids going
to the past champion and host nation; the tournament
has been played every four years since 1930, with the
exception of 1942 and 1946 due to World War II; only
seven countries have won the World Cup: Brazil (1958,
1962, 1970, 1994); Germany (1954, 1974, 1990); Italy
(1934, 1938, 1982); Uruguay (1930, 1950); Argentina
(1978, 1986); England (1966); and France (1998). The
2002 World Cupis to be the first co-hosted tournament
in Japan and South Korea. FIFA President Sepp Blatter
has stated the desire to make the World Cup every two
years after the international uniformed soccer calendar
is in place.
Football – name for soccer everywhere except in the
USA.
Forward Line – the 2, 3 or 4 forwards who work
together to try and score goals.
Forward Pass – a pass made towards the
opposition's goal.
Foul – a violation of the rules for which an official
assesses a free kick.
Free Kick – a kick awarded to a player for a foul
committed by the opposition; the player kicks a
stationary ball without any opposing players within 10
feet of him.
Friendly – a match that does not count in official
standings (e.g., not a World Cup qualifying match).
Front Header – the striking of a ball in the air by a
player's forehead; the most common type of header.
Front Runner – an attacking player who often waits
upfield and acts as a target player.
Front Tackle – an attempt by a defender to kick the
ball away from an attacker by approaching him from a
head-on position.
Fussbal – German word for soccer.
Futbol – Spanish word for soccer.
Futebol – Portuguese word for soccer.
Goal Kick – a type of restart where the ball is kicked
from inside the goal area away from the goal.
Goal Line – the field boundary running along its
width at each end.
Goal Poacher – an attacker that usually roams
around the penalty box and attempts to put away
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loose balls, sloppy passes and other non-traditional
ways of scoring.
The goalkeeper – is the only player allowed to
touch or pick up the ball with their hands, and may
only do so when the ball is within their own penalty
area.
Goalmouth – the front opening of each goal where
the ball may enter.
Goalside – keeping an opponent with or without the
ball towards the outside touchline.
Golden Goal – where a game ends with the scoring of
a goal in overtime rather than by the expiration of an
extra time period. Used in some international soccer
tournaments; particularly in Europe, the World Cup and
now in the MLS.
Hacking – kicking an opponent's legs.
Half Line – the line across the middle of the field,
dividing it in half.
Half Volley – kicking the ball just as it rebounds off
the ground.
Halfback – another name for a midfielder. Player
who functions primarily in the center (neutral) third of
the field and whose principal job is to link the defense
and the attack through ball control and passing.
Halftime – the intermission time between the 2
periods or halves of a game. Usually between 10-15
minutes.
Injury Time – time added to the end of any period
according to the referee's judgment of time lost due
to player injuries or intentional stalling by a team.
Generally between 1-3 minutes but it is up to the
discretion of the referee to add as much as they see
fit.
In Play – when a ball is within the boundaries of the
field and play has not been stopped by the referee.
In Space – in an area of the field not occupied by
other players.
Inter-Continental Cup – a club competition
consisting of a single match between the winner of
the European Champions Cup and the Copa
Libertadores of South America. It is usually played in
Tokyo since the mid-1980s and it was started in the
mid-1960s.
International Player – a player selected to play for
their country's national team. Every game the
"international" plays earns themselves a cap.
J-League – the 1st division (top) Japanese
professional football league.
Kickoff – officially begins the game at each half and
restarts play after a goal is scored.
Lay Off – a soft one-touch pass to a teammate;
usually backwards in negative space, for them to
possess or shoot.
League – an alliance of teams that organizes
sporting competition between each other.
Linesmen – now known as assistant referees. If
they are certified, assistant referees may help the
referee call fouls, offside and out-of-bounds calls.
Man in the Middle – another name for a referee
Marking – guarding a player; with or without the
ball, to prevent them from advancing the ball towards
the net, making an easy pass or getting the ball from
a teammate.
Match – another name for a soccer game.
Matchday – British term for the day of a game or round
of play.
Midfield Anchor – the player positioned just in front
of their team's defense; they are often assigned to
mark the opposition's best offensive player.
Midfield Line – a line that divides the field in half
along its width. It is parallel to the goals.
National Team – a team consisting of the best
players in a country chosen to represent it in
international competitions such as the World Cup. .
Obstruction – when a defensive player, instead of
going after the ball, illegaly uses their body to prevent
an offensive player from playing it.
Offensive Player – any player on the team that has
possession of the ball.
Official FIFA Ball – the officially mandated ball by
the governing body of soccer (FIFA). The official size
and weight are: 27-28 in. circumference, 14-16 oz.
Official Game Clock – the clock that the referees
carry on the field so they can signal when each half is
over. It does not stop during the game, even when
play does. A referee uses their own discretion to add
extra time to the game depending on time wasted by
either side, injuries and other time not used for play.
Officials – the referee and 2 linesmen who work
together to make sure the game is played according to
the rules of soccer.
Offside – a violation called when a player in an
offside position receives a pass from a teammate; an
indirect free kick is awarded to the non-offending
team.
Onside – the opposite of offside. Being found in a
legitimate position where a goal scored will count.
Open – describes an attacking player who does not
have anyone marking them.
"Out" – phrase used to tell defenders to move
towards the ball, away from the goalline.
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Out of Bounds – when a ball is wholly outside the Qualifying Draw – the division of teams into groups
boundaries of the field, having completely crossed a for a qualifying tournament.
sideline or goal line. Qualifying Matches – matches played whereby the
winners gain advancement into a final stage of a
Out of Play – when a ball is wholly outside the
tournament. An example is World Cup qualifying
boundaries of the field or play has been stopped by
matches, which are held 2 years before the World
the referee.
Cup Finals.
Overtime – the extra periods played after a
Red Card – a card issued by the referee for
regulation game ends tied. It is used in in all levels of
particularly blatant fouls or abusive language. A
soccer to produce a winner if a championship,
player receiving a red card is automatically ejected for
tournament or match calls for one.
the game and their team must play the remainder of
Pace – another word for speed.
the game shorthanded. A team may not substitute
Pele – the undisputed King of Soccer, best player to
for an ejected player.
have ever played the game and voted the best
Referee – the official in complete control of a soccer
athlete of the 20th century. Brazilian striker who
match who's objective is to enforce the rules.
scored an incredible 1,280 goals in his career.
Regular Season – the schedule of games set before
Penalty – a punishment given by the referee for a
the season; consists of all games played before a
violation of the rules.
playoff or tournament is held.
Penalty Arc – a circular arc whose center is the
Regulation Time – two completed periods of a
penalty spot and extends from the top of the penalty
game, prior to any overtime or tiebreaker.
area; designates an area that opposing players are
Score – to put the ball into the net for a goal.
not allowed to enter prior to a penalty kick. The arc at
Scoreboard – instrument used in a stadium or on a
the top of the penalty area; no player may be within
field to let players, coaches, officials and fans know
this area while a penalty kick is being taken.
the current score of the game.
Penalty Area – a rectangular area 44 yards wide by
Scorers – players who have scored goals.
18 yards deep with its long edge on the goal line; the
Scoring Opportunity – a situation where a team
goalkeeper may use their hands to block or control
stands a good chance of scoring a goal.
the ball only within this area.
Send Pass – a kick an open player.
Penalty Kick – awarded to the attacking team if the
Serie A – the 1st division Italian professional football
defending team commits a direct free kick violation
league.
within the penalty area.
Sideline – a line that runs along the length of each
Penalty Shot – a kick taken from the penalty spot by
side of the field. See also Touchline.
a player against the opposing goalie without any
Single Elimination – a type of tournament or stage
players closer than 10 yards away; awarded for the
of a tournament where a single loss eliminates a
most severe rule violations and those committed by
team from further competition.
the defense within its own penalty area; also taken in
"Stretch Out" – a phrase to a forward to go as far
a tiebreaker to decide a match.
forward as the defense allows.
Penalty Spot – the small circular spot located 12
Striker – a team's most powerful and best-scoring
yards in front of the center of the goal line from
forward who plays towards the center of the field;
which all penalty kicks are taken; positioned at the
also, the name of the mascot for the 1994 World
center of the penalty arc.
Cup. See also Attacker, Central Forward, Forward,
Pitch – the rectangular area where soccer matches are
Goal Poacher, Offensive Player, Poacher and Target
played.
Man.
Playoff – a tournament that takes place after a
Stripped – when an attacker has the ball at their
season's schedule has been completed. Used to
feet and it is taken by the defender. See also
determine a champion. This manner of finding a
Mugged, Robbed, Steal and Stolen Ball.
champion is currently used in Major League Soccer
Substitution – replacement of one player on the
(MLS).
field with another player not on the field; FIFA rules
Poacher – an attacker that usually roams around
allow only 3 substitutions per game.
the penalty box and attempts to put away loose balls,
Sudden Death – a type of overtime where the
sloppy passes and other non-traditional ways of
first goal scored by a team ends the game and
scoring.

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gives that team the victory. Most overtime in
soccer is not sudden death.
Sunday Shot – a hopeless, long, wild, desperation
shot from long out that remarkably results in a goal.
If tried a thousand times, it would only be effective
"during a Sunday league match
Tackling – the act of taking the ball away from a
player by kicking or stopping it with one's feet.
Only a minimal amount of shoulder-to-shoulder
contact, called a charge, is permitted to knock the
ball carrier off balance.
Target Man – an attacking player who acts as a
target for forward passes from teammates.
"Time" a phrased used to tell a player to settle down
and get the ball under control because there is no
pressure from the defenders.
Timeout – an official break in the action of a sport.
The rules of soccer do not allow for any timeouts
though timeouts for television advertising breaks are
permitted by NCAA collegiate rules.
UEFA (Union of European Football
Associations) – represents the European soccer
region; based in Geneva, Switzerland; president is
Lennart Johansson of Sweden and general
secretary is Gerhard Aigner of Germany; founded
in 1954; current membership stands at 49 nations.
UEFA Cup – competition among European club teams
that is second in stature next to the UEFA Champion's
League.
Venue – location where a sporting competition is
held.
Voetbal – Dutch word for soccer. See also Calcio,
Football, Fussbal, Futbol, Futebol, and Soccer.
Volley – any ball kicked by a player when it is off the
ground.
Wingers – the outside forwards and midfielders who
play to the sides of the strikers and whose primary
task is to provide them with accurate crossing passes
so they can shoot at the goal. Often the fastest
players and best dribblers on a team are Wingers.
Withdrawn Forward – another name for an
attacking midfielder.
World Cup Trophy – established in 1974 to
replace the Jules Rimet Trophy. West Germany
became the first winners of the FIFA World Cup
Trophy in 1974.
Yellow Card – a warning card issued by the
referee for repeated or blatant fouls or abusive
language. Anyone receiving two yellow cards in a
single match is automatically ejected for the game
and their team must play the remainder of the
game shorthanded. They may not substitute for an
ejected player.