Soccer Articles

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Friday, 10th October 2008 @ 2:13 PM

German football was rocked to its very foundations at the beginning of 2005. Robert Hoyzer, a German Second Division football referee, admitted to fixing and betting on matches in the Second Division, Third Division and the German Cup. His trial exposed a 2 million Euro betting racket in Germany. This was particularly unsettling for the nation as they were preparing to host the 2006 World Cup. Hoyzer had refereed a cup match between Paderborn, a regional team, and Hamburg, a First Divisio... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Friday, 10th October 2008 @ 2:10 PM

Diego Armando Maradona was without doubt one of the best footballers the world has ever seen. A controversial character that oozed undisputable talent. On the pitch he displayed a will to win and had the ability to change the game single handedly- a true footballing genius. Yet, off the field he was often troubled and caught up in wrong-doing. Maradona started his international career at the tender age of 16. He played 91 times for his country and scored 34 goals. He competed in four Worl... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Friday, 10th October 2008 @ 1:45 PM

The centre forward, number nine or big man is the forward that will lead the line against the opposition's defence. Traditionally, the centre forward will battle against the centre back, imposing his physical presence to help his team. The main objective of the centre forward is to score the goals to win the game for his team. Primary abilities of the player to fill the role of the centre forward include pace, strength and a powerful, accurate shot. A successful centre forward is exp... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Thursday, 9th October 2008 @ 1:03 PM

Attacking midfielders can exude elegance, guile and craft, making the game of soccer a joy to watch. Usually providing cutting passes and linking the attack with the rest of the team, the attacking midfielder must possess skills and intelligence as well as an eye for goal. Providing the telling through balls, clever touches and ability on the ball to carve open opposition defences, the attacking midfielder is often the most gifted footballer on the pitch. Traditionally, attacking midfield... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Wednesday, 8th October 2008 @ 10:58 PM

Sepp Blatter was in South Africa last week to check on the progress of the nation's World Cup bid. During his stay, he discussed how the World Cup qualifying quotas could change in the future so that Africa could have more places in the World Cup finals. Now Blatter is never to be taken seriously, everything he says it politically motivated, including this latest statement. This is just part of the "World Cup package" so to speak. Africa was awarded the World Cup, and this is... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Wednesday, 8th October 2008 @ 6:04 PM

Some football players do need time or experience to make an impact. Some have such a natural talent and gift for the game that they can change tournaments and teams long before their twentieth birthday. Many teenagers burst onto the scene and make a huge impact and go on to have hugely successful careers. This article looks at some of the more memorable teenagers to make an impact playing football. One of the most notable young players and certainly one that's made the biggest impact... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Wednesday, 8th October 2008 @ 5:49 PM

Despite the importance and emphasis placed on skills and creativity in the modern game of soccer, the role of the defensive midfielder can often make the difference between winning and losing. They can prevent the opposition from playing and begin attacks for their own team with a tackle and a pass. Regularly playing a part in a two or three man central midfield, the defensive midfielder can also be known as the anchor-man or holding player. There are many different types of defensive mid... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 9:39 PM

Traditionally the position of right-sided midfielder is an offensively minded, technically-gifted footballer. Often, the right midfielder will neglect defensive duties in favour of showing skills and pace and attacking the opposition left back. Right midfielders can also be called right wingers or wide rights. The main aim of the right midfielder is to beat the opponent and deliver crosses or through-balls to create goal-scoring opportunities. Some of the best in history have included Sta... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 7:34 PM

The left midfielder will traditionally be a left footed wide player with pace and skill to beat the opposition right back. Some of the greatest crowd-pleasing soccer players have been left midfielders including George Best, Rivelino and John Salako. Since I began watching the game, there have been enough decent left midfielders to fill every team in the football league. The England national team has recently struggled to find a great left midfielder and have opted to move right and centra... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 7:01 PM

In the sensible world of soccer there is nothing quite like scoring a goal. English football is almost unique in the world of sport in that its currency, the goal, has such a high value. With so many games decided by just a single goal it comes as no surprise that to score comes as such a relief and is met with such enthusiasm. Many players celebrate wildly after scoring, and some even plan their celebrations in advance. Many of these goal celebrations have entered the national psyche and become... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 3:54 PM

At the heart of any great soccer team, there must be a great centre back. The spine of the team consists of a goalkeeper, centre back, centre midfielder and centre forward, and so the central defender is vital to a solid defence. Often, the centre back will be the team captain and need to orchestrate not only the back line but the whole team. Great centre backs are strong, good in the air and will marshall the defence with authority. Examples of this include Chelsea's John Terry, Fra... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 3:24 PM

The position of left back in a soccer team gives a player many responsibilities. They must defend, as part of the important defensive unit, as well as begin and take part in attacking movements. Left backs traditionally wear the number three shirt and generally form part of the back-four with two centre backs and a right back. As the game of soccer has evolved, the role of left back has become more of an attacking position, with defenders often being very effective when going forward. The... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Saturday, 4th October 2008 @ 9:34 PM

Often the most underrated performer in a soccer team, the right back plays on the right-hand side of the defence. The primary function for the traditional right back is to defend and play their part in the defensive unit. Great right backs in the modern game have evolved to also pose an attacking threat as well as being defensively solid. Over the last thirty years, the role of the right back has changed into a combination of defence and winger. Despite this, there is still a role in the ... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Saturday, 4th October 2008 @ 8:55 AM

The world of soccer is littered with great examples of successful brothers playing the game. It should come as no surprise that brothers can both do well playing football, as sharing the same genes will give them similar physiques and spacial awareness abilities. In this article I'm going to look over some of the legendary siblings that have graced the beautiful game. One of the best central defenders in the world at the moment, Rio Ferdinand is hailed as a key to the success of Manc... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Saturday, 4th October 2008 @ 8:26 AM

One of the most important positions in a soccer team, as with many team sports, is that of the goalkeeper. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to prevent the opposition team from scoring any goals. As the only player to be allowed to use their hands, the goalkeeper is also responsible for organising the defence and often beginning team attacks. Goalkeepers, as the last line of defence, have a lot of responsibility and therefore must have specific abilities and skills. There have been nu... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 29th September 2008 @ 3:41 PM

Any English boy that grew up at school playing football in the playgrounds at lunch time has surely played more different variations of the game than they can remember. When the lunch time bell went there would be the inevitable rush to lay claim for space on the playing field for an impromptu game of football. Of course, with no referees or goalposts these games would often have to form their own improvised rule set. Even now, years after leaving school, I still enjoy the various football mini-... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 29th September 2008 @ 2:20 PM

Diego Armando Maradona was the best footballer the world has ever seen. A controversial character that oozed undisputable talent. On the pitch he displayed a will to win and had the ability to change the game single handedly- a true footballing genius. The inspirational rougue was player of the tournament in the 1986 World Cup, particularly displaying his Jekyl and Hyde traits in the semi final victory against England- the infamous 'Hand of God' goal deceiving the referee, foll... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Monday, 29th September 2008 @ 1:55 PM

Ask anyone what the hardest job in football is and you'll get a myriad of different answers. Maybe it's being a goalkeeper or a manager, perhaps the chairman is the hardest job? Well without doubt the hardest job is that of the referee. It has been said that the best referees will go unnoticed as the game is played, and there is certainly a grain of truth in that statement. Do your job well and people will be talking about the match rather than about your performance. However if... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Monday, 29th September 2008 @ 1:33 PM

Another interesting weekend of results in the English Premier League. There were some wonderful goals scored as well as some shock results. In total, there were 23 goals scored and 3 red cards given out. The biggest surprise of the weekend and possibly the shock result of the season was the Arsenal's capitulation against Hull City at the Emirates. Before I begin to analyse this game, I would like to point out that I'm a mad Arsenal supporter, and have been one for more than a de... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Saturday, 27th September 2008 @ 5:07 PM

Earlier this week, an interesting precedent was set in soccer. And it didn't happen in the big money spinning leagues of Europe, it look place in Australia's A-League. On the weekend, Brazilian player Fabiano, who plays for Melbourne Victory was sent off in disgrace for spitting at another player. And rightly so. Such action is not tolerable in society, let alone on the soccer pitch. However, it's what happened in the days following the game which set a new preceden... more...