Soccer Articles

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Sunday, 19th October 2008 @ 6:14 PM

This article looks to investigate the history and varieties of association football through the ages. Most historians would argue that the origins of modern association football would be traced back to England but there is a great deal of evidence that points to the beautiful game having an older history. The Chinese version of the game roughly dates back to 300 BC, was originally called 'Tsu Chu' and involved players on a field that had to hit a leather ball stuffed with fur in... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Sunday, 19th October 2008 @ 5:40 PM

The 1955 league title success proved unsustainable as the side was ageing with only a few youth prospects. The year after winning the league Chelsea finished 16th and a succession of lower table finishes followed, this despite the emergence of a teenage striking protegee Jimmy Greaves, probably Chelsea's best youth product ever. Greaves was without doubt a goal-scoring genius - still regarded by many as the finest finisher England has ever produced. He reached the 100-goal mark before turni... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Sunday, 19th October 2008 @ 5:00 PM

Chelsea football club would not have come into being without the construction of their Stamford Bridge ground. Stamford Bridge was built in 1877 as an athletics track. Gus Mears was a football enthusiast and had purchased the land. He realised that at the turn of the century London failed to provide a single team to the Football League First Division. Mears had spotted the potential for a football club to play at an old athletics ground at Stamford Bridge. Due to unforeseen problems and a... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Sunday, 19th October 2008 @ 4:49 PM

This article will investigate the Premier League's proposal for game 39, along with other alternatives, in their quest for further global domination... or is it exploitation? The product is the Premier League and the target audience used to be restricted to England. The mighty Premiership has grown with the funding, support and exposure from Sky and it now seems every living being on this planet is within it's grasp. Proposals for Game 39 are based on an extra 'internationa... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Saturday, 18th October 2008 @ 9:51 AM

We've just finished another international week. The players are all ready to ready to return for their clubs, well, almost everyone. Rafa Benitez has expressed frustration at an injury sustained to Fernando Torres whilst he was playing for Spain this week. He has suggested there be a two-tiered qualification system to avoid so many international dates and potential injuries. I think he is right on the money, and I think UEFA and South America, the two biggest confederations, the one... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Saturday, 18th October 2008 @ 6:58 AM

What another great couple of days of international football played all over the globe. If there's anything that shows the universality of football (apart from the World Cup itself), it's the fact that qualifiers are played on all continents at pretty much the same time. Not to mention the passion shown by both players and fans alike when the national team is on show. These last couple of days have given a good indication as to which teams will be there in 2010 and which ones wo... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Paul Gray @ Friday, 17th October 2008 @ 6:56 PM

Football is one of the most popular games, cherished all over the world with enthusiasm and thrills. Although the game is world famous, there are very few people who are aware of the proper laws of the game. As per the laws of football, the minimum equipment is required in the game, and the use of unsafe and unwanted equipment is strongly prohibited. This is because the equipment not required in the game may harm the players of the opponent team. It is essential that football is played st... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Monday, 13th October 2008 @ 8:29 PM

We are about to head into an international week, a series of World Cup qualifiers from all over the World. Football lovers such as myself live for these types of tournaments, they are bigger than all the big leagues in Europe, because they generate interest from even the most indifferent of football supporters. I however, fear for the next few major world tournaments. FIFA and UEFA have clearly made some fundamental mistakes in selecting the hosts for the next few tournaments, and I can only hop... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Martin Sejas @ Monday, 13th October 2008 @ 8:23 PM

Another international week means another interesting couple of days of international football. World Cup qualifiers dominate once again on every single continent where the race of the 32 spots is just beginning to heat up. We might not yet be at the business end of the qualifying tournament, however every point counts given a long qualifying campaign. Starting off in the Africa, this weekend sees the continent play their last fixtures of the second round of qualifying. There are 12 groups... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Soccer | By Patrick Omari @ Sunday, 12th October 2008 @ 8:44 PM

I have been an England supporter for 22 years now, after being drawn in by the excitement of the World Cup in 1986. Vaguely remembering Lineker's goals, my dad's anger as Maradona handing Argentina victory and the disappointment when being made to go to bed after the game are overshadowed by the key fact that I was now an England fan. Being an England fan is not really all it's cracked up to be. Apparently, we invented the game so we should be the best at it. Sadly, we have... more...

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...