World Soccer: Most Popular Articles
These articles are the most popular over the last month.
The Soccer Field
There are very few fixed dimensions for soccer fields, even at the highest level. The sport’s world governing body, FIFA, only stipulates that for professional 11-versus-11 competition, they must be between 100 yards and 130 yards and the width between 50 and 100 yards. Still, some elements remain constant on full-size fields throughout the world.
There are very few fixed dimensions for soccer fields, even at the highest level. The sport’s world governing body, FIFA, only stipulates that for professional 11-versus-11 competition, they must be between 100 yards and 130 yards and the width between 50 and 100 yards. Still, some elements remain constant on full-size fields throughout the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Mesmerizing Premier League defenses since 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo was at the heart of Manchester United's dominant attack until he became the most expensive player in the world. In the summer of 2009, Real Madrid paid United $131 million to sign him.
Mesmerizing Premier League defenses since 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo was at the heart of Manchester United's dominant attack until he became the most expensive player in the world. In the summer of 2009, Real Madrid paid United $131 million to sign him.
Top 5 Soccer Books
Who needs fiction when the world of soccer packs so much drama and intrigue? Here are the best books out there on the beautiful game from North London to Brazil, without forgetting Holland and a tiny village in Italy.
Who needs fiction when the world of soccer packs so much drama and intrigue? Here are the best books out there on the beautiful game from North London to Brazil, without forgetting Holland and a tiny village in Italy.
World Cup Qualifying
The road to the most popular sporting event on the planet is a long one. The World Cup is not just a 32-team soccer extravaganza, which takes place over the course of roughly four weeks every four years. It is the end product of nearly two years’ worth of qualifying tournaments, preliminary matches, and eliminations.
The road to the most popular sporting event on the planet is a long one. The World Cup is not just a 32-team soccer extravaganza, which takes place over the course of roughly four weeks every four years. It is the end product of nearly two years’ worth of qualifying tournaments, preliminary matches, and eliminations.
The Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is widely considered to be the world’s premier club competition. It pits 32 of the most successful clubs in Europe, as determined by their standing in their domestic leagues the previous season, to crown the champions of the continent. Played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights scattered throughout the season, the Champions League runs from late September to late May with a hiatus in December and January.
The UEFA Champions League is widely considered to be the world’s premier club competition. It pits 32 of the most successful clubs in Europe, as determined by their standing in their domestic leagues the previous season, to crown the champions of the continent. Played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights scattered throughout the season, the Champions League runs from late September to late May with a hiatus in December and January.
The First Touch
Once the ball reaches you, you have several options. You can either take the ball with the inside or outside of either foot, thighs, chest, shoulders or head. Or get creative, like Thierry Henry (above).
Once the ball reaches you, you have several options. You can either take the ball with the inside or outside of either foot, thighs, chest, shoulders or head. Or get creative, like Thierry Henry (above).
The Offside Trap
The offside trap consists of defenders stepping higher up the field at the right moment, leaving attackers in an offside position just before their teammates pick out a pass to them. Properly executed, the offside trap allows defenders to win the ball back without having to make so much as a tackle.
The offside trap consists of defenders stepping higher up the field at the right moment, leaving attackers in an offside position just before their teammates pick out a pass to them. Properly executed, the offside trap allows defenders to win the ball back without having to make so much as a tackle.
World Soccer - Articles
An index of articles for the World Soccer guide site.
An index of articles for the World Soccer guide site.
Confederations Cup
[p]The FIFA Confederations Cup is an eight-team international tournament held every four years. Though it lacks the prestige of a World Cup or a confederation championship, like the European Cup or the Copa America, it provides meaningful competition for national teams during an off-summer. The eight teams always include the reigning champions from the six FIFA confederations, the host nation, and the holders of the World Cup.
[p]The FIFA Confederations Cup is an eight-team international tournament held every four years. Though it lacks the prestige of a World Cup or a confederation championship, like the European Cup or the Copa America, it provides meaningful competition for national teams during an off-summer. The eight teams always include the reigning champions from the six FIFA confederations, the host nation, and the holders of the World Cup.
Manchester United
Club profiles: Manchester United
Club profiles: Manchester United
Soccer 101: Basic Equipment
Soccer requires much less equipment than most sports, with correct footwear being the only absolute necessity. The idea is to keep your gear light in order to allow for the widest possible range of movement and comfort over the whole 90 minutes. Here is a quick guide to what you will need to wear from head to toe.
Soccer requires much less equipment than most sports, with correct footwear being the only absolute necessity. The idea is to keep your gear light in order to allow for the widest possible range of movement and comfort over the whole 90 minutes. Here is a quick guide to what you will need to wear from head to toe.
W.P.S.
Despite the worldwide success of the United States' women's national team, the women's club game has long struggled to gain a foothold in America. After the failed three-year experiment of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), which folded in 2003, a new women's league, Women's Professional Soccer, was launched in 2009.
Despite the worldwide success of the United States' women's national team, the women's club game has long struggled to gain a foothold in America. After the failed three-year experiment of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), which folded in 2003, a new women's league, Women's Professional Soccer, was launched in 2009.
Thierry Henry
With lightning pace and one of the deftest touches in the game, Thierry Henry has established himself as one of the deadliest strikers in the world. He is best known for his eight seasons in London with Arsenal, but now plays for F.C. Barcelona. At the international level, he was a precocious youngster in the France squad that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships.
With lightning pace and one of the deftest touches in the game, Thierry Henry has established himself as one of the deadliest strikers in the world. He is best known for his eight seasons in London with Arsenal, but now plays for F.C. Barcelona. At the international level, he was a precocious youngster in the France squad that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships.
2009 January Sales
A comprehensive list of all the dealings during the January 2009 transfer window in the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A — the top three leagues in Europe.
A comprehensive list of all the dealings during the January 2009 transfer window in the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A — the top three leagues in Europe.
Liverpool F.C.
Club profile of Liverpool F.C.
Club profile of Liverpool F.C.
Italian Rivalries
The wonderful thing about Serie A is that there is never any shortage of bitter local rivalries. Every week, it seems, two halves of a city are at each other’s throats, ready to duke it out for three points and — more importantly — local bragging rights. The three most important splits are in the cities of Turin, Milan, and the capital, Rome.
The wonderful thing about Serie A is that there is never any shortage of bitter local rivalries. Every week, it seems, two halves of a city are at each other’s throats, ready to duke it out for three points and — more importantly — local bragging rights. The three most important splits are in the cities of Turin, Milan, and the capital, Rome.
World Soccer - Profiles
An index of Profiles for the World Soccer guide site.
An index of Profiles for the World Soccer guide site.
Chelsea F.C.
A profile of Chelsea F.C. with history and quick facts.
A profile of Chelsea F.C. with history and quick facts.
World Soccer - StepBySteps
An index of StepBySteps for the World Soccer guide site.
An index of StepBySteps for the World Soccer guide site.