SOCCER TALK
Sports announcers use special words and phrases when giving commentary on a game in progress. Here are a few of them with short explanations.

Back heel
A pass to a team mate, made with the heel of a shoe.

Banana kick
A shot, usually executed from a free kick, and one that swerves around [...]

WORLD CUP: PART 3
In this third installment of a three-part soccer overview, you will read about some noteworthy stadiums and famous teams associated with the FIFA World cup. You will also be given miscellaneous tidbits relating to the world’s most beloved sport.
Stadiums were built to provide fans with shelter, safety and satisfactory view of the [...]

SOCCER: ON THE BALL
Those in favor of the JABULANI, the official soccer ball for the 2010 World Cup, say that it provides perfect grip, outstandingly stable flight and maximum accuracy. Those who are critical of the ball’s performance describe it as having a mind of its own and being difficult to control. One player even [...]

WORLD CUP: PART 2
In the previous article, the first of a three-part series, a brief history of the World Cup trophy was given. The present article focuses on a few of the more memorable World Cup competitions and on some outstanding players.
Uruguay, 1930. This was the year of “firsts.” It was in Uruguay in 1930 [...]

WORLD CUP: PART 1
When a country offers its team members land, cash and a Mercedes automobile simply for qualifying for the soccer World Cup finals, it gives you an idea of how prestigious this international competition is. And this is just what Saudi Arabia did in 1994.
As the 2010 World Cup finals approach, hundreds of [...]

SOCCER MISCELLANY
Mascots have been a regular World Cup feature since 1966. World Cup Willie, the first of these life-size figures, even inspired a World Cup song by Lonnie Donnegan.
Trophies. The first World Cup trophy, designed by a French sculptor, was stolen before the 1966 tournament in England. A dog named Pickles found it in a [...]

SOCCER: THE WORLD CUP
No other sporting event attracts as many people worldwide as the World Cup soccer tournament. During the finals, to give an example of its powerful appeal, factories in Brazil are closed to allow workers an opportunity to watch their home team play, on television.
There was no World Cup about a century ago; [...]

SOCCER TRIVIA
In countries other than the USA, soccer is called “football.” But do you know why Americans call it soccer?
There were two types of football games in England in the early 1800s. One was called “rugby football” and the other “association football,” so named because it was played according to the rules determined by [...]

SOCCER REVIEW: PART III
In the previous two articles you will have read about the soccer field, the roles the various players play and a little about how the game itself is played. Now you will read about fouls and penalties.
The referee’s duties include making sure that the game is played safely and fairly. If a [...]

SOCCER GLOSSARY
Like other major sports, soccer has a language of its own. Some of the words and phrases sports announcers and veteran fans use when talking about a game may be puzzling to a novice.
Here is a short list of some of these words and simple explanations of their meanings.

Anchor
A midfielder positioned just [...]