Association football, commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is the world's most popular sport.
The game is played on a rectangular field of grass or green artificial turf, with a goal in themiddle of each of the short ends. The object of the game is to score by driving the ball into theopposing goal. In general play, the goalkeepers are the only players allowed to touch the ball withtheir hands or arms, while the field players typically use their feet to kick the ball intoposition, occasionally using their torso or head to intercept a ball in midair. The team thatscores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is tied at the end of the game,either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout, depending on the format of the competition.
The Laws of the Game published in England by the Football Association in 1863 remain the basis for the way the sport is played today. Association Football is governed internationally by FIFA which organises the World Cup every four years.
There are many famous soccer teams in Europe. The ones most often talked about are from England, Scotland, Italy, Spain and Germany.
England
The "Big Four" soccer teams of England are Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Players on these teams have included Micheal Owen, Ian Rush, Thierry Henry, DennisBergkamp, Ruud Gullit, Gianfranco Zola, Bobby Charlton, George Best and David Beckham.
2.Scotland
Celtic was formed in 1887 and was the first British team to win the European cup and the only Scottish team to do so. Two of its most famous players are Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson.
3.Italy
There are many famous teams from Italy, including Roma, Lazio, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. Famous players include Francesco Totti, Aldair, Silvio Piola, Alessandro Nesta, Franco Baresi, Ronaldo, Lothar Matthaus, Michel Platini, Alessandro Del Piero, Fabio Cannavaro and EdgarDavids
4.Spain
Real Madrid has won a record nine European cups. The team that started in 2000 and included Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Raul, and Figo is known as one of the greatest collections of players in history.
Barcelona players have included Lionel Messi, Carlos Puyol, Romario, Rivaldo and Luis Enrique.
5.Germany
Bayern Munich is most famous for winning the European Cup three times in a row from 1974 to 1976, led by Franz Beckenbauer.
The game is played on a rectangular field of grass or green artificial turf, with a goal in themiddle of each of the short ends. The object of the game is to score by driving the ball into theopposing goal. In general play, the goalkeepers are the only players allowed to touch the ball withtheir hands or arms, while the field players typically use their feet to kick the ball intoposition, occasionally using their torso or head to intercept a ball in midair. The team thatscores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is tied at the end of the game,either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout, depending on the format of the competition.
The Laws of the Game published in England by the Football Association in 1863 remain the basis for the way the sport is played today. Association Football is governed internationally by FIFA which organises the World Cup every four years.
There are many famous soccer teams in Europe. The ones most often talked about are from England, Scotland, Italy, Spain and Germany.
England
The "Big Four" soccer teams of England are Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Players on these teams have included Micheal Owen, Ian Rush, Thierry Henry, DennisBergkamp, Ruud Gullit, Gianfranco Zola, Bobby Charlton, George Best and David Beckham.
2.Scotland
Celtic was formed in 1887 and was the first British team to win the European cup and the only Scottish team to do so. Two of its most famous players are Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson.
3.Italy
There are many famous teams from Italy, including Roma, Lazio, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. Famous players include Francesco Totti, Aldair, Silvio Piola, Alessandro Nesta, Franco Baresi, Ronaldo, Lothar Matthaus, Michel Platini, Alessandro Del Piero, Fabio Cannavaro and EdgarDavids
4.Spain
Real Madrid has won a record nine European cups. The team that started in 2000 and included Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Raul, and Figo is known as one of the greatest collections of players in history.
Barcelona players have included Lionel Messi, Carlos Puyol, Romario, Rivaldo and Luis Enrique.
5.Germany
Bayern Munich is most famous for winning the European Cup three times in a row from 1974 to 1976, led by Franz Beckenbauer.
