FIFA-World Cup Soccer in SA.

Soccer. Foot Ball.

‘You will feel nearer to Heaven by playing a game of football than reading the Geeta.”

The object of the game is to propel the ball into the goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms; the side scoring more goals wins.

The ball is a round, leather-covered, inflated rubber bladder 27-28 inches in circumference and 14-16 ounces or 397-454 grams in weight. The players move the ball by hitting it with head or foot from one teammate to another or by dribbling--a series of very short kicks, usually with the instep or side of the foot.

Only the goalkeeper of the 11 players is allowed to handle the ball, and he is restricted to the penalty area, a rectangular area in front of the goal, 44 yards wide and extending 18 yards into the field. The goal is eight yards wide and eight feet high. The game is of 90 minutes' duration and is divided into halves. The teams change ends after a five-minute half-time interval.

FIFA rules prescribe a playing field pitch 100 to 130 yards long and between 50 and 100 yards wide; however, for international matches, it must be 110-120 yards long and 70-80 yards wide.

Soccer field and the positions of players at the kickoff.

Women and schoolchildren usually play a shorter game on a smaller field. The game is controlled by a referee, who is also the timekeeper, and two linesmen who patrol the touchlines, or sidelines, signalling when the ball goes out of play.

The biggest changes have been in uniforms and equipment. Clothing has become attenuated, and heavy boots have given way to shoes. Many players have discarded shin guards. Conformity of dress is not essential, provided that the sides can be identified and the goalkeeper is distinguishable.

While solo runs and dribbles are spectacular, association football is essentially a team game, based on accurate passing of the ball among members of the same side. Passing produces the fluid movements and varied patterns that contribute to the game's attractiveness.

A distinctive feature is the development of heading, and many thrilling goals are scored by a forward jumping to hit the ball with his forehead. Too much can be made of numbers and systems.


Basically, the aim is to put a man with time and room to spare in a shooting position near the opponent's goal, and it does not matter whether the man is nominally a forward or a defender. Attitude is an important factor to go along with technical excellence in achieving the aim.

The 2010 FIFA World cup is scheduled to start in South Africa from 11th June and the final match will be played at Nelson Mandela stadium on 11th July 2010.

32 teams of 32 countries are divided into groups as under:

Group. A.
South Africa.
Mexico.
Uruguay.
France.

Group.B.
Argentina.
Nigeria.
Korea. ®.
Greece.

Group.C.
UK.
USA.
Algeria.
Slovenia.

Group.D.
Germany.
Australia.
Serbia.
Ghana.

Group.E.
Netherland.
Denmark.
Japan.
Cameron.

Group.F.
Brazil.
Korea. (DPR)
Ivory Coast.
Portugal.

Group.H.
Spain.
Switzerland.
Honduras.
Chile.

The football cup matches excite the viewers and there are all chances of violence
and disruptions at the hands of fans and admirers. This is the first time in the history
of World Cup that it is organised in Africa. It will be a trial and test for the host country
to maintain law and order.