Soccer is an excellent sport that is played in countries all around the world. To clarify this; every four years there is a 'World Cup' held in which countries the world over fight it out in their quest to become world champions. Italy are the current holders of the World Cup having defeated France in the 2006 final through means of a penalty shoot-out.

If you read that first paragraph and are left wondering what on earth a penalty shoot-out is, then here are the facts about it. In soccer (football as it is often referred to around the world), it is often the case in Cup competitions that if scores are level after the initial 90 minute game (two halves of 45 minute length with a 15 minute break separating them), then the game will either go to sudden death in which a further 30 minutes of football will played consisting of two 15 minute halves, and then onto penalties if the score is still not settled, or the game will go straight to penalties after the initial 90 minute game.

In a penalty shoot-out, each team must choose five players to take spot kicks which are to be taken from the penalty spot which is 11 meters from the goal line. When a penalty is taken the player taking the penalty must take only one touch of the ball, and the goalkeeper must remain on his goal line whilst the penalty is taken. The players job is to kick the ball between the goalposts and into the goal, and the goalkeepers job is to attempt to save the ball from hitting the back of the net and thus helping his time. At the end of the five penalties being taken, the team that has scored the most goals is therefore the winner. If both teams have scored the same number of goals then sudden death is encountered in which further players must take penalties and essentially the first team to miss loses. Both teams must take sudden death penalties consecutively, and if the first team to take misses then the second can win the game by scoring theirs. If however the first team scores and the second team misses then the first team are the winners. If both teams score then sudden death penalties continue to be taken until someone finally misses.

Soccer as we know it today is the most popular sport in the world, it was first codified in England in 1863 by the Football Association (The FA) and they created their 'Laws of the Game'. These rules were the foundations for the way in which the sport is played today, close to 150 years on. Although England was the first to have one, countries

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Facts about soccer?
We want to hear your view. Write now!