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 Soccer is the undisputed leader of the sports worldwide. The rules of this sport so loved were published by the Football Association in 1863, in England. These rules established a century and a half ago remained almost the same, the game itself being practically unchanged. The football also known as soccer is played between two teams of eleven players using a spherical ball. The winner of the game is the team that manages to score the most goals. A goal is scored when the ball named football gets into the goal passing under the bar and between the posts.
The long history of soccer goes back to the Middle Ages in England. Different forms of football were played in Europe throughout the centuries, especially in England. There were many clubs and schools where football was practiced, but each one had its own set of rules. In an effort to form a single game with a clear set of rules, in 1863 was created The Football Association. In 1886 the International Football Association Board was created to analyze and implement the laws of the football game and this committee continues to do that in present days. The most important international competition in football is the World Cup. Held only every four years, this competition declares the best national tem worldwide. 190 national teams compete for the 32 spots available at the finals. This competition attracts the largest number of TV viewers worldwide and has the highest betting activity in the world of sports. Other major competitions in soccer are the continental championships between national teams (European Championship, Copa América, African Cup of Nations, Asian Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the OFC Nations Cup. A very attractive competition for bettors worldwide is the UEFA Champions League, a competition for the best European clubs. |
