| Soccer or football, as it is known in England is an | | | | only offered a few people a chance of a better life - |
| extremely popular sport there. One of the reasons | | | | style but also many of the players became local and |
| may be because its laws were codified in England. | | | | national heroes and went on to win accolades for |
| Soccer is a game played between two teams of | | | | their teams. |
| eleven members, each player vying for the ball in | | | | Nowadays, the players have been raised to level of |
| order to score a goal. Much of the action takes place | | | | icons and are followed by fans in all they do. For |
| between opposing team players to get the ball on | | | | example, if a soccer player gets his hair colored or |
| either side of the mid field. It is very interesting to | | | | dressed in a particular way, then his fans are sure to |
| watch and you get carried away with the euphoria | | | | imitate his style. You will find boys in the streets |
| among the soccer fans. Apart from the players | | | | practicing the way a player maneuvers the ball with |
| running on the field, the referees run back and forth | | | | his leg to perfection. Since schools and colleges also |
| to ensure that no player is defaulting. Many times | | | | give sports scholarships, soccer is a hot favorite |
| during a robust game, referees show the payers | | | | among most boys and girls. |
| cards that result in good players returning to the | | | | So, if you wish to experience the adrenalin flowing, |
| benches. | | | | you must see a live match in the stadium. You get to |
| Another reason for soccer being such a favorite with | | | | feel the pulse of the game and the charged |
| the English is that it started as a game played | | | | atmosphere keeps you sitting on the edge of your |
| between the students of Eton and the plumbers, | | | | seat. Crowds go berserk and frantically call out the |
| metal-workers, spinner and weavers in he 1880s. It | | | | names of their favorite players to boost them. Many |
| then gradually moved to the public school level and | | | | people come wearing T-shirts favoring their favorite |
| became poplar with the school - going kids. With the | | | | teams or don the players' T-shirts to show their |
| advent of professional clubs, soccer took a step into | | | | solidarity with the team players. Many a times it may |
| the business world. As the professional clubs were | | | | be in support of a player from their own locality. The |
| run like companies, the players and officials got paid | | | | people also wear caps and paint their faces with the |
| to play, so many made a career out of playing | | | | team colors in support. The euphoria reaches a peak |
| soccer. Good players got paid more. It also made the | | | | when the team they are supporting scores a goal. |
| game more professional. Once a player retired, they | | | | They rise and scream and shout and wave flags and |
| often opened a shop and went into business. It not | | | | banners with words of encouragement. |