Football is one of the most popular games in the world today. In fact, there is hardly any other game that has such a huge fan following as football. Nail biting, adrenalin rush, emotions running high are traits associated with every game but none in such degrees as with football. It’s a very exciting game that keeps you on your toes for the full ninety minutes. Football or soccer (as the game is more popularly known) is basically all about kicking a ball into a goal post. There are two teams with eleven players each. These two teams play against each other. Football is played in a clearly defined rectangular area that has a goal post on each of the two of its smaller sides. Each team guards a goal post. During the ninety minutes of the play each team tries to kick the football into the goal post of the other team to score a goal. At the end of the ninety minutes, the team with the higher number of goals is declared the winner.

Football has a certain set of rules and regulations that have to be observed during the game. Without these rules the game would be difficult to play as lawlessness would prevail. These laws prevent players from fighting with each other or using unfair means to win. A referee looks over the match and makes sure that the game is being played honestly. A referee has the right to dismiss any player from the game who he thinks is not playing in the spirit of the game. A referee also awards penalties for fouls and deliberate obstructions. There are certain player positions assigned to each player in a game of football and that player has to stick to his position. This brings about discipline in the teams. These positions are - the sweeper, center fullback, left and right fullback, left or right midfielder, defensive midfielder, central midfielder, forward and striker and the goalkeepers.

Football matches are a source of great entertainment for the players as well as the spectators be it game of football that you play in with your friends in your backyard or those big games where rich football clubs "fight" games with each other. Football has a mass appeal. Every sports lover has an affinity for this game. The games played at international level involve a lot of money and fame. Players are worshipped as heroes. Games are played between clubs are all about money and fame but games played between countries are also about national pride. International football events like the World Cup or the Euro Cup get huge media coverage. Fans and followers all over the world watch these football matches. Winning the cup is a matter of great pride for any team.

Today there are many other versions of football (like rugby) as well. Every game that involves kicking a ball has come to be classified under football. Soccer is the oldest of all and the one that originally came to be known as football. In old times football was a game played by the peasants. Today the international football players are some of the richest people in the world.