Football Fanatics

One of the most passionate and lively local tournaments, Shrovetide soccer is played in Ashbourne, England, by those North of the river (the Uppards) versus those South of it (the Downards), and has been around since 1918. The FIFA World Cup is so big it has its own song for each tournament - "The Time of Our Lives" by Il Divo and Toni Braxton is the best selling single yet.

German Franz Beckenbauer practically invented the position of attacking sweeper, with his run out of defence and charge on goal. He also won European Player of the Year award twice; and became the first person to win the World Cup as both player and coach.

John Terryʼs captaincy of the English soccer team was stripped from him in 2010 when news of an affair with a team mateʼs wife made national news. For a while, it seemed David Beckham was embroiled in controversy wherever he went, due to stories of infidelity, but the unproven allegations have so far not destroyed his marriage.

Soccer is the most popular sport for both boys and girls in the United States, and itʼs been this way for thirty years. The US team has grown in stature in recent years, largely due to its appearance in the last five FIFA World Cups.

Each club has its own culture; its own unique history. One of the standout clubs in the English Premier League is the Chelsea soccer Club.

Among the strongest soccer nations is the Netherlands. The Dutch have never won a World Cup but their dominance has been consistent for many years, reaching #2 on the FIFA world-ranking system.

Milan is not only Italyʼs stylish fashion capital; itʼs also the home to one of the most fearsome rivalries in European soccer - Inter Milan and AC Milan. Incredibly, the two clubs share the same stadium, something which must cause headaches when trying to organize practice sessions!

Germanyʼs Michael Ballack has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of his sport, becoming one of the most valued players of his era as he plays for both his country in the World Cup and Chelsea in the EPL. Brazilian striker Robinihoʼs rise to fame came at a price - his mother was held to ransom by kidnappers in 2005.

It has become fashionable for anyone in the public eye these days to use their fame for a good cause, and soccer players are no different. Many players use their free time to promote causes close to their hearts and visit sick children in hospital, but one of the best ways to raise money on a large scale is to auction off soccer memorabilia and stage charity matches.

Soccer has been as littered with scandal and controversy as it is with legends and inspiring victories. Matchfixing is seen as the ultimate betrayal to fans.

Born in Ghana in 1964, Abedi Pele was one of the first African players to have an impact on soccer in Europe. His goal-kicking prowess was instrumental to Marseilleʼs success in the European Championʼs League in the early 1990ʼs.

One thing that seems to unite clubs and fans alike is disaster. The most memorable event to befall a club happened on February 6, 1958, to Manchester United FC.

Who really knows why rivalries between sporting clubs begin? Sometimes itʼs war; sometimes itʼs a countryʼs politics that the other club doesnʼt like.

The influx of technology, particularly computers, has changed the way we view, analyse and compare data, and in no other field has the recording of statistics changed than in sport. It is now much easier for team officials, coaches and the media to analyse a game, or an individual playerʼs contribution, while a match is in progress.

The influx of technology, particularly computers, has changed the way we view, analyse and compare data, and in no other field has the recording of statistics changed than in sport. It is now much easier for team officials, coaches and the media to analyse a game, or an individual player?

Soccer Fanatics takes a look at what goes into making a team a powerful force in the world game. Manchester United has been around since 1892; their most successful year 1999 where they won the treble of championship titles.

Englandʼs beloved Wembley Stadium gets a timely but trouble-plagued makeover, finally getting the tick of approval from players and officials alike; Park Stadium in Germany is no longer used to host major events, but was the venue for five matches of the 1975 World Cup.

The build up to the 1966 World Cup was almost as newsworthy as the main event, after the trophy, which was housed in several different locations around host country England beforehand, was stolen from a stamp exhibition! It was found - not by those looking for it, but quite by accident - by a dog named Pickles.

Italian Fabio Capello has earned much acclaim for his talents as a team manager. He has managed five worldrenowned soccer clubs, most notably AC Milan, and was appointed England National team manager in 2007, a move the fans embraced, as they believed their team needed the discipline Capello was famous for.

Real Madrid is considered the most successful Spanish club, and has become that way by spending lots of money to secure some of the most famous names the soccer world has seen, including that of Christiano Ronaldo, Zinidine Zidane, and David Beckham. Like Real Madrid, Manchester United continues to be a club that attracts fans the world over.

One of the most successful and glamorous teams in the world, Argentina has nonetheless had a torturous run in the qualifying stage of the FIFA World Cup of late. Over the past two World Cups, the team have struggled to move past the group stage, but in the lead up to the 2010 Cup, things feel different.

In the history of world soccer, one team stands as the benchmark; sets the standard by which all over teams strive to meet. This team is Brazil.

Soccer all stars. There are those who say that Argentinaʼs Lionel Messi is the best of his generation.

A mob mentality fuelled by alcohol often leads to scenes of violence, but nowhere in sport has it been more prevalent than in our world game. Soccer hooliganism dates back to the 1880ʼs, where troublemakers would sometimes attack umpires or the opposing teamʼs players.

Soccer players Argentine Diego Maradona, along with Brazilian Pele, Frances Zinidine Zidane and Germanys Beckenbauer are the four champions of their individual countries and clubs who helped lift the profile of the game all over the world with their awe-inspiring talent, World Cup appearances and above all, passion for their sport.

So much more than just a sport, soccer - the world game or "soccer" in some countries - is truly a global phenomenon; a way of life; and the way to fame and fortune for some of its most gifted players. But where would soccer be without its greatest and most passionate supporters - the fans?