The most anticipated sporting event in the world brings people together from every background, race, culture and origin. The World Cup's power has been known to stop civil war by giving hope to entire nations. So why is the World Cup every 4 years? After all, it is the most-watched sporting event in the world and you would think teams, players and advertisers alike would love this kind of visibility year in, year out.
And so it’s settled. On November 15, Peru claimed the final spot in the 32-team field for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, bringing us to the final event before the June 14 kick off at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow: the draw to determine the eight groups of four for the finals.
When you hear "Juventus," what do you think? Chances are, you’re thinking about the Turin-based football club that’s won 33 Serie A titles, 12 Coppa Italias and two European titles. You’re probably also thinking about club legends like Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini, world famous talents that’ve made Juve’s black and white strip famous around the planet. But what does the club name even mean? What are the origins of this iconic Italian team that’s now celebrating its 120-year anniversary?
It's no secret that soccer fans in America get a lot flak for being fans of such a "lame" sport. We always counter their criticisms of soccer with "it's the most popular sport in the world" and "in football you don't even use your feet 99% of the time". Nevertheless, they still mock us relentlessly, and who does more than the rest? NFL fans.
Have you ever wondered how soccer positions work, how soccer position numbers are traditionally assigned or how the roles and responsibilities of each position are defined? Ever considered the difference between a full-back and a wing-back? Well, you are in luck: The18 introduces you to the ultimate guide to understanding soccer positions.
First things first: let’s take a look at where the most common positions play on the field.
In the United States, it’s ubiquitous. Whether it’s the Super Bowl or a high school basketball game, the national anthem will be played before a sporting event. So why don’t European soccer teams play the national anthem before matches? The answer lies in the history of America’s own devotion to the Star-Spangled Banner.