Soccer – the World’s Game

Learn more about the world’s favorite sport古人也瘋狂的運動：足球 Whether you call it “soccer” or “football,” the whole world loves this sport! 深入了解這種全世界最受喜愛的運動by Chip Ewald

Soccer, or football, ranks as the world’s favorite sport – hands down. Soccer claims around 3 billion fans – nearly half the world’s population! And according to FIFA’s count in 2006, 265 million people play this game. That’s 4 percent of the global population!

The game’s roots
Determining soccer’s original birthplace isn’t easy. Many ancient people played early forms of this modern game. Cu ju (蹴鞠), a ball-kicking game in ancient China, was reported as early as 2,500 B.C. Around the same time, Greeks were also playing a similar ball game without using their hands.
During the Middle Ages,different varieties of the sport developed and spread throughout Europe. But modern soccer didn't become official until 1863 when England's Cobb Morley stepped in. Morley introduced the idea of a football association and wrote the sport's official rules.
This association, founded in London, would later spark other association as in countries outside Britain. These would eventually come together to form the FIFA, which organizes the World Cup.

The world's sport
Identifying a single reason for soccer's worldwide popularity is a challenge. But one reason is how simple the sport is. While many sports require special equipment, soccer requires only two feet and a ball. This makes it a sport that developing countries can easily play. Some of the sport's best players come from these poor nations. Also, soccer performances are pleasing to the eye. The sport's basic no-hands rule prompts beautiful dance-like movements on the filed.
In addition, this sport excited the heart. Teams might score only a few times per match, so matches can turn around suddenly.
The world's true love for soccer, however, seems rooted in nationalism. Since FIFA's birth, soccer's most competitive matches have been nation against nation. So when people cheer for their team, they are also cheering for their country. No one knows who will win at the 2010 World Cup in South Aftrica next month. But one thing is certain; The world will be watching.

More Information
Most of the world calls it football, but in some places, such as the United States people call it soccer. Where does the name soccer come from? It comes from the abbreviation a-s-s-o-c, which is short for association-years ago the sport's official name was Association Football. Soccer is different from American or Canadian football and rugby in that it is mostly played with the feet.

Grammar
Also, soccer performances and pleasing to the eye.
pleasing to the eye-something pretty, attractive or good-looking cause eye to enjoy.
I think those color combinations are pleasing to the eye.
How my friend has decorated for the party is very inviting and pleasing to the eye.

Vocabulary
hands down-(adv. idiom)-豪无疑问的,轻而易举的.
*Michael Jackson was one of the most talented entertainers, hands down.豪无疑问的
*The football team won hands down over their opponents.轻而易举的赢了对手
claim-声称,宣称.认领
*The candidate claimed victory before all the tickets were even counted.
*If no one claims the lost notebook, the person who found it should be able to keep it.
step in-介入,涉入,
*The police had to step in and stop the conflict between the two groups of protesters.冲突,纷争
*The teacher stepped in to end our argument.
FiFA- Federation Internationale de Football Association.
identify-确定,确认,辨认.
*We're trying to identify what caused the fire by collecting evidence.
*A good problem solver needs to be able to identify the problem. 好的解决问题者.
*She went to the police to identify the suspect.辨认嫌犯
developing-正在开发中的 developing country-开发中的国家
*The stock market analysts see great potential in developing countries this year.
developed-已开发的 developed country-已开发的国家.
*The birthrate in developed countries is getting lower and lower each year. 生育率
prompt-激发出,引起..
*The mayor's comments prompted many angry responses.市长的言论激起(引发)
*The movie star's vagueness prompted the reporters to ask more questions. 含糊其辞

Chat Room
soccer / football-足球（美国称足球为soccer）因地区不同，称呼不同。
英国或其他欧洲国家说football 是指soccer.
Association Football-足球协会
association-协会，soccer-是协会的缩写，或由协会演生出来。
rugby- 橄榄球，
American football-美式足球即指橄榄球。
American football is not soccer, soccer is football.
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root-树根,衍生意思是根源于,来源于
The world's true love for soccer seems rooted in nationalism.-根源于对自己国家的热爱支持.
rooted in-深植于, established.
Money is the root of all evil.-金钱是万恶之根.
money it self is not evil, you can use money to help people and do something good for your country or societies. Once money became to your goal of living, the center of your whole being, or the purpose of your life. You let the money to control your mind, your act and your motivation. then the money is all evil, it will ruin your heart and harm your life.
root-为..加油 support someone or something.
What team are you rooting for? 为那队加油?
The whole team is rooting for him. 全队为他加油.