Have you ever seen people crying over a soccer game and wondered what was going on? Most soccer fans will tell you that it is a game that evokes unbelievable emotions. There is just something special about being a soccer fan that is difficult to explain.
If you have been feeling alienated whenever your friends and colleagues start talking about the game, you are not alone. For a person that is not really a fan, when a discussion veers into matters related to soccer, it can feel pretty lonely. Fortunately, it’s never too late to become a fan and start enjoying the game.
In order to maximize the fun out of the game, there are some facts about the game that you are going to have to learn. You don’t want to be in the middle of a crowd and be the only person who has no clue about what is going on.
Here are some facts that every soccer fan must know:
1. The flashiest player is not necessarily the best one
Just like in any other aspect of life, hard work overrides talent in a game of soccer. The best teams figure out a way to work together and bring the best out of each other. So if you see a player that focuses too much on showing off his or her skills, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is the most effective one on the field.
2. Look out for team formations
The game is not just about 11 players from two different teams battling it out. Coaches come up with formations that are meant to give their team a competitive advantage. 4-4-2, 4-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 are just some of the most common formations. Each combination has its share of advantages and disadvantages. It’s all about finding a good balance between attacking and defending.
3. Different leagues have different styles
This is a fact that can be useful to any person who wants to place a bet on rivalo.com. A top player from one league can struggle to adapt to a different league because each league has its own distinct style. It all depends on the soccer culture of a particular country. In some leagues, aesthetic soccer is preferred to defensive soccer while others place more emphasis on defending.
4. Officiating rules
A player can earn a yellow card or a red card for certain fouls. A yellow card is a warning and a red card means ejection from the match. Two yellow cards will lead to an automatic red card. Officials don’t always get their calls right and that second-guessing those calls is a big part of being a soccer fan.
5. Some players will try to cheat
Some players will feign injuries in an attempt to get favorable calls from officials and that is part of the game. If falling to the ground will earn a player a free kick, he will do it even if he has not been pushed at all. In some instances, the referee might caution a player if he thinks that he or she is cheating.
In summary
There are so many things that happen in a game. All in all, the game will take you through all sorts of emotions. Joy and pain are all a part of the life of a soccer fan. As you learn more about the game, you will find yourself enjoying it more and more.
