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World cup---from CNN
For those of you who fall into this category and fear being caught short during a water-cooler moment with your soccer-obsessed boss, CNN has put together a bluffer's guide to the round-ball game and the World Cup.
Phrases to impress your boss
"The referee's blind!"
An excellent phrase to insert when your boss laments a goal that "never was" or a clear handball that cost his team a potential penalty kick.
"There's a case for using video technology"
you really want impress your boss after your previous observation about the referee's eyesight.
"He's got two left feet"
This can be used to describe a player that your boss doesn't rate too highly.
"He missed a sitter!"
When a player misses an easy chance to score.
"It was a blatant dive!"
Use if a player appeared to fall down when there was no apparent contact from any other player.
"Germany are always so efficient"
Can be used only if Germany wins a match.
"Can England repeat 1966?"
Use if your boss is an England fan.
Important rules to know
Offside
The rule most likely to infuriate players, managers and fans alike. A player is deemed to be in an offside position when he is in his opponents' half of the pitch and further forward than the last opposition player at the moment a teammate attempts to play a pass to him. When this happens, the opposition wins possession of the ball. Sounds simple enough until your team is denied what looks to be goal by a poor decision by the assistant referee on the touchline. Stand by for plenty of offside flashpoints.
Free-kicks
When a player is penalized for committing a foul, handball or offside, a "free and unchallenged" kick of the ball is awarded to the opposition. Try not to foul a player near your goal because a sharp-shooter like Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo will send the ball crashing into the top corner of the net with deadly precision.
Penalties
Another type of free-kick awarded when a player is fouled inside the 18-yard area around an opponent's goal. The fouled player, or teammate of that player, is then allowed to take a shot from a white spot 12 yards (around 11 meters) from the goal. Prepare yourself for contrasting views from football fans, often less than complimentary about the referee, when a penalty is awarded.
Red and yellow cards
Yellow cards are shown to a player by the referee after a first offense. A second offense by that player usually leads to a second yellow card, which automatically becomes red and means an early bath. Straight red cards mean a player has been particularly naughty.
Football terms to memorize
Square ball
Refers not to another controversial ball design, but rather a simple pass of the ball sideways to a teammate.
Through-ball
When a player passes the ball through two or more defenders to a teammate, usually a striker, who is in position to run through on goal to score.
Cross
Nothing religious, it refers to the delivery of the ball, either in the air, or along the ground, from either side of the pitch towards the opponent's goal for a teammate to score.
Dribble
Funnily enough this is a skilful technique where a player maneuvers the ball around opponents with small touches of the ball. Watch Argentina star Lionel Messi for a master class.
Header
When a player connects with the ball with his head to either score or play it away from his own goal or opponent.
Volley
An exciting technique which sees a player kick the ball towards goal when it is in the air. Can often lead to spectacular goals or derisive cheers from fans as the ball ends up in "row Z" of the stand.
Tackle
Represents the most physical aspect of the game which sees opponents come together vigorously to contest the ball.
Foul
Tackles are often deemed illegal or dangerous by the referee. This happens when a player ends up blocking or kicking an opponent rather than the ball.
Professional foul
A deliberate and illegal move to stop an opponent, usually as they are about to score. Some nations and players have made the professional foul an art-form.
Man-marking
Nothing like as serious as it sounds. Man-marking is when a player shadows an opponent, usually a star player, to reduce their ability to influence the game. Some players will hold or grab any part of their opponent's anatomy to hinder their progress.
Man on
Often shouted to team-mates in possession of the ball when they are in danger of being tackled. Non-English-speaking teams will of course use a similar expression in their own native tongue.
TV commentator's jargon
Group of death
With each of the 32 teams split into eight mini-leagues, the competition to qualify for the knockout stages is fierce. Some teams may find life difficult. For example, North Korea will face a group featuring five-time winners Brazil, the elegant Portuguese and a talent-laden Ivory Coast, hence the expression "group of death."
Brazilian flair
Football may have started in England, but it has been transformed in Brazil. Since the days of the great Pele, Brazil's yellow-shirted national team has thrilled fans the world over with the swagger and individual brilliance of players that grew up playing on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.
Who will be the World Cup's best player?
Total football
A football philosophy developed by the Dutch in the 1970s in which every outfield player is able to play in the position of any of his teammates. According to football aficionados, this makes the team structure completely fluid, adaptable and ultimately difficult to play against. Barcelona and Arsenal are two of the best examples of clubs who play this way.
Route one
The antithesis of Brazilian flair. It usually involves a more "industrial" method of trying to score goals by playing long aerial passes from defense to big, physical players in attack. Not considered pretty to watch.
Playmaker
The creative player in the team that makes it tick. Italians refer to this key attacking position as "il Fantasista."
Hand of God
England and Diego Armando Maradona may face each other again more than two decades since the Argentine superstar famously scored with his hand against the English at Mexico '86. After the game, Maradona said the goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."
World Cup moments not to miss
Brazil
Obviously! The mighty Brazilians could probably field two teams, such is the depth of talent available to them. Unfortunately the slightly rotund but prodigiously-talented Ronaldinho has been left out of the squad. However, the team still boasts a mouth-watering array of talented players such as attacking midfielder Kaka, striker Robinho, and perhaps the fittest man on the planet: Barcelona defender Dani Alves.
Diego Maradona
The cigar-smoking footballer turned coach is a god in his native Argentina. He lifted the trophy as a player in 1986, was banned from the competition for doping in 1994, and suffered with drug and alcohol problems after he retired. A troubled figure, Maradona is compulsive viewing nonetheless.
As manager of Argentina's national team he has arguably the strongest squad in the competition, though critics point to a turbulent qualifying campaign as proof that he cannot mould them into a winning team. Expect interesting press conferences.
Lionel Messi
Considered the world's greatest player, the diminutive Argentine is viewed by many as the next Maradona. However he has yet to reproduce his extraordinary club form with Barcelona for his national team. Capable of beating entire teams on his own, he could easily disappoint if the rest of team play as poorly as they did trying to qualify for South Africa.
Wayne Rooney
England's World Cup hopes rest on the stocky Manchester United striker. However, a recent warm-up match raised more questions about the 24-year-old's prickly temperament after he was yellow-carded for allegedly abusing a referee. However teammates argue that Rooney's aggression gives him an edge few defenses can live with.
South Africa
Though their form has improved dramatically in the last six months, they could face the ignominy of becoming the first host country to fail to qualify from the group stage. The tournament needs "Bafana Bafana" to make progress from a group that includes Mexico, Uruguay and France to keep this football-mad nation at fever pitch. But with Everton's Stephen Pienaar and captain Aaron Mokoena arguably their only international-class players, South Africa are likely to struggle despite the support of an entire nation.
