It's never too early to start planning your trip to see a 2010 World Cup Soccer match! In fact, the earlier you get started, the better. The pre-sold tickets are usually gone in a heartbeat, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better your chances of getting to a game.
It's also notoriously tough to get a seat once you're at the game. Just think of how many people want that seat! You've got all the soccer fans of an entire COUNTRY vying for a spot to watch the game for real, so there's some very stiff competition.
The first step is to take a look at the schedule and decide which match you want to see. Naturally, they've already set tentative dates for most of the games. Check your team's website and see when they're scheduled to play. These dates are subject to change, of course, but at least you can get your ticket. You can always adjust your own schedule when the time gets closer!
One thing to keep in mind is that World Cup Soccer tickets are usually non-transferable, and they're pretty strict about seeing IDs. This means that you probably won't be able to get rid of the seats if it turns out you can't go.
Once you've decided where and when to go, you're ready to buy. Buying directly from teams or the soccer governing organization is a bit of a challenge. You're much better off reserving your seats online at one of the many sites that offer World Cup Tickets.
Buying tickets online can be a little sketchy, so here are some tips to make sure you're getting the real thing and not getting ripped off.
Look at customer comments and ratings. You can always check forums and other online communities related to World Cup Soccer and other sporting events. These sites will give you some idea of whether people have been happy with the company's service or not.
If they have a Better Business Bureau seal on their site, you can usually click it and get information about the company from the BBB. The BBB is your best source of information about a company, and you can always check up on them before you buy.
Only buy from companies that offer contact information on their websites. A phone number is always best, because this way you know that you can reach them if you need to. You might even call them beforehand and ask them a few questions about the ordering process. This will verify that they aren't just an order taking facility, but the actual company itself.
It's generally safest to buy tickets online using a major credit card. Credit card companies are buyer friendly, and if there is a problem, you can always reach someone and dispute the charges. With online only payment providers, the dispute process might not be so user friendly.
A bigger company isn't always better. Often, bigger ticket outlets run out faster than their smaller competitors. It's always a good idea to do lots of shopping around before you buy your ticket. You'll also find lots of variations in price.
It's time to start getting those 2010 World Cup Soccer tickets today! If you play your cards right, you'll be sitting right in the crowd watching your favorite team in 2010!
Getting to your favorite sports event can be a challenge. If you're a soccer fan, get your World Cup Soccer now. On-line vendors offer you options.
Whether it's Chicago Cubs, Kentucky Derby or Dallas Mavericks tickets visit Golden Tickets to get to the game.
http://www.goldentickets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Woodward
Monday, February 25, 2008
Euro 2008 Soccer Championship
The biggest football event of the year is undoubtedly the UEFA European Football Championships also referred to as Euro 2008 and will take place in Austria and Switzerland from 7th to 29th June 2008.
A total of 16 European teams will participate in the tournament. Austria and Switzerland qualified automatically as hosts but the remaining 14 teams have made it to the finals through qualifying matches which started way back in August 2006. Austria and Poland will be competing in the tournament for the first time.
A massive Europe wide and global television audience is expected to tune in to watch the best players in europe compete over three weeks and 31 matches to decide which country will be crowned the champions of Europe.
A record amount of football betting interest is also predicted on an event that is second only to the football world cup in terms of the amount of money that is wagered on it.
The European championships was first held in 1960 as the European Nations Cup and like the world cup the tournament is held every four years.
The previous winners include Germany (1972, 1980, 1996), France (1984, 2000), Soviet Union (1960), Spain (1964), Italy (1968), Czechoslovakia (1976), Netherlands (1988), Denmark (1992) and Greece (2004).
The teams are divided into four groups with four teams in each group. The group of death as it has been labelled is Group C as it is by far the strongest containing no less than three of the tournament favourites in Holland, Italy and France.
Apart from the three teams in the group of death Germany and Portugal are also expected by many to feature strongly as the tournament progresses to the knockout stages.
Group A - Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey
Group B - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland
Group C - Holland, Italy, Romania, France
Group D - Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia
Billions of people all over the world will tune in on 29th June to watch the Euro 2008 final at the 53,000 capacity Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna to witness the best team in Europe presented with a brand new European Football Championships trophy.
Keep up to date with all the latest Euro 2008 Soccer news by visiting the football blog: Pie And Bovril
Mike is an experienced Sports journalist and writer with a keen interest in Soccer, Cricket and Tennis as well as Gambling related activities such as Poker and Casino games. See some of his work at http://www.footballbettingprofits.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Blackburn
A total of 16 European teams will participate in the tournament. Austria and Switzerland qualified automatically as hosts but the remaining 14 teams have made it to the finals through qualifying matches which started way back in August 2006. Austria and Poland will be competing in the tournament for the first time.
A massive Europe wide and global television audience is expected to tune in to watch the best players in europe compete over three weeks and 31 matches to decide which country will be crowned the champions of Europe.
A record amount of football betting interest is also predicted on an event that is second only to the football world cup in terms of the amount of money that is wagered on it.
The European championships was first held in 1960 as the European Nations Cup and like the world cup the tournament is held every four years.
The previous winners include Germany (1972, 1980, 1996), France (1984, 2000), Soviet Union (1960), Spain (1964), Italy (1968), Czechoslovakia (1976), Netherlands (1988), Denmark (1992) and Greece (2004).
The teams are divided into four groups with four teams in each group. The group of death as it has been labelled is Group C as it is by far the strongest containing no less than three of the tournament favourites in Holland, Italy and France.
Apart from the three teams in the group of death Germany and Portugal are also expected by many to feature strongly as the tournament progresses to the knockout stages.
Group A - Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey
Group B - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland
Group C - Holland, Italy, Romania, France
Group D - Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia
Billions of people all over the world will tune in on 29th June to watch the Euro 2008 final at the 53,000 capacity Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna to witness the best team in Europe presented with a brand new European Football Championships trophy.
Keep up to date with all the latest Euro 2008 Soccer news by visiting the football blog: Pie And Bovril
Mike is an experienced Sports journalist and writer with a keen interest in Soccer, Cricket and Tennis as well as Gambling related activities such as Poker and Casino games. See some of his work at http://www.footballbettingprofits.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Blackburn
Monday, January 14, 2008
Soccer rules
The following is a very simple summary of the key laws of the game of football, hopefully written in an easy-to-understand way.
The Pitch
The playing area ('pitch') must be rectangular and be between 90m (100yds) and 120m (130yds) long and between 45m (50yds) and 90m (100yds) wide. The end lines are called goal lines and the side lines are called touch lines.
The Ball
The ball must be spherical with a circumference of between 68cm (27in) and 70cm (28in) and a weight between 410gm (14oz) and 450gm (16oz).
Teams / Players
A match ('game') consists of 2 teams, each with no more than 11 players - including a goalkeeper ('goalie') - and no less than 7 players.
Player's Kit
Basic kit consists of a shirt, shorts, socks, shinguards and boots/shoes. Goalkeepers must wear colours different from other players - including their own side - and match officials.
Match Officials
Each match is controlled by a referee supported by 2 assistant referees. He stops the game by means of a whistle for any infringement. He also acts as timekeeper. The assistant referees indicate by flag when the ball is out of play. They also flag when they see infringements that the referee may not have seen.
Game Duration
A game consists of 2 halves of 45 minutes each, with an interval (half-time) of a maximum of 15 minutes. The referee may add on additional time at the end of each half to compensate for time lost through injuries, substitutions and players' deliberate 'time-wasting.'
Starting the Game
A coin is tossed to decide which team gets to choose which goal to attack. The losing team gets to take the kick-off to start the game. The teams change ends for the second half. A kick-off is also used after a goal is scored.
Ball Out of Play
A ball is out of play ('out') when the whole ball has crossed the goal line or touch line.
Goals
A goal has been scored when the whole ball has crossed the goal-line between the goal-posts. The team scoring the most goals wins. If both teams score the same number of goals - or neither team scores - the game is drawn.
Offside Rule
A player is penalized for offside if at the instant the ball was played by a team mate, the player was actively involved in the play and did not have 2 opposing players between him/her and the opposition's goal line. The player is not in an offside position if he/she is in his/her own half, or, is level with the second last opponent, or, receives the ball from a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in. An indirect free kick is awarded for offside.
Free Kicks and Penalty Kicks
There are 'direct' and 'indirect' free kicks. These are just some of the offences for which a direct free kick is awarded:- hitting, kicking; tripping; pushing; deliberate hand ball; etc. Similarly for an indirect free kick we have:- dangerous play; impeding an opponent ('obstruction'); a goalie holding the ball for more than 6 seconds; a goalie handling the ball after it has been passed to him by a team mate, etc.
At the subsequent free kick, all opposition players must be a minimum of 9.15m (10yds) from where the ball is placed. A penalty kick is awarded for any infringement which takes place inside the penalty area for which a direct free kick would normally have been awarded if it had occurred outside the area.
Goal Kicks
Awarded to the defending team when the whole of the ball crosses the defending team's goal line - not between the goal posts because that is a goal - after having been last touched by an attacking player.
Corner Kicks
Awarded to the attacking team when the whole of the ball crosses the defending team's goal line - not between the goal posts because that is a goal - after having been last touched by a defending player.
Throw-Ins
Awarded to a team when the whole ball crosses a touch line after having been touched by a member of the opposing team.
The above should be sufficient for folks, new to football / soccer, to be able to follow and enjoy this fabulous game. Good spectating!
John Salter is the Editor of ClanFootball.com a new football website giving fans their say through a football fans forum and blog with football news, results, club data, leagues and the Laws of Football to keep fans fully informed. The definitive laws can be found at http://www.fifa.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Salter
The Pitch
The playing area ('pitch') must be rectangular and be between 90m (100yds) and 120m (130yds) long and between 45m (50yds) and 90m (100yds) wide. The end lines are called goal lines and the side lines are called touch lines.
The Ball
The ball must be spherical with a circumference of between 68cm (27in) and 70cm (28in) and a weight between 410gm (14oz) and 450gm (16oz).
Teams / Players
A match ('game') consists of 2 teams, each with no more than 11 players - including a goalkeeper ('goalie') - and no less than 7 players.
Player's Kit
Basic kit consists of a shirt, shorts, socks, shinguards and boots/shoes. Goalkeepers must wear colours different from other players - including their own side - and match officials.
Match Officials
Each match is controlled by a referee supported by 2 assistant referees. He stops the game by means of a whistle for any infringement. He also acts as timekeeper. The assistant referees indicate by flag when the ball is out of play. They also flag when they see infringements that the referee may not have seen.
Game Duration
A game consists of 2 halves of 45 minutes each, with an interval (half-time) of a maximum of 15 minutes. The referee may add on additional time at the end of each half to compensate for time lost through injuries, substitutions and players' deliberate 'time-wasting.'
Starting the Game
A coin is tossed to decide which team gets to choose which goal to attack. The losing team gets to take the kick-off to start the game. The teams change ends for the second half. A kick-off is also used after a goal is scored.
Ball Out of Play
A ball is out of play ('out') when the whole ball has crossed the goal line or touch line.
Goals
A goal has been scored when the whole ball has crossed the goal-line between the goal-posts. The team scoring the most goals wins. If both teams score the same number of goals - or neither team scores - the game is drawn.
Offside Rule
A player is penalized for offside if at the instant the ball was played by a team mate, the player was actively involved in the play and did not have 2 opposing players between him/her and the opposition's goal line. The player is not in an offside position if he/she is in his/her own half, or, is level with the second last opponent, or, receives the ball from a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in. An indirect free kick is awarded for offside.
Free Kicks and Penalty Kicks
There are 'direct' and 'indirect' free kicks. These are just some of the offences for which a direct free kick is awarded:- hitting, kicking; tripping; pushing; deliberate hand ball; etc. Similarly for an indirect free kick we have:- dangerous play; impeding an opponent ('obstruction'); a goalie holding the ball for more than 6 seconds; a goalie handling the ball after it has been passed to him by a team mate, etc.
At the subsequent free kick, all opposition players must be a minimum of 9.15m (10yds) from where the ball is placed. A penalty kick is awarded for any infringement which takes place inside the penalty area for which a direct free kick would normally have been awarded if it had occurred outside the area.
Goal Kicks
Awarded to the defending team when the whole of the ball crosses the defending team's goal line - not between the goal posts because that is a goal - after having been last touched by an attacking player.
Corner Kicks
Awarded to the attacking team when the whole of the ball crosses the defending team's goal line - not between the goal posts because that is a goal - after having been last touched by a defending player.
Throw-Ins
Awarded to a team when the whole ball crosses a touch line after having been touched by a member of the opposing team.
The above should be sufficient for folks, new to football / soccer, to be able to follow and enjoy this fabulous game. Good spectating!
John Salter is the Editor of ClanFootball.com a new football website giving fans their say through a football fans forum and blog with football news, results, club data, leagues and the Laws of Football to keep fans fully informed. The definitive laws can be found at http://www.fifa.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Salter
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