Madurai Messenger - Times of Madurai

World Cup in Germany, this year's event

by Melanie Berthet

The World Cup is a major event for people all over the world. Football represents, for western people, what cricket does for Indian people. From the 9 June to the 9 July, the world will have eyes only for football; their heart will vibrate for their team. Only thirty-two national teams have the opportunity to take part in this event. Among the favourites are Brazil, the winner of the last World Cup, Germany, the finalist four years ago and the organizer of this world cup and Italy who will get their own back after all these years. But maybe, the issue of this meeting will reserve some surprises. Ivory coast, the best African team of the moment; aspire to be the first African team to champion in a World Cup. Spain and England, the eternally unlucky teams, may strike a big blow. May be, the surprise will come from South America with their six countries qualified, a continent with a big tradition for this sport. Or may be, the Asian continent will be there. Football is a game where anything can happen. The twenty-two players on the pitch will have to concentrate very hard during the ninety minutes, if they want to advance in this competition.

Match Schedule

Quarter-finals
30 June 2006 - 20:30 Germany - Argentina 4 : 2	1st July 2006 - 00:30 Italy - Ukraine 3 : 0	1st July 2006 - 20:30 England - Portugal 1 : 3	2 July 2006 - 00:30 Brazil - France 0 : 1
Semi-finals
5 July 2006 - 00:30 Germany - Italy 0 : 2		6 July 2006 - 00:30 Portugal - France 0 : 1
Third Place 09 July 2006 - 00:30 Germany - Portugal 3 : 1
Final 09 July 2006 - 23:30 Italy - France 5 : 3

Football for beginners

Rules of the game

Objective: to score a maximum of goals and to take a minimum.
Number of players: 11 players per team play on the pitch.
Length of a match: 2 halves of 45 min with a fifteen minute break between them.
Yellow card: A warning which sanctions an intentional fault or a dangerous play. If a player receives two yellow cards in one match, he is sent off.
Red card: is an immediate expulsion, which intervenes after a serious fault.
Penalty Kick: Results from any fault made in the penalty area (16 metres or less than the goal line). A shot is made from the penalty space with only the goal keeper to defend.
Ball out of play: when the ball goes out of play, the opposing team can put it back by throwing in.
Corner Kick: Occurs when a player sends the ball behind the line around his own goal. The opposing team kicks it back into play from the corner of the pitch.
Offside: when a player passes the ball to a teammate, two opposing players must be present between them and the line of goal at the beginning of the pass.
Extra time: (in the direct qualification only) There is a first extra time of 15 minutes in the case of a nil-nil match. If by the end of this time a team scores a goal, they win the match. If no goals, there is a second extra time period before the penalty shoot out.