2. Read the texts. Is there any difference between football and soccer?

Football

Football is a field game between two teams, played with an oval-shaped ball.

The quarterback starts by throwing, or passing, the ball to one of the player, called

a receiver. The receiver then tries to run with it toward the goal. The players of the

other team try to tackle him to prevent him from reaching the goal line. The team

with the most points wins.

Soccer

Soccer is a field game between two teams, played with a white round ball. It is a

game in which two 11-member teams try to propel a ball into the opposing team's

goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms.

Only the goalkeeper when positioned within the penalty area in front of the

goal, is the only one who can touch the ball with his or her hands. The other

players are only allowed to kick the ball or bump in with their heads. The object

of one game is to kick the ball past the goalkeeper into the goal. The team with the

most points, or goals, wins.

The first uniform set of soccer rules was put in place in 1863, when England's

Football Association was created. Professional leagues began appearing in the late

1880s, first in England and then in other countries. The Fédération Internationale

de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in 1904, and has hosted the World

Cup every four years since 1930. Soccer has been included in the Olympic Games

since 1908. Now played on all continents in over 150 nations, with over 40 million

registered players, it is the world's most popular ball game.

A Radio Feature TEXT 5

Sportscaster. Well, friends, it is sure to be a grand match judging by its

opening stage. A typical cup meet. Need I explain to you that cup encounters are

played off on the elimination principle: no ties; a win in every match is a must. If

the sides draw after 90 minutes of play, they are given two 15-minute overtime

periods so that one of the teams should come out on top. If there happens nothing

of the sort, a replay is slated. You simply must win the day or get out. All this,

naturally, turns cup fixtures into red-letter days for soccer fans.

But let’s get closer to our game.

Only seven minutes passed from the kick-off but the going is already pretty

tough. The visiting club team is experienced and well-concerted. The home side,

being recently rebuilt, has much young blood and, I believe, it has all the makings

of a top-class team. But so far the guests are outplaying and outmanoeuvring the

hosts. They’ve captured the initiative and launched a tempestuous onslaught.

Now it’s looking like a goal for the guests! Ivanov, their inside-right, has got

a long pass from the kick-off circle right into the penalty area. He has only one

defender to dodge! He does it! I don’t think the goalie will make a save. A blinding

shot and there it is! One-nil in favour of the guests!

The hosts are beginning from the midfield. A ground pass to the left-winger,

he sends it on to the inside-left who is not guarded at the moment and the latter is

breaking through to the close approaches of the goal. His opponent is trying hard to

rob him of the ball. No luck! A fierce drive!… Oh, what a muff he is! To be in a

superb shooting position and to kick two meters wide of the upright. Evidently the

boy feels jittery. No wonder – it is his first tryout. On the hole, he is not a flop:

quick on the run, good at taking in situations and goal-hungry. One day he may

develop into a really good player…

10 minutes to run before the breather and the game is running as it used to –

the guests are playing an attacking game and enjoying a clear territorial

advantage. The hosts, being in a tight corner, can’t direct the play.

Oh, here it comes! The right back of the guests is sending the ball to the rightwinger.

What an accurate pass it is! The right-winger is tackled by his opposing

number but managers to keep the ball all to himself by a series of good feints. Now

he’s sending it over to the centre-forward. A lightning thrust into the goal area! Oh,

what bad luck for the hosts! They bring him down just in front of the goal mouth.

A penalty kick for dirty play!

A hush has fallen upon the stadium. All players but number 9 are leaving the

penalty area. A run-up! A jet-like shot! And the ball finds its way into the net!

He’s smacked it right into the top right-hand corner. The goali tried to tip the drive

over the bar and thus to deflect it for the corner but it was no go.

Well, the visitors lead 2 : 0. The home eleven seem stunned and paralyzed.

Will they find the fighting spirit to get out of the hole and pull up even? I hope so.

The referee’ whistle brings the first half to a close. So, it is half-time and the

home side is 2 goals down.

Now I return you to our central studio only to meet again in a quarter of an

hour.