The contemporary history of football spans more than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England, when rugby football and association football branched off o­n their different courses and the world's first football association was founded - The Football Association in England. Both forms of football stemmed from a common root and both had a long and intricately branched ancestral tree. Their early history reveals at least half a dozen different games, varying to different degrees and to which the historical development of football is related and has actually been traced back.
The earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence was an exercise of precisely the skilful technique dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C in China. A military manual dating from the period of the Han Dynasty included among the physical education exercises, the "Tsu'Chu". This consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through an opening, measuring o­nly 30 - 40 cm in width, into a small net fixed o­nto long bamboo canes - a feat which obviously demanded great skill and excellent technique. A variation of this exercise also existed, whereby the player was not permitted to aim at his target unimpeded, but had to use his feet, chest, back and shoulders whilst trying to withstand the attacks of his opponents. Use of hands was not permitted. The ball artistry of today's top players is therefore not quite as new as some people may assume. 
Modern professional football match is played by two teams, each consisting of no more than eleven players, o­ne of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players. During the match each team can make a maximum number of three substitutions. The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams.
Some basic rules of the game which players cannot break are: tackle an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball, hold an opponent, spit at an opponent or handle the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area). A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal. The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match is, of course, the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals, or if no goals are scored, the match is drawn. 
Over the years football has grown into a king sport, regarded as “the world game” which has millions of supporters worldwide. With years of development, it has formed a very own “football culture”, where each country or region represents its original style of playing, like the English “kick and rush”, the Dutch “total football”, “Catenaccio defense” of the Italians, or the individual’s techniques and skills based attacking football of South America. All has created a very colorful picture of the game today. Since the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 with o­nly 13 teams - when Uruguay became the first champion, the competition is now being held o­nce every 4 year, involving the best 32 teams from all parts of the world. It is a real special festival for every football fans, and with the World Cup held in Germany next year, it is another chance to witness the most spectacular games, with the greatest teams all over the world and the game’s biggest stars – all in o­ne place.
So give yourself a chance to experience the fun and excitement of playing in a football match. Have a nice relaxing Saturday night by watching a match o­n T.V with your friends and family, or even better, go to the stadium to get involved and support your national team or your favourite club and wallow in the true atmosphere of “the world game”. Hope you all have a good time and enjoy yourself in the fascinating world of football
    
Written by: Nguyen Đang Trung Trung-Anh 04-07
Reference: www.fifa.com
Edited by: Chu Van Huong A1 98-01