How Football Became a Popular Sport

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When the first European-based international tournament was held in France, football became a very popular sport. As the World Cup and the Olympics approached, football quickly became a fixture on the sporting scene of every country. The English played soccer against Europeans and vice versa. The English suffered a lot of embarrassment when the French revolutionized the game. When soccer became a world game, many countries embraced the game to the point that it is the national sport of certain nations.

The history of football can be traced back as far as Roman times. The Romans used their triathlon system for training with sprints, jumping exercises and a long endurance race. This became the basis for today's modern marathon. During the Middle Ages, football became a military game and was also used to train soldiers.


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Later during the Renaissance, football began to play a major role in European politics. The Italian poet, Dante Alighieri was a big fan and wrote about the game often. He described it as a contest between good and evil, saying that good players always win and bad players are forever losers. In his play, The Paradiso, football manages to outsmart the enemy and is triumphant. In his words, "The sport of football has always triumphed over evil."

The popularity of the game brought great influence to other sports. An example of this is theockey. hockey and baseball were known before football. They were considered more serious games. Football however, was able to attract people from all walks of life. In England, there were numerous soccer matches between different clubs until the First World War.

During this period, football was banned in many areas including England and Australia. However, it spread all over Europe. Today, there are various international tournaments like the Football World Cup and the European Championships. The latter features some of the most famous teams such as Italian football team and Spanish football team. International football really gave football a kick, giving it a broader base and bigger fan following.

The popularity of this sport can also be traced to different levels of commercialization. Commercialism gave football a much wider platform for promotion. As a result, football became more famous and brandable. This resulted to the increase in sales and profit margins.

The game gradually gained more fans. It grew in popularity not only in Europe, but also in America and Asia. The younger generation especially loved football. Television stations started broadcasting games and fizzy drink ads which made the game even more attractive. Football became part of the school curriculum and several football leagues were organized.

The rise of football can be traced to several factors. It is probably a combination of the natural popularity of the game, the commercialization that came with the development of the professional game, and the rise of teams with well known brands. The evolution of the game was a steady one and its influence has grown over time. It is now such a popular sport that the World Cup takes place every four years. Other international tournaments such as the World Cup, Summer Olympics, and the Olympics have also made the game even more popular.

The popularity of football can also be linked to the technological advancements it brought. Video games and consoles made the game more realistic. This enabled football to be more exciting and enjoyable. Technological improvements also paved the way for better quality football equipment. More goals were scored with a greater degree of skill on the ball. The skills of players were enhanced to the extent that today's game requires all players to be fit.

Another significant factor was the development and improvement of the methods and techniques used in the game. Goals were scored more easily and more spectacularly. Kick offs and corner kicks became faster, more powerful and more accurate. Kickers were introduced to replace the normal ball, which limited the height and reach of the players. It also altered the way players trained, and how they conducted themselves during games.

Today, football is the most popular sport in the world. In its history, football has won the championship for many countries, including the USA. With all these facts, one can clearly see how football has become a popular sport throughout the generations.



5 comments
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What an enjoyable read, it is pure history of the world's best known sport.

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