# 2835 - 1994 40c World Cup Soccer: Trapping Maneuver

Issue Date: May 26, 1994
City: New York, NY
Quantity: 300,000,000
Printed By: J.W. Fergusson & Sons for Stamp Venturers
Printing Method: Photogravure
Perforations: 11.1
Color: Multicolored

 

Soccer as it is played today originated in England and soon spread to other countries. The national sport of many European and Latin-American countries, the game wasn’t popular in the U.S. until the mid-1900s. Today, it is one of the nation’s fastest growing sports.

 

The object of the game is simple: to score points by putting the ball into the opponent’s goal. Players must either kick the ball or hit it with their head. Only the goalkeepers can touch the ball with their hands. The team that scores the most goals wins.

 

Each team consists of eleven players - one of which is the goalkeeper, whose main job is to stop shots made on the goal. The defenders (fullbacks) form a line of defense before the goalie. Roaming behind the defenders, a “sweeper” tries to intercept passes and is the last line of safety before the goal.

 

Midfielders (halfbacks) have the demanding position that requires both offensive and defensive responsibilities. Extreme endurance is needed for this position as a midfielder can run up to ten miles a game. Forwards or “strikers” as they are often called, have the primary responsibility of scoring goals. With the exception of the goalkeeper, which is the only official position, all positions are interchangeable.