About us

Beginner's Guide

Football Facts

General football guide

News & Analysis

Players

Rules

Beginner's Guide: The Basic Rules of Football

Isco Alarcón – The Unstoppable Talent of Spanish Football

Positions and roles on the field: from goalkeeper to striker

Discover testfootball.com: tests, quizzes and games for football fans

3 great moments from European football this week

football rules

offside rule

offside in football

how offside works

VAR and offside

game strategy

Luis Diaz Tottenham

Carlos Tevez 2010

semi-automated offside

<p>Minute 94. The stadium erupts. Decisive goal.</p><p>The players celebrate. The fans cheer.</p><p>Then, the referee raises his hand to his headset.</p><p>VAR checks for offside.</p><p>Joy turns to tension. A line drawn on the screen can decide a championship.</p><p>Offside is not just a technical rule. It is one of the most influential laws in the history of soccer. It has shaped tactics, changed the way teams defend, and generated some of the biggest controversies in the sport.</p><p>But where did it come from? What problem did it solve? And why does it still cause so much debate?</p><p><br></p><h2>The origin of offside: when and why it appeared?</h2><p>The offside rule was officially introduced in 1863, when <a href="https://www.thefa.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Football Association</a> was founded in England.</p><p>At first, the rule was extremely strict: a player was considered offside if they were ahead of the ball at the moment of the pass. In practice, forward passes were almost forbidden.</p><p>Partly inspired by the rules of rugby, the idea was simple: the game should be built on collaboration and collective progression, not on "lurkers" standing near the goal waiting for a long ball.</p><p><br></p><h2>What problem did the offside rule solve?</h2><p>Without offside, soccer would have looked completely different.</p><p>Strikers would have stayed close to the opponent's goal at all times, and the game would have been reduced to long balls forward. There would have been no:</p><ul><li>elaborate build-up play,</li><li>high pressing,</li><li>high defensive line,</li><li>offside trap.</li></ul><p>The rule brought balance between attack and defense and forced the emergence of modern tactics.</p><p>In short: offside transformed soccer from chaos into a strategic sport.</p><p><br></p><h2>How does offside work today?</h2><p>A player is in an offside position if, at the moment of the pass:</p><p>They are in the opponent's half.</p><p>They are closer to the goal line than the ball.</p><p>They have fewer than two opponents between them and the goal.</p><p>But position alone is not enough. To be penalized, the player must:</p><p>actively participate in the play,</p><p>influence an opponent,</p><p>take advantage of a rebound.</p><p>This interpretation is one of the main sources of controversy.</p><p><br></p><h2>Special cases</h2><p>There is no offside in the following situations:</p><ul><li>throw-in,</li><li>corner kick,</li><li>goal kick,</li><li>if the player is in his own half.</li></ul><p>These exceptions maintain the dynamics of the game and encourage fast offensive plays.</p><p><br></p><h2>Important changes in history</h2><ul><li>1925 – The two opponents rule: The number of opponents between the attacker and the goal was reduced from three to two. The number of goals increased significantly.</li><li>1990 – "On the line" is a legal position: An attacker on the same line as the defender is no longer offside. This decision was intended to favor the attack.</li><li>The age of technology: The introduction of VAR in competitions such as the <a href="https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FIFA World Cup</a> and the <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Premier League</a> completely changed the way plays are analyzed.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.fifa.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FIFA </a>even introduced semi-automatic offside, with sensors and 3D reconstructions.</p><p><br></p><h2>Famous moments when offside was correctly applied</h2><p>At the FIFA World Cup, semi-automated technology disallowed several close calls, including in the Argentina-Saudi Arabia match. Although they appeared valid to the naked eye, digital reconstruction showed that the players were offside.</p><p>In the Premier League, numerous matches between <a href="https://www.mancity.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Manchester City</a> and <a href="https://www.liverpoolfc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Liverpool FC </a>were decided by extremely accurate VAR checks. In many cases, the technology prevented major errors.</p><p><br></p><h2>Major offside mistakes that went down in history</h2><p><a href="https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/carlos-tevez-goal-51-argentina-v-mexico-2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/0ce0ef3f-7bc5-40d3-a49a-64284d9c8b67?gl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Carlos Tevez vs Mexico</a> (2010)</p><p>At the FIFA World Cup, Carlos Tevez scored from a clear offside position against Mexico. The goal was allowed to stand, even though replays clearly showed the irregular position.</p><p>It was a moment that increased pressure for the introduction of video technology.</p><p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/luis-diaz-goal-liverpool-tottenham-should-have-stood-pgmol/blt03f532450c7b11df" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Luis Díaz vs Tottenham (2023)</a></p><p>A perfectly valid goal by Luis Díaz for Liverpool FC was disallowed due to a communication error in the VAR room in a match against Tottenham Hotspur.</p><p>The irony? The technology existed precisely to prevent such mistakes.</p><p><br></p><h2>Why is offside so controversial?</h2><p>Because:</p><ul><li>sometimes the difference is a few millimeters,</li><li>part of the shoulder can cancel out a decisive goal,</li><li>the interpretation of "influencing the opponent" remains subjective,</li><li>the excitement of the goal is suspended until VAR confirmation.</li></ul><p>Many fans feel that soccer has lost its spontaneity.</p><p><br></p><h2>The tactical impact of offside</h2><ul><li>Offside has led to the emergence of:</li><li>the advanced defensive line,</li><li>the offside trap,</li><li>coordinated pressing,</li><li>perfect synchronization between defenders.</li></ul><p>Modern coaches such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pep_Guardiola" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pep Guardiola</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_Klopp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jürgen Klopp</a> use the rule as a tactical weapon, not just as a limitation.</p><p><br></p><h2>Possible changes in the future</h2><p>There are proposals that a player should only be considered offside if their entire body is in front of the defender, not just part of it.</p><p>The aim would be to:</p><ul><li>reduce millimetre decisions,</li><li>favour attack,</li><li>increase spectacle.</li></ul><p>Football continues to evolve, and the offside rule evolves with it.</p><p><br></p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>Offside is the rule that civilized soccer.</p><p>It prevented chaos, created modern tactics, decided championships, and generated huge controversies. Technology brought precision, but it did not eliminate debate.</p><p>Perhaps that is precisely what makes soccer so fascinating: an invisible line can separate glory from disappointment.</p><p>And the question remains open:</p><p>Does offside protect the beauty of the game... or limit it?</p>

Offside in football: the rule that changed the game forever

Isco Alarcón

Isco's career

Isco Real Madrid

Isco Sevilla

Real Betis transfer Isco

Top Spanish players

Isco's technique

Isco in La Liga

Creative midfielders in football

Isco Alarcón 2025

<h2>Isco Alarcón – The Unstoppable Talent of Spanish Football</h2><p><strong>Isco Alarcón</strong> is a name that will remain in the memory of football fans for a long time. Known for his perfect technique, tactical vision and magical dribbling, Isco has managed to establish himself as a symbol of quality football, becoming a fan favorite and a legend of the teams he played for.</p><p>From his early days at <strong>Málaga</strong>, where he was noted for his exceptional talent, to the peak of his career at <strong>Real Madrid</strong>, Isco has proven that he can influence any game with his ability to control the midfield and create unpredictable opportunities.</p><h3>Early Career: With Málaga – A Rising Star</h3><p>Born on April 21, 1992 in <strong>Benalmádena</strong>, Spain, Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez, known to all as <strong>Isco</strong>, began playing football at a young age. After a promising start at <strong>Valencia</strong>, he was transferred to <strong>Málaga CF</strong>, where he became known for his playful style and impressive technique. It was during his time in southern Spain that Isco took his first steps towards glory, winning the title of "Best Young Spanish Player" and attracting the attention of Europe's biggest clubs.</p><h3>Real Madrid Peak: Captain of Creativity</h3><p>In 2013, Isco took the big step, signing for <strong>Real Madrid</strong>, one of the biggest clubs in the world. Here he continued to build his reputation as a world-class player, winning multiple <strong>Champions Leagues</strong> and <strong>La Liga</strong> under coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane</p><p>In his prime, Isco was one of the team's most important players, with moments of magic that made him beloved by fans and coaches alike. Perhaps the most emblematic moment of his career was in the UEFA Champions League finals, where his contribution to the team's play was essential to Real Madrid's success.</p><h3>Isco Alarcón in Sevilla: A New Challenge for the Spanish Midfielder</h3><p>After a period of declining form and several disputes with the club's coaches, in 2022, Isco left <strong>Real Madrid</strong> and signed a contract with <strong>Sevilla FC</strong>, another giant of Spanish football. The move to Sevilla was seen as an opportunity to rediscover his form and prove once again that he is a top player, capable of influencing his team through both creativity and experience.</p><p>Unfortunately, despite many expectations, Isco failed to find the rhythm of his heyday at Madrid at Sevilla, and in 2023 he was once again looking for a new club. This reflects the unpredictable nature of a player's career, where changes in coaches and playing styles can greatly influence individual developments.</p><h3>What is Isco Alarcón doing now?</h3><p>Isco Alarcón currently plays for <strong>Real Betis Balonpié</strong>, another La Liga club, who brought him in to strengthen their midfield. The move to Betis was seen as an opportunity to revive the career of a player who has never been far from showing his full potential. At Betis, Isco has the chance to start over and combine his experience with a style of play that emphasizes possession and fluidity of transitions.</p><h3>The Legacy of an Exceptional Player: Isco Remains an Inspirational Model</h3><p>Despite the perils of a career with its ups and downs, Isco Alarcón remains a player who changed the face of Spanish football. With his effortless dribbling and exceptional vision of the game, he proved that football can be more than just a physical competition – it can be an art. Regardless of the team he plays for, Isco will remain a respected figure and a symbol of technique and creativity in high-performance football.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Isco Alarcón's career is an example of the ephemerality and beauty of football. With every step he takes, he teaches us that pure talent can never be ignored and that the true magic of the game lies in the ability to turn every touch of the ball into a captivating story.</p>

testfootball

about us

football games

football quiz

football tests

community

<p>Welcome to <a href="https://www.testfootball.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">testfootball.com</a>! If you love football and like to test your memory and knowledge, you've come to the right place.</p><h2>What is testfootball.com?</h2><p>TestFootball.com is a website dedicated to football fans who want something more than just watching matches. Here you will find <strong>quizzes, tests and games</strong> about:</p><ul><li>the basic rules of football;</li><li>major competitions (Champions League, national championships, national team tournaments);</li><li>teams, players and coaches;</li><li>famous moments and records in history.</li></ul><h2>How do the games on the site work?</h2><p>Everything is designed to be <strong>simple and fast</strong>:</p><ul><li>choose a test (for example: “How well do you know the Champions League?”);</li><li>answer a series of multiple choice questions;</li><li>at the end you see your score and where you went wrong, so you can learn as you go.</li></ul><p>You can replay the tests to improve your score or challenge your friends to get a better result.</p><h2>Why is it worth using testfootball.com?</h2><ul><li><strong>Learning through play</strong> – you no longer memorize boring things, but discover them through short questions and match situations.</li><li><strong>Updated with news</strong> – tests can include questions from recent matches and current seasons.</li><li><strong>Perfect for friends</strong> – you can turn a match night into a mini-quiz competition.</li></ul><h2>What's next on testfootball.com?</h2><p>In addition to the existing tests, we will gradually add:</p><ul><li>thematic quizzes for derbies and finals;</li><li>special tests for beginners, to quickly learn the rules;</li><li>even “modes "hard" for fans who already know everything about football.</li></ul><h2>Get in the game!</h2><p>If you've made it this far, it means you're a real football fan. Head over to the <strong>games and tests</strong> pages, take the first quiz, and see how well you do. Then come back to the blog for new articles and ideas to help you become even better at <a href="https://www.testfootball.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">testfootball.com</a>.</p>

Champions League

football news

Arsenal

Bayern

Liverpool

current affairs

<p>European football never sleeps. This week has seen tough matches, huge surprises and an increasingly intense battle in the new format of the <strong>UEFA Champions League</strong>. Let's take a look at three important moments, briefly.</p><h2>1. Arsenal continue their perfect start in the Champions League</h2><p>Arsenal managed an impressive victory against Bayern, 3–1 at home. For the London club, the match was proof that they can compete at the highest level in Europe: aggressive play, high pressing and a very balanced squad, with reserves that really change the rhythm of the match when they come on.</p><p>The victory helped them climb to the top of the league stage standings, with an almost perfect run. For fans, the excitement is simple: “could this be our year in Europe?”</p><h2>2. PSV shocks Liverpool with a clear victory</h2><p>In another spectacular match, PSV achieved a clear victory on Liverpool's field. For the English, it was another sign that their form is far from what their fans want: many missed chances, mistakes in defense and a morale that seems fragile.</p><p>In contrast, PSV showed that no team should be underestimated in the current Champions League format. The Dutch were effective on the counterattack and took full advantage of the spaces left by Liverpool's defense.</p><h2>3. The new Champions League format makes every match important</h2><p>From the 2025–26 season, the Champions League has a <strong>new league format</strong>, with 36 teams in a single phase and more matches for each club. This means:</p><ul><li>more duels between big teams from different countries;</li><li>every point counts, because only a part of the teams go directly to the next round;</li><li>very intense final league stage, with calculations for the qualification places.</li></ul><p>Results like Arsenal's victory or PSV's successful surprise can quickly change the order in the standings and decide who goes directly to the knockout stages and who has to go through the play-offs.</p><h2>How you can use the news to learn football</h2><p>Instead of reading the news and forgetting the details in two days, try to turn it into <strong>learning</strong>:</p><ul><li>write down your scores and try to guess what the standings will look like;</li><li>study the playing styles: why a team won and what wrong the other;</li><li>test your memory and intuition with quizzes.</li></ul><p>On <strong>TestFootball.com</strong> you can have exactly this kind of challenge: tests about the Champions League, scores, teams, highlights and players. In this way, football news is no longer just news, it becomes a fun way to learn and test your knowledge.</p>

football competitions

Premier League

La Liga

championships

<p>Football is played all over the world, but a few competitions stand out for their level, atmosphere and history. Let's take a look at 5 of them, which are really worth watching.</p>

<h2>1. UEFA Champions League</h2>
<p>It is the competition in which the best clubs in Europe meet. The matches are usually played on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and bring together the stars of world football. The final is one of the most watched sporting events on the planet.</p>

<h2>2. Premier League (England)</h2>
<p>The English championship is known for its crazy pace, full stadiums and teams with huge tradition. Here you can find tough matches almost every weekend, many goals and score reversals.</p>

<h2>3. La Liga (Spain)</h2>
<p>Spain has produced some of the most technical and spectacular teams in history. In La Liga you see a football based on possession, quick combinations and creative players. Rivalries are intense, and derbies always attract attention.</p>

<h2>4. Serie A (Italy)</h2>
<p>For a long time, Serie A was synonymous with tactics and perfect defense. In recent years, the game has become more offensive, but Italian teams still stand out for their defensive organization and tactical intelligence.</p>

<h2>5. World Cup</h2>
<p>Held every four years, the World Cup is every footballer's dream. National teams fight for the ultimate trophy, and the atmosphere is unique: fans from all over the world, songs, colors and stories that will remain in history.</p>

<h2>How to watch them smarter</h2>
<p>You don't have to watch all the matches. Choose:</p>
<ul>
<li>a favorite championship (e.g. Premier League);</li>
<li>a European competition (e.g. Champions League);</li>
<li>and major national tournaments (e.g. World Cup, Euro).</li>
</ul>

<p>And if you want to see how well you remember teams, trophies and records, go to <strong>TestFootball.com</strong> and try the competitions tests. You can even challenge your friends to get a better score than you!</p>

Top 5 football competitions worth watching

football positions

tactics

goalkeeper

defender

midfielder

striker

footballtest

<p>To better understand a match, you need to know what each player does on the field. Let's quickly go through the basic positions and their roles.</p>

<h2>The goalkeeper - the last defender</h2>
<p>The goalkeeper is the only player who is allowed to touch the ball with his hand, but <strong>only inside his own penalty area</strong>. His role is to stop shots, organize the defense and, in modern football, participate in the construction of the attack through short passes.</p>

<h2>Defenders - the wall in front of the goal</h2>
<p>Defenders protect the goal and try to stop the opponent's attacks. There are several types:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Central defender</strong> – stands in front of the goalkeeper, wins aerial duels and blocks shots.</li>
<li><strong>Wing defender (right/left)</strong> – defends on the flanks, but often goes up into the attack to cross.</li>
<li><strong>Modern wing defender</strong> – almost a “half-midfielder”, goes up a lot and helps build offensive phases.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Midfielders – the engine of the team</h2>
<p>Midfielders link the defense to the attack. Usually, most of a team's players are in this area.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Defensive midfielder</strong> – recovers balls, cuts off counterattacks, stays closer to the defenders.</li>
<li><strong>Central midfielder</strong> – distributes passes, changes the direction of the game, controls the pace of the match.</li>
<li><strong>Offensive midfielder</strong> – makes assists, shoots at goal, appears between the lines.</li>
<li><strong>Wing midfielder</strong> – plays on the wing, dribbles and crosses or runs towards the goal.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Forwarders – the ones who decide the matches</h2>
<p>Forwarders have the main mission of scoring goals.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Classic number 9</strong> – the leading edge of the attack, plays in the center, protects the ball and finishes the chances.</li>
<li><strong>Wing striker</strong> – starts on the flank, dribbles and enters to finish.</li>
<li><strong>False 9</strong> – drops into the middle to create space for teammates.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Playing systems (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, etc.)</h2>
<p>A playing system shows how the players are distributed on the field. For example, <strong>4-3-3</strong> means 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards. Each coach chooses his system depending on the players he has and the desired style of play.</p>

<h2>Learn the positions through play</h2>
<p>If you want to see how well you understand them, go to <strong>TestFootball.com</strong> and look for the quizzes on positions and tactics. It's the easiest way to consolidate your information – through short questions and examples from real matches.</p>

football

beginners

guide

<p>Watching the games but still not sure how it all works? This article is a quick guide that explains the basic rules of football in a way that everyone can understand.</p>



<h2>How many minutes does a football match last?</h2>

<p>A standard football match has <strong>2 halves of 45 minutes</strong>, with a 15-minute break in between. At the end, the referee can add a few minutes of extra time to make up for time lost due to substitutions, injuries, or video reviews.</p>



<h2>How do you win a match?</h2>

<p>The object of the game is simple: <strong>score more goals than your opponent</strong>. The ball must pass entirely over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, to be considered a goal.</p>



<h2>What is offside?</h2>

<p>Offside is the rule that prevents attackers from "sitting around" near the opponent's goal. A player is offside if, at the moment of the pass, he is closer to the opponent's goal than the ball and than the <strong>penultimate</strong> opponent player (usually the last defender + goalkeeper).</p>

<p>If the referee sees offside, play stops and the ball goes to the opponent, through a free kick.</p>



<h2>Fouls, free kicks and penalties</h2>

<ul>

<li><strong>Foul</strong> – when a player hits, pushes or tackles an opponent illegally.</li>

<li><strong>Free kick</strong> – awarded to the fouled team; opponents must be at least 9.15 meters from the ball.</li>

<li><strong>Penalty</strong> – awarded if the foul occurs inside the penalty area. The kick is taken from 11 meters, only with the goalkeeper in front.</li>

</ul>



<h2>Yellow and red cards</h2>

<ul>

<li><strong>Yellow</strong> – warning for rough tackles or unsportsmanlike behavior.</li>

<li><strong>Red</strong> – direct expulsion or two yellow cards. The team is left with one player less.</li>

</ul>



<h2>Competitions: championships and cups</h2>

<p>At the club level, you have championships (like national leagues) where everyone plays with everyone, and cups, where you play in a knockout format. In national teams, the most famous competitions are the <strong>World Cup</strong> and the <strong>European Championship</strong>.</p>



<h2>What's next?</h2>

<p>Now that you know the basic rules, the next step is to see how well you master them. On <strong>TestFootball.com</strong> you will find tests and quizzes about football to test your knowledge and learn at the same time.</p>

Football Blog

🔥 Most Viewed

Offside in football: the rule that changed the game forever

Isco Alarcón – The Unstoppable Talent of Spanish Football

Discover testfootball.com: tests, quizzes and games for football fans

3 great moments from European football this week

Top 5 football competitions worth watching

Positions and roles on the field: from goalkeeper to striker

Beginner's Guide: The Basic Rules of Football

Most Viewed

Beginner's Guide: The Basic Rules of Football

Isco Alarcón – The Unstoppable Talent of Spanish Football

Positions and roles on the field: from goalkeeper to striker

Discover testfootball.com: tests, quizzes and games for football fans

3 great moments from European football this week

Categories