Explained: How does a soccer ball swerve?
Monday, June 16, 2014 - 15:01
in Psychology & Sociology
It happens every four years: The World Cup begins and some of the world's most skilled players carefully line up free kicks, take aim—and shoot way over the goal. The players are all trying to bend the ball into a top corner of the goal, often over a wall of defensive players and away from the reach of a lunging goalkeeper. Yet when such shots go awry in the World Cup, a blame game usually sets in. Players, fans, and pundits all suggest that the new official tournament ball, introduced every four years, is the cause.