Football (soccer) quiz: rules and legends

All 10 questions and answers

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1. How long is a standard professional football match?
   • 80 minutes, in four quarters
   • 100 minutes
   • 90 minutes, in two 45-minute halves
   • 60 minutes
   Show answer

   90 minutes, in two 45-minute halves. Stoppage time is added on top.

2. How many players does each team have on the pitch?
   • 12
   • 11
   • 9
   • 10
   Show answer

   11. That includes the goalkeeper.

3. Where can the goalkeeper handle the ball?
   • Anywhere on the pitch
   • Only inside their own penalty area
   • Only inside the goal area
   • Anywhere in their own half
   Show answer

   Only inside their own penalty area. Outside the area, the keeper is just like an outfield player.

4. How far is the penalty spot from the goal line?
   • 20 metres
   • 9 metres
   • 16 metres
   • 11 metres (12 yards)
   Show answer

   11 metres (12 yards). The penalty area itself extends 16.5 m (18 yards).

5. What does a red card mean?
   • A free kick only
   • A five-minute sin bin
   • A formal warning
   • The player is sent off
   Show answer

   The player is sent off. Two yellow cards in a match also equal a red.

6. What does VAR stand for?
   • Verified Action Review
   • Visual Angle Replay
   • Video Assistant Referee
   • Video Appeal Rule
   Show answer

   Video Assistant Referee. VAR reviews goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identity.

7. What is the nickname of Australia's men's national team?
   • Boomers
   • Matildas
   • Socceroos
   • Kangaroos
   Show answer

   Socceroos. The Matildas are the women's team.

8. Which player has won the most Ballon d'Or awards?
   • Michel Platini
   • Cristiano Ronaldo
   • Lionel Messi
   • Johan Cruyff
   Show answer

   Lionel Messi. Messi has won it eight times.

9. What is the top professional league in England?
   • The Championship
   • The Bundesliga
   • The Premier League
   • La Liga
   Show answer

   The Premier League. La Liga is Spain's top league and the Bundesliga is Germany's.

10. What is a 'hat-trick' in football?
    • One player scoring three goals in a match
    • Three corners in a row
    • Three yellow cards
    • A team winning three titles
    Show answer

    One player scoring three goals in a match. A 'perfect hat-trick' is one with the left foot, one with the right and a header.