…The Chinese already played a game like football two thousand years ago? It was called cuju and was played by men and women. There was a version with goals and one without goals. In the version with goals, two teams exchange passes and kick the ball towards a goal. The use of hands was not allowed and there was no goalie.

…In the seventh century, the Japanese invented a sport that used feet? To play kemari, the participants made a circle and passed the ball to each other, without letting the ball drop. Kemari is played in Japan to this day, and the use of the left foot is not allowed.

…The Romans had a game that consisted of taking the ball all the way to the opponent’s line? Harpastum was played by two teams. It was a violent game, since the players had to trick their opponents.

… Football as we know it today was created by the English in the 19th century? That is why in the World Cup in Russia, when the English team did well, its fans screamed “it’s coming home”. It was a way of saying that football was coming back to the country where it was created.

QUESTIONS

1) After reading the text, check the correct option:
a) Only men could play cuju.
b) Harpastum did not have goals like those used in matches today.
c) Kemari players were only allowed to use their right foot.
d) The English do not consider themselves the creators of football.

2) Which do you think is harder to play: cuju, kemari, or harpastum? Explain your answer.

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