Curl (football)
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Curl, in football (soccer), is spin on the ball which will make it change direction. To curl the ball, you strike the ball with the inside of your foot. This is in contrast to "Bend" which is caused by striking the ball with the outside of your foot. David Beckham, in spite of the film title 'Bend it like Beckham', rarely "bends" the ball but rather "curls" the ball. Perhaps the most famous example of "bending" the ball is the Roberto Carlos goal against France in Le Tournoi. Curl is especially evident from free kicks, shots from outside the penalty area and crosses. Differences between balls can also affect the amount of swerve: traditional leather footballs are too heavy to curl without great skill, whereas the modern Adidas Teamgeist bends with a much lower effort threshold. As a general rule, the lighter and smoother the ball the more deviation there is. Making the ball curl in the air was first developed in Sheffield during the late 1870s. At the time it was referred to as a screw shot.
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[edit] Nomenclature
There is a degree of confusion surrounding the correct naming of different aspects of curl. The technique of putting curl on a ball is known as chanfle, from Spanish, to some. The deviation from the straight path in the air is the actual curl or swerve; however, the spin on the ball that causes this is also known as the curl. Shots that swerve are known as curlers, swingers, or, in extreme cases, banana shots. However, it is extremely rare, these days, to hear any shot described as a "banana shot". However the greatest distinction to make is that between 'curl' and 'bend'. Curl uses the inside of the foot, typified by a David Beckham free-kick. 'Bend' uses the outside of the foot, typified by a Roberto Carlos free-kick. ...
[edit] Usage
[edit] Free kicks
Free kick specialists such as Alessandro Del Piero, Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribéry, Juninho Pernambucano, Diego, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Deco, Didier Drogba, Ronaldinho and John Arne Riise, Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa impart great amounts of spin on the ball, forcing it to rise, and either bend or curl around a wall of defending players, out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Goalkeepers usually organise walls to cover one side of the goal, and then stand themselves on the other side. Thus, the free kick taker has three choices; either to curl the ball around the wall with finesse, to bend the ball around the wall using power, or to go over the wall. The latter is probably better suited to free kicks further from the goal, due to the amount of time and space needed for the ball to rise and fall.
[edit] Corners
Curling can be an effective technique when taking corners. The ball gradually moves in the air towards the goal. This is referred to as an in-swinging corner. Occasionally, a corner-taker will bend the ball towards the edge of the penalty area, for an attacker to volley, or take a touch and then shoot. This is quite rare as it is extremely difficult for the taker to accurately find his man and perhaps even more difficult for the player outside the area to control the ball and get a shot away. One player who was capable of executing this skill is Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes.
[edit] Passing
Less obvious, but still useful, curling can be used in passing. Effective through balls are often the result of a curled pass around the defender, or long cross field passes are sometimes aided by the addition of curl or backspin. ...
[edit] Notable Players
Many players have used the Trivela in their game but most notably Franz Beckenbauer relied routinely and expertly on this skill. Other players who uses this skill noticeably are Nelinho, Maradona, David Beckham. In the current game, Portuguese international Ricardo Quaresma uses it regularly along with Sneijder Bhi Aside from passing, this technique can be used to take a shot on goal, although it is difficult to master and if not done correctly can leave a player embarrassed and could compromise the current play. It requires balance, strength, and your body has to be leaning on a certain angle to execute power and bend on the ball.
Ricardo Quaresma, also scored an amazing goal against Belgium in a match that Portugal won by 4-0, the goal was credited as one of the best goals in the world. Because of the incredible effect the ball took, it managed to fool the keeper into thinking he could catch it, there was no possible defense for the unpredictable shot.
[edit] Causes
The reason that spin on a football makes it swerve is the Magnus effect. This causes a rotating ball to form a whirlpool about itself, with one side's air moving with the ball and the other side's air moving against the ball. This creates a difference in air pressure, and the ball deviates from its path to compensate for this.
