Getty Images; Gillian MacLeod/MH Illustration 4 min read THE FIFA WORLD CUP has taken over North America, and, like so many others, you might have caught football fever. Whether you’re itching to hit your local park for some pickup soccer or you’re already a regular at a rec league, you should consider that there’s more to a good game than just lacing up and hitting the pitch. Especially if you’re beyond your school age days, you can—and should—train for the characteristics that will keep you competitive and healthy in the gym, too. One of the most underrated characteristics (for soccer, at least) is strength. We’re not talking about the same type of absolute strength you might usually associate with gym workouts, where lifting heavy weights for their own sake is the goal. Instead, the objective is to make yourself stronger in key areas that will help to improve your game and to help bulletproof your body against injuries. This is athleticism training , which will have payoffs beyond just the pitch, too.…