Does that mean I'll keep tripping over the ball?
It means that you'll jog around for a while before wheezing and lying on the pitch in a crumpled heap. Actually, the realism involves the way the ball and the players move. A great example is the way headers and volleys work - they require skill and impeccable timing. There's none of this cross-the-ball-and-keep-tapping-shoot-until-GOOOOAAAAALLLLL! Instead, when you put in a decent cross-field ball you need to watch the intended recipient and press the shoot button at exactly the right moment. Press it too early and your striker will leap like a salmon, only to land back on terra firma as the ball sails past.

Sounds a bit tricky!
It's not really, especially if you put in the work on the training ground. The fact that training pays dividends is a real boon, particularly when you time a jump to perfection, rising high above a defender to complete the 'ball + forehead = goal' equation.

Very satisfying, I'm sure. Let's hope they don't fudge it up.
They had better not. UEFA Striker certainly has the potential to be a great game and Rage have the advantage of kicking off while their opponents are still on the team bus. However, we've just heard that the Sega bus has come off the motorway and is making its way to the ground as we speak...