football vocabulary
When a team has to move down a division because of poor results. The club is generally occupying the bottom two or three positions.
Qualifier: Games played to decide which teams progress to the main tournament or knock-out stages of a competition. A game to qualify for something.
La Selección: Nickname (In Spanish) for the Spanish international football team.
(to) Seal a deal: To complete a deal or transaction. In football we use it when talking about player transfers; the movement of players between clubs.
The 2014 World Cup qualifiers continue this week and we feature games from Europe, South America, Africa, Central America and Asia.
In the doldrums: To be at a low point; to be in a bad way
(to be) In the bag: Looking to be safe; the result of the game does not appear to be in danger.
International: Used when describing a game between two countries or to describe a player who has played for his/her country.
Injury time: The time added on by the referee after 90 minutes (See also: stoppage/added time)
This English for Football phrase is to be in with a shout and it means to have a chance of doing well in something even though you may not be expected to do so.
Injury: When a player is hurt during the match
An inept performance: A performance showing no skill; one that is clumsy or poor
The English for Football expression to stamp your authority on something has a basic meaning of showing who is in charge or demonstrating control over someone.
Today's English for Football expression is a classic footballing cliche - football is a funny old game.
The football phrase 'to set your sights on' means to have a goal, to decide you want to do something.
On this week's football podcast for learners of English, we look at the language associated with setting up goals, while in our English for football section Damon introduces some phrases connected to football shots. We also continue our predictions battle which this week includes matches from England, Germany and Argentina.
When a plan goes wrong, is not successful, and it results in a disaster you can use the phrase 'go pear-shaped'
(a) Two-horse race: A close or tight battle between two teams for the title (three teams would be a three-horse race, and so on).
Hooligan: Football supporters involved in violence; yob (hooliganism).
Holders: The current champions of a competition or cup (they hold the trophy)
Hat-trick: To score three goals in one game
To hammer: to thrash, crush, beat another team heavily.
This week, languagecaster.com introduces the football phrase 'to take a point'.
Half-time: The break between the first and second half of a match.
The languagecaster team explain a new football phrase or cliche for learners of English who love the sport. Click on the link below to learn about the phrase 'men against boys', that also comes with a transcript.
Hairdryer treatment: An expression used to describe how Sir Alex Ferguson (see Fergie) angrily shouts at players at half-time if they are under-performing.
(the) Group stage: The earlier rounds of a competition or tournament when teams play each other to determine which sides progress to the next round.
(to be) Gutted: To feel completely down; be absolutely shattered for example after a last-minute goal or dramatic defeat
(the) Gunners: Nickname of Arsenal Football Club
(to) Go down: To be relegated, to move down a division.
Goalless: When a game finishes without any goals being scored (0-0 / nil-nil).
On this week's football podcast for learners of English, Damian looks back at the English League Cup, while Damon introduces the phrase 'to hit form' before we finish up with our weekly predictions battle which this week includes the Milan derby, the League Cup final and another clasico.
It is the final of the League Cup this weekend so on this week's main report we take a look at the third trophy of English football: The League Cup.
Goal: When a team scores this is known as a goal We also sometimes refer to the net or place where players have to score as the goal
In this week's review section we look back at some of the big stories from the world of football to help learners of English improve their vocabulary. This week we congratulate AC Milan on defeating Barcelona, report on Arsenal's cup troubles and Spurs fans in France.
Some huge matches this week including a big London derby, the League Cup final, a Clásico in the Copa del Rey and the Milan derby.
On this week's main report, we look at three of the common injuries footballers suffer and the language of injuries.
Last week, we looked at the language of scoring goals and this week we continue, but we focus on how to describe setting up the goal.
On this week's main report, look at some of last weekend's articles from the respected Guardian newspaper in the UK to show the ways journalists and fans describe how goals are scored.
On this week's football podcast for learners of English, Damon takes a look at the holding midfielder position in football, while Damian introduces the phrase 'bullet header'
