Here are some of the words and phrases that we used on this week’s show.
You can practise the vocabulary with our online crosswords and quizzes here
Also, check out the BBC’s football vocabulary page here

• dark horses - teams not expected to do well but they have a small chance of causing a surprise.

Fenerbahce and Schalke are the dark horses in the Champions League.

• a blow - something negative or bad happens

Messi’s injury is a big blow for Barcelona.

• hat trick - to score three goals in one game

Torres scored another hat trick in the win over West Ham

• To be back on track - to return to winning ways

Liverpool are back on track after winning 6 games in a row.

• A ball boy - a boy that helps to keep the game going by quickly returning the ball to the pitch.

Toro was sent off for pushing a ball boy in a Libertadores Cup game.

• Bullying - to pick on someone smaller than yourself.

Damon felt that Toro was guilty of bullying the ball boy.

• Wide TV exposure - to be on TV a lot

The Champions League has a much wider TV exposure than the UEFA Cup.

• format - the way something works

The UEFA Cup format is confusing indeed.

• To dilute - to make something weaker

The competition has been diluted in recent times as lower placed teams participate.

• To be competitive - many teams have a chance of winning.

This year’s tournament is a competitive one indeed.

• hangover - how you feel after drinking too much. In football this sometimes happens after winning a competition.

Tottenham’s recent performances have been poor - perhaps they are suffering from a Carling Cup hangover.

• To stretch a lead - to increase the lead

Damon stretched his lead in the predictions race last week.

• To claw back - to come from behind to win

Damian does not think that Everton can claw back the game against Fiorentina.

• Aristocrats - royalty, in football it means the top teams

Barnsley are playing the aristocrats from Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS