Newsletter

The Champions League draw has been made and the Italian and Spanish leagues kick off this weekend so football in Europe is very much up and running. We feature many of these stories on languagecaster.com’s weekly football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts, listen to our main reports and check out our links section. continue

It’s week 2 of the Premier League, the Bundesliga also kicks off and we salute Internacional of Brazil on winning the Copa Libertadores. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts, listen to our main reports and check out our links section. continue

The 2010 tournament has reached the quarter-final stage and on our 8th World Cup podcast we look forward to these mouth-watering ties. For more World Cup news and resources come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section. You can also have a chance to win a Brazil top – click here to find out more.

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PREDICTION

Tomorrow’s featured match is German v Argentina which Damian thinks will finish 2-3 and Damon feels Argentina will prevail 2-1.

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Here is a list of all the phrases we have done so far and here is yesterday’s phrase:

Today’s World Cup phrase of the day is the expression to step down which means to resign or to quit a job. The World Cup is over for many teams and their coaches and this means that many of them will lose their jobs because of poor performances. Others have made the decision to leave by themselves – they have not been fired or sacked. Thus, Italy’s coach Lippi and his French counterpart Domenech announced that they would be stepping down before the tournament had even started, while Mexico’s coach Aguirre has stepped down after his side were knocked out of the second round by Argentina. I wonder how England fans would feel about their coach Capello if he were to step down? To step down.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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Today’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Germany beat Argentina on penalties in the World Cup quarter-final of 2006. Who missed the deciding penalty for Argentina?

a. Mascherano
b. Cambiasso
c. Sorin
d. Messi

Answer in the next newsletter.

In the last newsletter we asked what was the score in 1966 between North Korea and Portugal and the answer was d. Portugal 5-3 N. Korea
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POLL – Should there be Goal-line Technology?

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Come along to our online shop and browse books and DVDs related to football and English language teaching and learning.

For all students of the beautiful game

The 2010 tournament has reached the quarter-final stage and on our 8th World Cup podcast we look forward to these mouth-watering ties. For more World Cup news and resources come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section. You can also have a chance to win a Brazil top – click here to find out more.

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Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking

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PREDICTION

Tomorrow’s featured match is German v Argentina which Damian thinks will finish 2-3 and Damon feels Argentina will prevail 2-1.

________________________________________

FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

Every day during the World Cup, the languagecaster team explain a football phrase or cliché connected to this summer’s tournament. Here is a list of all the phrases we have done so far and here is yesterday’s phrase:

Today’s World Cup phrase of the day is the expression to step down which means to resign or to quit a job. The World Cup is over for many teams and their coaches and this means that many of them will lose their jobs because of poor performances. Others have made the decision to leave by themselves – they have not been fired or sacked. Thus, Italy’s coach Lippi and his French counterpart Domenech announced that they would be stepping down before the tournament had even started, while Mexico’s coach Aguirre has stepped down after his side were knocked out of the second round by Argentina. I wonder how England fans would feel about their coach Capello if he were to step down? To step down.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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Today’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Germany beat Argentina on penalties in the World Cup quarter-final of 2006. Who missed the deciding penalty for Argentina?

a. Mascherano
b. Cambiasso
c. Sorin
d. Messi

Answer in the next newsletter.

In the last newsletter we asked what was the score in 1966 between North Korea and Portugal and the answer was d. Portugal 5-3 N. Korea
________________________________________

POLL – Should there be Goal-line Technology?

Check out the site for the latest polls here | Click here admin@languagecaster.com if you want to have your say on our weekly podcast.

You can also follow us at Twitter

Come along to our online shop and browse books and DVDs related to football and English language teaching and learning.

For all students of the beautiful game

A very good week for Bayern in Germany, for Chelsea in England and Atletico Madrid in Europe. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is the English FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Portsmouth

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is goal poacher. To poach is a verb which means to steal, to take illegally from someone’s land – for example hunting rabbits, ducks, deer from private property. The word poach therefore means to do something secretly without people knowing, to do something sneaky. The phrase goal poacher in football means a striker that ’steals’ goals. A goal poacher scores a lot of opportunistic goals usually from around the six-yard area. This type of player is highly skilled at finding the right opportunity to steal behind the defence and score. This week in the Europa League final, Diego Forlan proved himself to be a goal poacher, appearing four minutes from extra time to hit a deflected winning goal for Atletcio Madrid.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

How many times has the double been won in England?/p>

a. 14
b. 12
c. 11
d. 10

Answer next week.

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For all students of the beautiful game

Lots more drama in the world of football as we near the end of the season in Europe, and you can find all the news on our weekly podcast. Tottenham secure a Champions League play off spot by beating rivals for that position, Manchester City, the two horse race in La Liga looks set to go down to the wire, Roma heartache against Inter again this time they lose a cup final as Totti is sent off.  Check out all the footballing stories with lots of English practice in the free weekly languagecaster.com football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

Also, why not try our World Cup online crossword – just click here.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Atletico Madrid v Fulham

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is ‘there is so much at stake‘. At stake means to be at issue, to be at risk, or to be the important topic. When there is so much at stake, the result or outcome is very important and will have an affect on the future. This phrase is used in football to describe a match which is particularly important. For example, perhaps a win will mean a team avoids relegation, or a point means the team can progress to the Champions League and the money that that competition brings. On Wednesday, there was so much at stake when Manchester City played Tottenham. The winner would be in the Champions League next year.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

How many times has Germany won the World Cup?

a. Never

b. 1

c. 2

d. 3

Answer next week.

Last week’s to ‘how many teams have played in the Premier League?’ was b. 43
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For all students of the beautiful game

First of all, apologies for no newsletter last week. This week we return with lots of football news to review on our weekly podcast. In South America the Copa Libertadores has reached the last 16, while in Europe the Champions League and Europa League finalists have also been decided. Unfortunately for Damon, Liverpool’s dismal season continues as they crash out of the Europa League, though another English team, Fulham, makes club history with their first appearance in a European final. There have been sackings, injuries and fighting – all just another week in the world of football. Listen to some of these stories and lots more football and English practice in the free weekly languagecaster.com football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Liverpool v Chelsea

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is the spirit of the game which refers to how the game is played or at least how it is interpreted by those playing it. For many, the only objective of football is to win at all costs which means that players will often act in an underhand manner in order to improve their chances of winning. This might involve diving to try and win a penalty or pretending to be hurt after a tackle. Both of these actions go against the spirit of the game as they not only attempt to cheat but they do so by deceiving their fellow professionals. This week Barcelona player Sergio Busquets feigned an injury which lead to Inter Milan player Thiago Motta being sent off which was definitely against the spirit of the game.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Four teams have won the Premier league in its 18 year history – Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers, but how many teams have played in the Premier League?

a. 35
b. 43
c. 48
d. 50

Answer next week.

Last week’s answer was, England first played in the World Cup in b. 1950
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For all students of the beautiful game

Portsmouth make the FA Cup final where they will face Chelsea next month. Tottenham beat Arsenal, Roma go top in Italy, Barcelona beat Real Madrid easily in el clásico while the last of the World Cup 2010 tickets have finally been sold in South Africa. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Man City v Man Utd

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is debutant which in football refers to someone playing their first ever game for a team. The word debutant comes from the verb debut though the phrase make his or her debut is more commonly used, which in turn originated from the French word débuter, to give the first stroke in a game or begin. This week Tottenham beat their North London rivals Arsenal thanks to a wonder strike by debutant Danny Rose. Imagine scoring a goal on your debut against your arch rivals! A stunning debut for the young debutant.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

England first played in the World Cup in…

a. 1930
b. 1950
c. 1954
d. 1958

Answer next week.

Last week’s answer was answer a – Real Madrid have won more clásicos than Barcelona
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For all students of the beautiful game

Lionel Messi destroys Arsenal, Bayern Munich dump Man Utd out of the Champions League, Lyon defeat Bordeaux and Marseille go top of Ligue 1 and of course El Clásico takes place this weekend. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Real Madrid v Barcelona from La Liga

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is ‘to take out‘. This phrase has several meanings: if you take someone out for diner, you invite them to a restaurant, if you get a take out, you order food and take it home. In football, to take out means to tackle someone badly or to defend against a player so well that they cannot influence the game. The first meaning, to tackle a player and usually knock him or her to the ground, is used most. To take someone out implies an over the top, violent tackle. Recently, Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey accused Ryan Shawcross of trying to take him out when the Stoke City defender tackled him and broke his leg.

To take someone out.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Which of the three statements below about El Clásico is true?

a. Real Madrid have won more
b. Barcelona have won more
c. They have won the same number each

Answer next week.

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For all students of the beautiful game

The Champions League quarter finals are underway with controversial decisions, injuries and some sublime football. Brazilian teams are doing well in the South American equivalent of the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, while qualifying for the Women’s World Cup in 2011 in Germany has held another round of games. Boca bomb in Argentia and Leeds are beginning to choke in England as the end of season approaches. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Manchester United v Chelsea  – a top of the table clash in the Premier League

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FOOTBALL CLICHE

To run your socks off

This cliché is used when a team or an individual player is seen to work very hard during a game. The expression is often used with the verb ‘work’ as in he worked his socks off throughout the game. Indeed, this phrase is synonymous with certain types of battling midfield players such as Steven Gerrard or formerly Roy Keane who often run their socks off to get their teams back into a game. If a team works their socks off it means that they battled hard and did not give up. To work your socks off.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Which country has had the most winning teams in the Champions League?

a. Germany

b. Spain

c. England

d. Italy

Answer next week.

The answer to last week’s question, ‘Which team has won most Mexican titles since the championship was reformed in 1996?’ The answer is c – UNAM.
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For all students of the beautiful game

Another good week for Lionel Messi and Barcelona, my team Tottenham enjoy a come from behind victory over Fulham to make the FA Cup semi-finals, while the MLS starts up again this weekend after the threat of a strike was averted. Bad news for Celtic in Scotland and Sevilla in Spain as both clubs fire their managers, while West Ham manager Zola remains under fire and looks ever increasingly like a dead man walking. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Arsenal v Barcelona from the Champions League quarter-final first leg

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is ‘to break the deadlock‘. The noun deadlock is a combination of ‘dead‘ and ‘lock‘ – it describes a lock in a door that has no spring and remains locked until you move it with a key. As long ago as the 18th century it was used to talk about a dispute or argument when it is impossible to find a solution. In sport a ‘deadlock‘ means a drawn game, a tie, when both sides have the same score (in football, usually 0-0). ‘To break the deadlock‘ means, therefore, to stop the stalemate, the situation where there is no movement, or no score, and to make a breakthrough, and in football to take the lead. It is usually used with a player’s name or a team as the subject. Here is an example from 2001 in The Observer (A UK Sunday newspaper): ‘A minute later, Larsson crashed a right-foot effort over the bar, and it seemed only a matter of time before Celtic broke the deadlock.’

To break the deadlock

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Which team has won most Mexican titles since the championship was reformed in 1996?

a. Guadalajara
b. Club América
c. UNAM
d. Cruz Azul

Answer next week.

The answer to last week’s question, ‘Which French team has won most French titles?’ The answer is b – Saint-Étienne.
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For all students of the beautiful game

A bad week for David Beckham, John Terry and Phil Brown as they suffer injury, defeat and job loss respectively. Good however for Jose Mourinho, Leo Messi and Keisuke Honda as Inter, Barcelona and CSKA Moscow all progress to the last 8 of the Champions League. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Manchester United v Liverpool from the Premier League

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is ‘to thump a team‘. If you thump a team it means that one team has beaten another team easily – other words that can be used include, thrashed, hammered and destroyed. The word thump actually means to strike or beat someone or something so we can suppose that if a team is thumped they feel battered and bruised, as if they have been beaten up. For example, this week Liverpool easily beat Portsmouth in the Premier League – in fact the BBC suggested that they thumped the team from the bottom of the league. To thump a team.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Which French team has won most French titles?

a. Olympique de Marseille
b. Saint-Étienne
c. FC Nantes
d. Olympique Lyonnais

Answer next week.

The answer to last week’s question, ‘Where was the 1950 World Cup played?’ The answer is d – Brazil.
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For all students of the beautiful game

Beckham’s return to Old Trafford, Real Madrid dumped out of the Champions League – again – Portsmouth make the semi-finals of the FA Cup, Goal-line technology has been kicked into touch while AC Milan were thrashed. These and many other news stories all feature in this week’s “>languagecaster.com’s football podcast. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Chelsea v Internationale in the second leg of the Champions League knock-out phase

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is ‘to be cagey‘. If you are cagey about something, you do not give a clear answer, or make a firm decision. A cagey answer does not want to give away too much information, and a cagey player may be a clever, but cautious footballer who thinks a lot about the game. Managers are often described as cagey, especially when asked about their future plans. This week, in the Champions League, many people people have been asking Leonardo whether or not David Beckham will play against his old club Manchester United. But the manager remains cagey and will not say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Quote (ESPN Soccernet)

‘Leonardo cagey on Becks – Leonardo is not promising David Beckham a place in his starting XI at Old Trafford even though he knows how “special” it would be for the former Man United favourite.’

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

Where was the 1950 World Cup played?

a. Uruguay
b. France
c. Argentina
d. Brazil

Answer next week.

The answer to last week’s question, ‘How many times has India qualified for the World Cup? The answer is b – 1. They qualified in 1950 but refused to take part as they would have to wear footwear.
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For all students of the beautiful game

Last week was International Friendly week, with some of the big guns getting good wins – Spain were particularly impressive with their 2-0 win over France. Crouch also shined for England in their 3-1 win over Egypt. The feud between John Terry and Wayne Bridge continues with all eyes on a handshake. In South America there were good wins for Lanus and Cruzerio, but a shock loss for Estudiantes in the Copa Libertadores. The debate about the ‘English’ style of play resurfaces after a terrible tackle left Arsenal’s  Aaron Lennon’s leg broken in two places. Chester City FC were thrown out of the Football League in England and now have to hope they can rebuild a new team – all because of debts £26,000 – compare that to the £700,000,000 owed on loans by Manchester United and you can see the gap between the haves and have nots.  And of course there was lots lots more. For more football news come to our site, read the posts and check out our links section.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Chelsea v Internationale in the second leg of the Champions League knock-out phase

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s English for football phrase is to give the ball away cheaply. This expression is used to describe a situation in a game when one team, under little or no pressure, loses the ball to the opposing team. It is similar to an unforced error in tennis. We use the word cheaply to describe the fact that the opposition have not had to work hard (or ‘pay’) to get the ball back. Coaches and fans become very frustrated when their team gives the ball away cheaply as it may prevent an attack from building or worse may give the opposing team a chance to counter attack. To give the ball away cheaply.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

How many times has India qualified for the World Cup?

a. never
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3

Answer next week.

The answer to last week’s question, ‘When was the last time Aston Villa won the Carling Cup?’ The answer is c – 1996. Villa are second in the ranking with 5 wins behind Liverpool on 7.
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For all students of the beautiful game

Another busy week in the world of football with English club Portsmouth going into administration, Chelsea players warned about their public behaviour, Wayne Bridge deciding not to play for England any more, Wayne Rooney continuing his impressive league scoring run for Manchester United, Champions League wins for Inter Milan and Bordeaux and an impressive FA Cup victory for my team Spurs and a Europa League win for Damon’s team Liverpool. These and other stories will feature on this week’s podcast, which looks at football derbies. Indeed, we feature three of them in our regular predictions battle, as well as the final of the Carling Cup and some international friendlies. We also have another English for football phrase. Come along to the site at languagecaster.com to read more.

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PREDICTION

This week’s featured match is Aston Villa v Manchester United in the Carling Cup final

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FOOTBALL EXPRESSION

This week’s phrase for football is to run riot. This expression is used when one team completely dominates another team and scores lots of goals. Before this week’s Champions League game between holders Barcelona and Stuttgart the experts were suggesting that Barca would run riot . Another example was when Premier League side, Tottenham ran riot against Wigan earlier on in the season when they won 9-0. The expression can also be used to describe a player’s performance against an opponent as in, Wayne Rooney ran riot against the West Ham defence. To run riot.

Click here for more football cliches and football phrases.

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This week’s QUIZ QUESTION:

When was the last time Aston Villa won the Carling Cup?

a. 2000
b. 1998
c. 1996
d. 1994

Answer next week.

The answer to last week’s question, ‘How many different countries are represented in the last 16 of the Champions League this year?’ The answer is 8 – Portugal, Greece, Russia, Spain, Italy, England, Germany and France.
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For all students of the beautiful game