[print_link] | Subscribe: Weekly Football PhraseToday’s Euro 2012 football expression is ‘not here to make up the numbers’. You can understand more about the word or phrase by listening to the mp3 and reading the transcript below. You can also find many more examples by going to our football phrase page here football cliches here and our huge football glossary here.
Listen here: Not here to make up the numbers.mp3
Today’s Euro 2012 football expression is ‘not here to make up the numbers‘ which is often used by so-called weaker teams to suggest that they do have more of a chance than many others believe. To make up the numbers really means that though a team is needed for the competition to take place this team is not expected to do well. Ireland are currently ranked i8th in the world but play in a group that includes world champions Spain, powerhouses Italy and many people’s dark horses Croatia with few giving the ‘Boys in Green’ much of a chance of qualifying. However, the Irish side are on a run of 14 games unbeaten and feel that they have a possibility of causing an upset – they are not here to make up the numbers.
Will Ireland park the bus?