What is the meaning of the phrase ‘at sixes and sevens’ in football?
- Find out more about this phrase by reading the transcript below.
- You can also find many more examples of soccer vocabulary by going to our football cliches page here and our huge football glossary here.
(to be) At sixes and sevens
To be completely in a mess especially when describing poor defensive organisation. This suggests that one team is confused or in disarray allowing the opposing team to score or to win.
Example: The Arsenal defence were at sixes and sevens and the Tottenham forwards took full advantage in their 5-1 victory.
What does “do a job” mean here?
After Rice hauls down Goretzka, three Germans stand over the free-kick right on the edge of the area in a central position. Havertz takes it but England’s wall do their job as they block in front of Pickford’s goal.
To do a job here means that the players did their job in the wall – they blocked the shot. To do a job could refer to other parts of the game as well – the defence did a job on the forwards means they stopped them from performing.