Football Glossary
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C
C-D Online Crossword | Crossword C-D.pdf | Crossword C-D Answers.pdf
(to) Call off: To cancel, to stop a game from being played
Example: In Argentina the match between Velez and Sarsfield had to be called off after a fan was killed on his way to the game.
Cap: An appearance for your country, the number of times someone plays international games
Example: David Beckham earned his 100th cap against the USA in May 2008.
The Carling Cup: A knock-out competition for English clubs. This tournament is not as prestigious as the FA Cup
Example: Tottenham won their first trophy in nine years after defeating Chelsea in the Carling Cup final.
(to) Cause an upset: This phrase is used to describe when a so-called weaker team defeats a stronger team, a shock result.
Example: Croatia caused an upset in Euro 2008 when defeating Germany 2-1 (EFF: summer podcast 3).
(to/a) Caution: A yellow card, a booking
Example: The referee gave Beckham a caution for a bad tackle from behind.
(to/a) Centre: A cross usually into the box or penalty area
Example: David Beckham did not have much pace or even skill but he could centre a ball brilliantly.
Centre back: Position in defence. Usually someone big, strong and good in the air (also centre half)
Example: Manchester United’s centre back Rio Ferdinand should be the captain of England.
Centre half: (see Centre back above)
Example: However, many other fans feel John Terry is a better centre half and captain than Rio.
The Champions League: Annual competition for the top European club sides
Example: Manchester United beat Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow in May 2008.
The Championship:The division below the English Premier League, the second tier (previously known as Division 2)
Example: After winning the Championship last season, West Brom will be hoping that they can survive in the Premiership this season.
(to) Choke: To not perform well under pressure (see bottle)
Example: Holland choked against Russia in the Euro 2008 quarter-final match and were beaten 3-1.
Clausura: One of the two titles played for each year in Argentina (and other South American countries) (see Apertura)
Example: The 2008 Argentinian clausura champions are River Plate.
(a) Clean sheet: When a team does not concede a goal or allow a goal to go in (to keep a clean sheet)
Example: Tottenham had many difficulties keeping a clean sheet last season, with many blaming the poor form of Paul Robinson.
(to) Close in on: to get close to, to be close to achieving (a transfer, winning the title etc.)
Example: Berbatov closes in on Manchester United (The Times Online headline)
(to) Come a cropper: This phrase is used to mean to fail badly at something particularly a big team against a smaller team.
Example: Scotland came a cropper against Macedonia in their World Cup qualifier losing 0-1 away from home.
(to) Come back from the dead: to make a remarkable comeback, to stage a fightback
Example: America came back from the dead against Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores quarter-final.
(to) Concede (a goal): to allow a goal in/to let in a goal
Example: Boca have yet to concede a goal in this campaign.
Copa America: The South American tournament for international teams on the continent
Example: Brazil beat Argentina 3-0 in the Copa America final in Venezuela in 2007.
Copa Libertadores: The South American club championship played between the top sides from each of the country’s leagues (European equivalent: Champions League).
Example: LDU Quito are the current Copa Libertadores champions after beating Brazilian side Fluminense in the final.
Corner: A set play that is taken from the corner of the pitch
Example: Tottenham’s defence always had trouble defending opponents corners last season.
Counter attack: A style of playing that breaks quickly from any part of the pitch when the ball is recovered
Example: Holland, Spain and Russia all played a swift counter attacking style during the 2008 European Championships.
(to) Crash out of: When a team is badly beaten in a cup competition. It is usually a surprise defeat or a heavy defeat.
Example: France crashed out of the European Championships after three poor performances.
(to/a) Cross: To pass the ball from a wide position into the centre (usually an attacking ploy)
Example: David Beckham did not have much pace or even skill but he could cross a ball brilliantly.
Crowd: The fans or supporters in the stadium who watch the game.
Example: The crowd voiced their displeasure as the home team lost yet again.
(a) Cruyff turn: Skill used to beat a defender by dragging the ball passed him (started by dutch legend Johann Cruyff)
Example: The Valencia winger Vicente used a Cruyff turn to escape the attentions of the defender.
(to) Crush an opponent / team: to beat a team heavily, to thrash another team
Example: Holland crushed Italy 4-1 in Euro 2008.
D
Dark horses: Teams not expected to do well though they have a small chance of causing a surprise.
Example: Fenerbahce and Schalke were dark horses in last season’s Champions League.
Days are numbered: We use this expression to describe a situation in which a manager (or player) is about to lose their job: they are under intense pressure.
Example: If Fabio Cappello loses to Croatia his days as England coach will be numbered.
Dead ball: A free kick, corner or penalty
Example: David Beckham did not score from a dead ball situation last week but rather from open play.
Dead Man Walking: This refers to a manager who everyone knows will soon be sacked, will soon be fired. He will soon lose his job.
Example: Steve MacClaren was a dead man walking as soon as England lost to Croatia.
(a) Debut: To play for the first time, e.g. a game or a season
Example: Wayne Rooney made his debut for Everton when he was just 16 years old.
(a) Defeat: When a team loses a game they suffer a defeat
Example: After ten defeats in a row the Derby manager was sacked.
(to) Defeat: to beat another team
Example: Manchester United defeated Chelsea on penalties to win the Champions League.
Defence: The group of players that try to protect a team’s goal.
Example: Spain’s defence was the best at the recent Euro 2008 tournament – they only conceded 2 goals throughout.
Defender: A member of the defence, a player who protects his team’s goal.
Example: The Italian defender Paolo Maldini will play one more season with his club AC MIlan this year.
(a) Derby: A game between two local rivals usually with lots of tradition behind it.
Example: The big derbies in the Premier League include: Liverpool-Everton; Newcastle-Sunderland; Spurs-Arsenal and Man City-Man Utd.
(to) Dethrone: To remove, to beat a competitor to a title or cup win
Example: Barcelona are hoping to dethrone their rivals Real Madrid this season after two years without a title.
(a) Disallowed goal: A goal that has not been allowed due to a foul, an offside decision or another illegal action.
Example: Diego Maradona’s goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final should have been disallowed for handball.
Dissent: When a player verbally abuses the referee, to say something bad to the referee.
Example: Wayne Rooney often gets into trouble for showing dissent.
Division: Football teams are divided into categories or groups that depend on results. These groups are known as divisions.
Example: There are four professional divisions in England: The Premier League; The Championship; Division 1 and Division 2.
(the) Double: To win the domestic League and Cup in the same season.
Example: Spurs won the double in 1961 – the last time they won the league.
(to) Do the double over: To beat a team twice in the same season – home and away.
Example: Manchester City did the double over Manchester United last season (EFF: podcast 28).
(to go) Down to the wire: When a game, or more usually a league, has an exciting or tight finish.
Example: The Premier League title race of 2008 went down to the wire with Manchester United eventually winning it (EFF: podcast 26 – 2007-8)
(to/a) Draw: (1) When there is no winner in a match we call it a draw (US – tie). (2) To decide which teams play which in a competition
Example: The draw for the Champions league quarter-final saw Liverpool play Arsenal. The two teams drew the first leg 1-1 but Liverpool won the second game to progress.
Dressing room: Place where the players prepare for a match.
Example: The north dressing room at Wembley usually proves to be a lucky omen for teams that change in it.
(To lose the) Dressing room: This expression is used when a manager (or captain) has lost the respect of the rest of the players.
Example: Former manager Sam Allardyce had to leave Newcastle after losing the dressing room.
(to) Dribble: To beat a player with the ball at your feet.
Example: Cristiano Ronaldo loves to dribble with the ball at pace.
(the) Drop zone: the relegation places, the bottom two or three places of the league table
Example: Unfortunately for Derby County fans their team could not escape from the drop zone all season.
C-D Online Crossword | Crossword C-D.pdf | Crossword C-D Answers.pdf
