Football Glossary
A-B | C-D | E-F | G-H | I-K | L-N | O-Q | R-S | T-V | W-Z
G
Gaffer: The boss or manager of the club – a term used by players to refer to their manager
Example: The new manager of Blackburn wants his players to call him ‘The Gaffer’.
(a) Game of two halves: A cliché that is used to describe a game that is dominated by one team in the first half and then the other team in the second half
Example: When Man City came from behind to beat Spurs 4-3 after being 0-3 down at half-time, then manager Kevin Keegan described it as a classic game of two halves.
Giant killing: When a lower-placed team beats a ‘better’ team, particularly in a cup competition (giant killer)
Example: Barnsley beat Liverpool and Chelsea in last season’s FA Cup: two great acts of giant killing.
Goal: When a team scores it is a goal / the frame or place where the players have to score is known as the goal
Example: Cristiano Ronaldo scored 43 goals last season – a truly fantastic record.
Goalkeeper: The player that protects the goal, the only player legally allowed to use his/her hands, the last line of defence (also: keeper)
Example: The Brazilian goalkeeper Dida was hit by a fan at Celtic Park last year.
Goalless: When a game finishes without any goals being scored (0-0 / nil-nil)
Example: The 1994 World Cup finished goalless between Brazil and Italy.
(to) Go down: To be relegated, to move down a division
Example: Stoke and Hull are both tipped to go down from the Premier league this season.
Group stage: The earlier rounds of a competition or tournament when teams play each other to determine which sides progress to the next round
Example: Liverpool and Arsenal have made it to the Champions League group stage in this year’s competition after winning the preliminary round.
Gunners: The nickname of Arsenal
Example: ‘Arsenal new boy Samir Nasri is confident that he will fit easily into the Gunners’ open, attacking style of football…’ (www.football.co.uk)
(to be) Gutted: To feel completely down after a last-minute goal or dramatic defeat (be absolutely shattered)
Example: The Croatian players were gutted after conceding a last-minute equalizer against Turkey in the Euro 2008 quarter-final.
H
(the) Hairdryer treatment:An expression used to describe how Sir Alex Ferguson (see Fergie) angrily shouts at players at half-time if they are under-performing
Example: David Beckham fell out with Sir Alex Ferguson after receiving the hairdryer treatment (and a shoe!) in the face.
Half-time:The break between the first and second half of a match
Example: The half-time team talk is an important part of a manager’s job.
(to) Hammer:to thrash, crush, beat heavily
Example: Manchester City were hammered 8-1 by Middlesbrough.
Hat trick: To score three goals in one game
Example: Geoff Hurst is the only man to have a scored a hat trick in a World Cup final, which he did in 1966.
(to) Hit form: to start playing well, to win a series of matches
Example: Boca are certainly hitting form at the right stage of the season (beating River in the League and getting to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores).
Holders: the current champions of a competition
Example: Argentina are the current holders of the Olympic gold medal.
Hooligan: Football supporters involved in violence; yob (hooliganism)
Example: English football hooligans had an awful reputation during the 1980′s when travelling abroad.
(a two-) Horse-race: A battle between teams for the title (two-horse race; three-horse race, etc.)
Example: Last season’s Premier League title was a two-horse race between Chelsea and eventual winners Manchester United.
