Football Glossary

Welcome to the football glossary, a page with a huge collection of football vocabulary, technical terms clichés and football phrases complete with definitions and examples. Click on the links below to be taken to a new page.

A-B | C-D | E-F | G-H | I-K | L-N | O-Q | R-S | T-V | W-Z

Online Crossword A-B | Crossword A-B.pdf | Crossword A-B Answers.pdf

A

All: When talking about football results it means ‘the same as’.

Example: Sunderland drew two all with Newcastle, i.e. 2-2.

All to play for: This means that both teams have a chance of winning the match or that there is an exciting finish to a game or the league because it is so close.

Example: When Chelsea beat Manchester United with only 4 games remaining it was all to play for as there were only three points between the teams (EFF: podcast 23).

Apertura: One of the two titles played for each year in Argentina (and other South American countries) (see Clausura)

Example: The Argentinian apertura usually starts in August with the 20 teams playing each other once.

Assistant referee: Formerly known as the linesman, this person helps the referee to make decisions during the game, especially offsides.

Example: With the new offside rule being introduced the work of the assistant referee is becoming more important.

(to/an) Assist: A pass or move that leads to a scoring opportunity.

Example: Not only did Cristiano Ronaldo score more than 40 goals last season he also had more than 10 assists for his team mates.

(to be) At sixes and sevens: To be completely in a mess (usually describes poor defensive organisation)

Example: The Arsenal defence were at sixes and sevens and the Tottenham forwards took full advantage in their 5-1 victory.

(to/an) Attack: Rather than protecting the goal this means to try to score a goal. Always looking to score.

Example: Tottenham have always been regarded as being a team that likes to attack and under Juande Ramos it looks as if this philosophy will continue.

Attacker: A forward, someone on the team that plays up front.

Example: Who is the best attacker in the world now? Kaka? Messi? Ronaldo? Torres? Villa?

Attendance: The number of people who watch a match.

Example: The world record for a football attendance was 200.000 who watched Brazil lose to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

At the end of the day: When all is said and done. After thinking something through.

Example: At the end of the day teams with the most money tend to be the most successful.

(to) Avoid the drop: This means to survive or not be relegated

Example: Fulham avoided the drop on the last day of the season.

Away goals: In knock-out competitions a goal scored away from home can count double in the event of a draw.

Example: Atlas have two away goals after drawing 2-2 at Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores semi-final first leg.

Azzurri: This is the nickname of the Italian national team (it refers to the colour of the kit).

Example: The ‘Azzurri‘ won the World Cup in 2006 in Germany with a mixture of style and pragmatism.

B

B-team: Not the first team but the second team. Players that are not quite good enough to play for the main or first team

Example: Many Premier League sides play their B-team in the Carling Cup in order to give those players experience.

Backs to the wall: Difficult situation, no way of retreating, desperate defending, to be under real pressure from an opposing team

Example: The Italian team found themselves in a backs to the wall situation after the defeat against the Dutch meant they could not lose another match.

Bafana Bafana: The nickname of the South African football team

Example: Bafana Bafana fans are really looking forward to the World Cup in 2010.

(the) Beautiful game: A synonym for football but generally used to describe a pure style of football

Example: Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winning team played a style of football that epitomized the beautiful game.

‘Becks‘: Nickname for David Beckham

Example: ‘Becks’ soccer appeal cools in Asia’ (uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)

Bicycle kick: While in mid-air a kick that moves the ball so that it travels behind the player – usually a shot (scissors kick)

Example: Hugo Sanchez scored some amazing bicycle kicks for Real Madrid.

(to) Blow a chance: to miss out on an opportunity

Example: Inter blew another chance to win the Scudetto when they drew against Sienna.

(to) Blow wide open: If a team blows a group or the league wide open, they beat the favourite (strong) team and give the competing teams a chance.stages

Example: In the 2010 World cup in South Africa, Switzerland blew Group H wide open by beating Spain 1-0 in the group’s first game.

Bogey team: A team that always does well against another team even though it is not usually expected to.

Example: Bolton were often regarded as Arsenal’s bogey side.

(a) Booking: A caution or yellow card

Example: Gary Lineker never received a booking during his career in English football.

Bottle: Courage, particularly under pressure (to lack bottle)

Example: Before winning Euro 2008 Spain were often accused of lacking bottle in international tournaments.

(to) Bounce back: to come back strongly after a bad defeat (see bouncebackability EFF: podcast 6 2007)

Example: LA Galaxy bounced back with a win after their opening 4-0 loss to Dallas.

(to) Break a hoodoo: The word hoodoo is usually associated with bad luck or possibly even a curse. In football, if a team attempts to break its hoodoo it means that it probably has not beaten another team or won at a certain place for a long time.

Example: Can Tottenham break their hoodoo at Anfield and win there this season? English for Football

Bundesliga: The German League

Example: The current Bundesliga champions are Bayern Munich.

(the) Business end of the season: the time when results are decided, when the most important events happen

Example: The business end of the season is usually when the cups and trophies are being handed out or relegation is decided.

By the skin of their teeth: just about, miraculously, in an extremely lucky manner Example: Fulham escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth yet again.