Here are some words and phrases you can hear on languagecaster’s Full Podcast’s Good, Bad and Ugly section – a review of the footballing news. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases as well as the Learners’ Podcast.
- to net: to score a goal
Example: Miroslav Klose and Theo Walcott both netted hat-tricks in World Cup qualifiers last week.
- to get the nod: to be chosen, to be preferred over
Example: Theo Walcott got the nod to start against Croatia over David Beckham.
- to salvage a draw: to rescue a point, to get a draw when it does not look likely
Example: Miroslav Klose helped Germany to salvage a draw against Finland with a hat-trick.
- minnows: small teams, teams with little chance and few resources
Example: England struggled to defeat the minnows from Andorra.
- to drop: to not pick someone for the team
Example: Benitez dropped Hyppia from Liverpool’s Champions League squad.
- to be on the sidelines: To be on the bench, to not play, to be a substitute, to not start
Example: Hyppia has been on the sidelines since the start of the season.
- cruciate ligament: part of the knee that helps to move the joint.
Example: It looks like Michael Essien might be out for up to five months with a cruciate ligament injury.
