
Football Language: Ball
Most people when asked to think about what ‘ball‘ means in football, may think the answer is obvious. It is the ball that you kick, the ball in football, the round object that everyone is trying to get in their opponent‘s net. And of course, this is correct – you can pass the ball to a teammate, kick the ball out of play, place the ball on the penalty spot, handle the ball in the box and so on. However, it also means a pass or a cross. A ball into the box is a cross into the box; a nice ball, is a good pass to a teammate. So, ball actually becomes an action not an object. It often combines with adjectives, such as great, dangerous, glorious to describe what kind of cross, or ball, it is. Here are some examples:
Example:A Cuadrado swings over a delicious ball towards Cristiano at the back stick. HeA is preparing to pull the trigger, but the Uruguayan gets the faintest of nicks on the ball to divert it away from the striker. (en.as.com, September 2019)
Example: Unbelievable start for Barca! Corner is headed away and then a dangerous ball is sent back in towards the far post. (Standard.co.uk, October 2019)
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