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Learn English Through Football Podcast: Ghost
Hello everyone, my name is Damian from the languagecaster team and in this post we explain the word ‘ghost’ and how it is used in football. If you have questions or comments about this or any other football phrase then email us at: admin@languagecaster.com.
Football Language: Ghost
In the 2019 Women’s World Cup quarter-final the Swedish side defeated Germany for the first time in a major competition since 1995 and this led to their captain putting to rest the claim that Germany was a ‘ghost’ for their side – this, of course, means that some people felt that the German side had been the Swedish team’s bogey side. I’m not sure that we would use the word ‘ghost’ in this way to describe this situation but instead would say that it was a bogey side or that a team has the ‘sign over another team’.
You will hear the word ‘ghost’ in football in different circumstances however. For example, when a player has ‘ghosted into the box’ it suggests that he or she has moved into the opponents’ penalty area without being seen – no defender has picked up the player. Another use of ‘ghost’ is when one player goes past another player very easily – they ghost past the defender as if they are not even there.
Another example with the word ‘ghost’ describes a goal that is seen as either rather doubtful – a ‘ghost goal’ such as the 1966 World Cup final goal by Geoff Hurst because people wondered whether the ball crossed the line. Other ghost goal examples include the ball going into the net but the referee disallowing it because he or she did not see it. Nowadays, however, with goal line technology in place there is less chance of a ghost goal occurring.
Bye
Thanks everybody for listening and remember to come along to our site at www.languagecaster.com for lots more football language from the 2019 Women’s World Cup, quizzes and of course our weekly football-language podcast. Check out our glossary of footballing phrases here. If you have any suggestions or questions, contact us at admin@languagecaster.com
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
