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Hull v Swansea features in our predictions spotlight at the end of the show. We also try to guess the results of Bournemouth v West Ham and Liverpool v Burnley. To start, however, we review some of the football stories from this week. We will then introduce some football language including ‘retrospective action’ and ‘long ball game‘. Of course, you can read the transcript for the show in our post below (Damian = DF, Damon = DB).
Learn English Through Football Podcast: 2017 – Hull vs Swansea
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Transcript of the show
DB: You’re listening to languagecaster’s football language podcast. My name is Damon and I am here in a slightly cloudy and cool Tokyo. Last week I couldn’t make it to the podcast with Damian, and this week, it’s Damian’s turn! Unfortunately he will not be with us this week as he’s taking a well-earned rest and watching football with friends and family, but fingers crossed, we’ll both be back next week.
Line up
So, today, we will start with the good, the bad and the ugly, which is our short review section looking at some of the football news from the past week – look out for Barcelona featuring! After that, we have a couple of phrases from football to talk about, and this week they are ‘retrospective action‘ and ‘long ball game‘. We finish off with our predictions section with three games from the Premier League: Liverpool taking on Burnley, Bournemouth hosting West Ham, and a relegation six-pointer, Hull against Swansea.
Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and that message was in Catalan. Drop us a line at admin@languagecaster.com if you have the message a€œYou are listening to languagecastera€ in your language.
Now next up we have the good, the bad and the ugly.
Good
Let’s start with Barcelona’s incredibly come-back against PSG in the Champions League. Trailing 4-0 after the first leg, the Catalan side needed 4 to force extra time. They got three but then the French side scored an away goal, which meant Barcelona had to score another 3 to win with only 30 minutes to go. There were two minutes of the 90 minutes left when Neymar slotted home a fabulous free kick, and in the five minutes of extra time, Barcelona did the impossible and scored two more to record a fantastic come back.
Bad
Staying with the Champions League in Europe, bad again for Arsenal who were thrashed 10-2 over the two legs by Bayern Munich. The Gunners were destroyed 5-1 again, but this time in front of their home fans, many of whom are now calling for their manager, Arsène Wenger, to go. The French manager, who has been at the club for over 20 years, will next have to get past a big banana skin in the FA Cup this weekend, when the London side take on minnows Lincoln.
Controversial
To finish, a little bit ugly and definitely controversial. In Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth last week there were several incidents involving Bournemouth’s centre back, Tyrone Mings, and United’s forward Ibrahimovic. And their battle on the pitch ended up with both facing retrospective action – Mings for an alleged stamp on the Swede’s head, and Zlatan for an alleged elbow in the face in revenge. The stamp and the elbow are ugly, but the controversy is how can you decide when something is deliberate? Many believe that Mings’ stamp was accidental, while others are convinced it was deliberate. The player says it was an accident. Having looked at it, the English FA has decided to ban the Bournemouth player for 5 games. A controversial decision on something so subjective.
Follow us
Now, just to let you know, you can follow usA on twitter where our handle is @languagecaster, and find us on Facebook Learn English Through Football, We have an Instagram page and of course you can contact us directly at admin@languagecaster.com. We’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of the show! Get in touch and spread the word! Thanks to Patty Sanchez, Serkan Emerce, Ric Macalinao, and English This Way for following us recently!
Quiz question
Right, now it’s quiz question time. We heard about Barcelona coming back from a 4-0 first leg defeat to go through 6-5 on aggregate, but what was the biggest come back before that in the European Champions League? Answer at the end of the show.
Now next up we explain some football language that has emerged from the week.
Football Language: Retrospective Action
Now, this not exclusively a football term, but this phrase can be heard quite frequently in the game. The meaning of the word a€˜retrospectivea€˜ is to look back at something. If a referee sees a player doing something wrong in a match he or she can book or send off the player. However, if the referee does not see the incident then the FA (the organising body of the game in England) has the power to give (impose) a punishment or sanction. As this means looking back at the incident it is known as retrospective action. And we’ve already heard an example of this, as Manchester United striker and Burnley defender Tyrone Mings faced retrospective action after their clash last weekend.
Football Language: Long Ball Game
Predictions
OK, we’re nearly at the end of the show and that means it’s predictions time. Remember to try your luck in our monthly predictions – our March one has just started – or for the whole season by coming along to our site languagecaster.com and then clicking on the link on the top of the homepage. Damian’s currently on 200 points, way out in front while I am on 157.
Bournemouth v West Ham
Bournemouth come into this tie with big worries. they haven’t won a game since the 1st of January and are in real danger of sliding in to the relegtion zone. Their centre back Mings is out, serving a 5 game suspension, but they may feel more positive after holding on for a point at Old Trafford. West Ham, meanwhile will be hoping to do the double over the south coast team – the Hammers won back at the start of the season 1-0. I’m going to go for a 1-1 draw.
Hull v Swansea
This is a six-pointer at the bottom of the table with Hull hosting Swansea. Hull have been in great form at home while the Swans don’t travel that well, so you could expect a home win here. If Hull lose, they will be in big trouble, and I’m going to go not with a home win but with another draw – this time 0-0.
Liverpool vs Burnley
And our last game is Liverpool v Burnley. Liverpool, who seem to struggle against teams lower down the league, will be hoping they don’t have another slip up. Burnley, who have the worst away record in the league, will try an frustrate the Reds by playing tight at the back and not pushing up too far. There are some injury doubts about Liverpool’s forward, Firmino, but I think a 2-0 home victory is on the cards.
Quiz Answer
OK, just before we go here is the answer to our quiz question. We asked you which team, before Barcelona came back from 4-0 to beat PSG over two legs, held the record for the best comeback. The answer is Deportivo La Coruña , who were beaten 4-1 by AC Milan in the first leg, but overturned that result with a 4-0 home win in the quarter finals of 2003-2004.
Good bye
And that wraps it up for another week. Enjoy all the football this weekend and see you next week. Ta-rah!
Check out our glossary of footballing phrases here
If you have any suggestions, contact us at admin@languagecaster.com
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
