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 be fancied: When a team is expected to do well, favourites
Example: Cluj drew at home with much fancied Chelsea in the Champions League.
- To top (the group): To lead the table, to be first in the group
Example: Famagusta drew 0-0 and top the group along with Inter Milan.
To be brought down to earth: To be brought back to reality
Example: Some of the bigger sides in the Champions League were brought down to earth after results this week.
- To overcome: To win, to beat
Example: Liverpool overcame PSV 3-1 in the Champions League.
- To be on target: To score a goal
Example: Robbie Keane was finally on target for Liverpool against PSV.
- To break his duck: To finally score his first goal
Example: Keane broke his duck with that goal against PSV – his first goal for his new club.
- A piledriver: A rocket, a very powerful shot
Example: Steven Gerrard scored with a piledriver against PSV.
- To step down: To be forced to quit, to resign
Example: The Polish FA may have to step down from co-hosting the 2012 European Championships.
- Ligament: Part of the knee
Example: Didier Drogba and Paul Scholes both picked up ligament damage after Champions League matches last week.
- A blow: A setback, bad luck
Example: The injuries to Carvalho, Drogba and Deco have been a huge blow to Chelsea.
- A brawl: A huge fight involving many people
Example: There was an ugly brawl between players from Gremio and Internacional in the Brazilian League last week.
