Soccer Glossary
'ave it! 1.Encouragement to shoot the ball
(c) 1.Grammatical symbol used to designate a player as the team's captain.
1 1.Soccer jersey number, worn always by the starting goalkeeper
1-2 1.Alternative reference for One-Two
10 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the most skillful player in a team, usually an attacker or midfielder
11 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the left midfielder
12th player 1.Common reference to the attending spectators at a match, who actively support their team
18 1.Short reference for the Big box 2.Short reference for the 18-yard line
18-yard line 1.Line from a standard soccer pitch, part of the big box. It is perpendicular to the goalline, but located 18 yards away from it.
1966 1.Well remembered year in soccer, when England won the World Cup as hosts.
2 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the right fullback
3 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the sweeper or center defender
3-2-5 1.Soccer formational system considered as the parent of modern tactical positioning. As it became popular, it lowered scoring considerably and introduced a possession-style of play. The 3-2-5 formation is not used by competitive teams anymore. This system is often called W-M.
3-4-3 1.Soccer formational system, that employs three defenders, four midfielders and three attackers. It originated during the late 1970s in Holland.
3-5-2 1.Soccer formational system, that employs three defenders, five midfielders and two attackers. It emerged in the late 1980s early 1990s as a response to the 4-4-2 system.
4 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the left fullback
4-3-3 1.Popular soccer formation, which employs four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers. It was developed by the Dutch in the 1970s. The system's balanced positioning and simple role definition made it very common amongst youth teams. Many clubs still use it today.
4-4-2 1.Very popular formational system, that uses four defenders, four midfielders and two attackers.
45 1.First half of a standard soccer match 2.Last minute of the first half in a standard soccer match
4-5-1 1.Defensive soccer formation, which employs four defenders, five midfielders and one attacker. Also known as the Horseshoe formation
5 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the defensive midfielder or center fullback
5-3-2 1.Soccer formational system, that uses five defenders, three midfielders and two attackers. The 5-3-2 is considered is a defensively oriented formation.
5-4-1 1.Very defensive soccer formation, which designates five defenders, four midfielders and one attacker.
50/50 1.Loose ball contested by two opposing players
6 1.Short reference for the Small box 2.Short reference for the 6-yard line 3.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the left winger or left midfielder
6-yard line 1.Line that is a part of the small box, and is also perpendicular to the goalline. The 6-yard line is where goal kicks are taken from.
7 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the right winger or right midfielder
8 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the left midfielder or left winger
9 1.Soccer jersey number, traditionally worn by the goalscorer or the main attacker in a team
90 1.Alternative name for Upper 90 2.The full time in a standard soccer match
a la Meazza 1.Scoring a goal or making a play by the use of excessive or fancy dribbling skills. Named after Italian attacker Giuseppe Meazza
a la Piola 1.Scoring a goal or striking the ball with a bicycle kick. Named after Italian attacker Silvio Piola, the "inventor" of the bicycle kick
A League 1.USA's second soccer division
AC 1.Abbrevation used as a title by some soccer clubs. It stands short for Associated Club.
Actor 1.Soccer player, who simulates a foul in order to waste time or get the enemy team penalized
Advantage 1.Short term for the Advantage Law 2.An advantageous result in a soccer match
Advantage Law 1.Law in the game of soccer, which gives the right of a team that has been fouled to continue playing considering that they have an advantageous play unfolding.
AFC 1.Abbrevation for Asian Football Confederation. An international organization that manages the individual associations of the Asian continent.
Aggregate 1.Overall or summed up result from Two-legged matches.
Les Aigles de Carthage 1.Nickname of Tunisia's national team
Ajax 1.Legendary Dutch club from Amsterdam, famous for its powerful youth program.
Albiceleste 1.Argentina's national team
Allseater 1.Soccer stadium with individual seats for every spectator. Older stadiums have long sitting benches instead.
Allstar 1.An exceptional player 2.Player that has been honored
Amsterdam Arena 1.FC Ajax's home stadium. An architectural marvel when built featuring a retractable roof.
Andres Cantor 1.Argentine soccer commentator and author, currently working at Telemundo. Cantor is involved in hundreds of matches every year.
Anticipation 1.The ability of understanding tactical situations in soccer as they unfold
Arch 1.A curved line part of a standard soccer pitch. It is located on top of each penalty box.
ASL 1.Abrevation of American Soccer League, the oldest soccer league in USA. Later, it was replaced by the NASL.
Assist 1.Pass which leads to a goal
Assistant 1.Referee who is not the main official 2.Linesman 3.Assistant coach of a team 4.Player who assists for a goal
Association football 1.Official name for the game of football or soccer
At goal 1.The position of the goalkeeper 2.Directed in the boundary of a soccer goal
Attacker 1.Offensive soccer position for players whose primary task is to score goals. Also known as Forward or Striker
Attendance 1.The total number of spectators present at a match
Auto goal 1.Own goal
Away 1.Match played away from one's home stadium 2.Directed away from one's own goal 3.Command given to a defender, encouraging him to clear the ball
Ay-yildizlilar 1.Nick name for the Turkish national team
Azteca 1.Mexico's national stadium. Azteca Stadium has a capacity of over 100 000 and is one of the largest stadiums in the World. The 1986 World Cup Final was held at Azteca Stadium.
B team 1.Reserve team
Back 1.The players who make up the defensive formation of a team 2.Fullback or Defender 3.Commonly used hint, which suggests to the ball carrier that he has a back pass option available (usually given by the person providing the support)
Back and face 1.Instruction, usually given after a turnover, evoking players who are out of position to drop back and defend
Back door 1.Alternative name for Far post
Backdoor 1.Alternative name for Far post
Backheel 1.Technique of kicking the ball by using the heel. Brazil's Socrates has been crowned as the all-time master of the backheel.
Backup 1.Providing cover for a player who is pressuring the ball 2.Available players on a team's bench
Bala 1.Nickname of Bulgarian international Krasimir Balakov
Balkan Lions 1.Nickname of Bulgaria's national team
Ball 1.Spherical object used for playing Association football 2.A pass or shot 3.The game of Association football or soccer 4.Possession of the ball in a soccer match
Ball watching 1.Playing in a match without getting involved
Banana kick 1.Special kick in soccer which causes the ball to swerve horizontally
Banner 1.Flag or sign which fans display at matches to support their teams. Sometimes, fans expose racist or offensive signs, an act for which their team usually gets penalized.
Bar 1.Alternative name for Goal post
The Barbie Dolls 1.Nickname of Romania's national team at World Cup 1998.
Barça 1.Short reference for FC Barcelona Spain
Barcelona 1.FC Barcelona. Famous Spanish club
Barclaycard Premier League 1.England's highest professional football division
Beach football 1.Small-sided soccer, usually played on a sandy surface such as a beach. Copacabana Beach in Rio, Brazil is considered as the Mecca of Beach soccer.
Becks 1.Nickname of English international David Beckham
Bench 1.Substitute players of a team 2.Sitting area for the non-playing staff and substitutes of a team, that is used during a match.
Bend 1.The act of Bending the ball
Bending 1.Curving the horizontal trajectory of the ball by using a special kicking technique
BFU 1.Abbrevation for Bulgarian Football Union
Bicycle kick 1.Type of kick in soccer, where the player jumps off the ground and strikes the ball when it's over his head. Also known as Bike or Scissors kick
Big box 1.Short reference for Penalty box
Bike 1.Short reference for Bicycle kick
Black Stars 1.Nickname of Ghana's national team
Blast 1.A very hard shot
Les Bleus 1.France's national team
Bomb 1.A very hard shot
Bonboniera 1.Argentina's national stadium.
Book 1.The act of booking
Booking 1.A yellow or red card 2.Carding a player and recoding his name and/or number on the list of offenders in a match
Boot 1.The act of forcing or clearing the ball away
Box 1.Short term for a Penalty box
Break 1.Beating a defender in a one-on-one confrontation 2.Alternative name for Breakaway 3.Run which penetrates the enemy defense
Breakaway 1.One-on-one confrontation between a keeper and an opposing attacker with the ball
Bullet 1.A very hard shot 2.A very fast player
Bullets 1.Nickname of Zambia's national team
Bundesliga 1.Germany's top professional league
Burn 1.The act of beating an enemy player by the use of speed or dribbling
Bus 1.Transportation vehicle used by most soccer teams
Calcio 1.Italy's top soccer division 2.The game of Association football, from Italian
Cap 1.Unit for measurement of international matches. One start in an international match equals one Cap, even if the player gets substituted or ejected. Entering an international match as a substitute also counts as one Cap
Capacity 1.The maximum amount of spectators that a particular stadium can fit
Captain 1.Player who has captaincy of in a team.
Captaincy 1.The role of being captain in a team. Captaincy is usually given to the player with most matches or caps for the team.
Card 1.An official warning given to players for infringement of the laws in a soccer match. There are two types of cards depending on the severity of the infringement. Red cards result in the expulsion of the player. The yellow card is given as a caution. Two yellows in one match result in a red card.
Carioca 1.Nickname of the Brazilian national team
Caution 1.An official warning given to a soccer player who has infringed the laws of the game 2.Yellow card
La Celeste 1.Nickname of Uruguay's national team
Center 1.The act of Centering the ball 2.The circle mark in the middle of a standard soccer pitch 3.Area of the field which excludes the flanks
Centering 1.Crossing or serving the ball into the middle of the field
Center forward 1.Attacker who plays on the tip of a team's forward line. Center forwards are usually tall and good at heading the ball. Also known as Striker
Central defender 1.The defender who plays in the middle of the last line of defense. Also known as Stopper
Championato Mondiale 1.World Cup, from Italian
Champions League 1.Short reference for UEFA Champions League
Championship Manager 1.Established soccer management simulation series on the PC
Champs League 1.Short reference for UEFA Champions League
Check 1.The act of Checking
Checking 1.Moving toward or in direction of the ball with the intent of receiving a pass
Chess Players 1.Nickname of Croatia's national team
Chip 1.Type of kick in soccer that results in a lofted ball 2.Ball which is played above ground
Chipolopolo 1.Nickname of Zambia's national team
Classic result 1.The 3-0 result, considered a "classic" display of superiority
Clean 1.Conforming to the game laws or regulations 2.A goal that has not been scored on
Clean sheet 1.Performance by a goalkeeper which resulted in a shutout
Clear 1.The act of Clearing
Clearance 1.Kicking, punching or heading the ball away from danger
Clearing 1.The condition of using a Clearance
Les Cocks 1.Nickname of the French national team
CONCACAF 1.Abbrevation for Confederation Norte-Centroamericana y Del Caribe de Footbal. The soccer federation which manages the nations from Central and North America
Cone 1.Training device used for marking specific point on a pitch
Contain 1.Alternative name for Jockey
Containing 1.Alternative name for Jockeying
Copacabana 1.Famous Brazilian beach in Rio de Janeiro, considered the Mecca of beach soccer. Many Brazilian stars have been produced in Copacabana
Crack 1.Vulnarbility in a defensive line 2.The act of striking the ball with power
Cranes 1.Nickname of Uganda's national team
Cross 1.The act of Centering
Crossing 1.Alternative term for Centering
Cross bar 1.Horizontal goalpost which connects the two vertical ones. The Cross bar is 24 feet in length
Crowd 1.Attending spectators at a match
Cup 1.Trophy 2.Tournament 3.National playoff style of tournament secondary in importance only to the national championship. The English FA Cup is the oldest tournament in football history
Curl 1.The act of Curving or Bending
Curve 1.The act of Curving or Bending
Curving 1.Technique of kicking in soccer, which causes the ball move in a curving horizontal trajectory. There are two types of curves, based on which part of the foot is used, the inside curve and the outside curve.
Cut 1.The act of Cutting
Cutting 1.Moving the ball across the body by the use of dribbling
D 1.Letter used in soccer statistics which indicates a Draw
Dangerous play 1.Endagering the well-being of nearby opponents by raising or swinging the foot above waist level 2.Tackling for the ball with the studs raised forward
Danish Dynamite 1.Nickname of Denmark's national team
Dead ball 1.Static situation such as a free kick or corner
Defender 1.Defensively oriented position for players who have the primary task of denying the opposition of scoring
Defensive midfielder 1.Specific position in soccer, center midfielder with defensive functions
Dent 1.Slight push, applied in one-on-one challenges
The Desert Foxes 1.Nickname of the Algerian national team
Diables Rouges 1.Nickname of Congo's national team
Diamond 1.Midfielder alignment strategy with two wingers, one attacking and defensive midfielder
Die Mannschaft 1.Nickname of the German national team
Direct 1.Short reference for Direct kick
Direct kick 1.Type of free kick, from which the player taking it is allowed to score without outside intervention
Distributor 1.Player who passes or serves the ball. Used when talking about certain drills
Dive 1.Leaping technique used by goalkeepers for catching flying balls 2.Leaping technique used for heading the ball 3.Simulated fall, used by players who pretend that a foul has been committed against them
Division 1.Group of teams playing all competing for a top position.
Double header 1.Two matches played one after the other
Double team 1.The act of Double teaming
Double teaming Pressuring the enemy with the ball, simultaneously by two or more teammates
Draft 1.Selection of players recruited by higher level teams
Dressing room 1.Soccer locker room
Dribbling move 1.Manipulating the ball done with the purpose of beating a defender in one-on-one confrontations
Drill 1.Technical, tactical or physical exercise designed to improve soccer performance
Drive 1.Short reference for Instep Drive 2.The act of Driving
Driving 1.Kicking the ball with power
Drop ball 1.Restart in soccer, used when a match has been stopped in the case of emergency
Ecureuils 1.Nickname of Benin's national team
El Matador 1.Nickname of former Mexican international Luis Hernandes
El Mundo Deportivo 1.Popular sports newspaper from Spain
El Tri 1.Nickname of Mexico's national team
EPL 1.Abbrevation for English Premier League
Equalizer 1.Goal which evens up the score
ESPN 1.Abbrevation for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Today, ESPN is a sports media network that dominates most of North America
Estadio 1.Stadium, from Spanish
Les Etalons 1.Nickname of Burkina Faso's national team
EURO 1.Short reference for the UEFA European Championship
European Champions League 1.Alternative name for the UEFA Champions League
European Championship 1.Short reference for the UEFA European Championship
Fake 1.The act of Faking
Faking 1.Appying a dribbling move to trick the enemy 2.Simulating injury to waste time or hurt the enemy team
Fancy 1.Technique or motion executed with excessive flair
Far post 1.The furthest vertical goal post from the ball
FC 1.Abbrevation for Football Club
Feint 1.Alternative name for Fake
Feinting 1.Alternative name for Faking
Les Fennecs 1.Nickname of the Algerian national team
Fenomeno 1.Nickname of Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo
Field 1.Alternative name for Playing Pitch
FIFA 1.Abbrevation for Federation Internationale de Football Association, the international governing body of soccer. FIFA is the largest and most powerful athletic federation in the World. It was founded in 1904 in Switzerland. FIFA's job is to promote the game of soccer and maintain its rules known as The Laws of the Game. FIFA also deals with legal laws related to contracts, penalizes soccer federations and may award money to certain nations for development. Basically, FIFA spreads evenly the profits which circulate in the soccer world. Held every four years, the World Cup is FIFA's largest spectacle. The tournament features top teams from the continental federations UEFA, COMNEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF and AFC. It is FIFA's job to decide the ratio of teams from each continent as well as the number of teams present at the World Cup.
FIFA Player of the Year 1.Annual award given to the best soccer player in the world by FIFA
Final 1.Ending result of a match 2.Last match of a soccer tournament, which determines the winner
Fourth official 1.Reserve referee who remains on the sideline during an entire match. He checks the incoming substitutes and does not enter the pitch unless one of the other officials gets injured
Final whistle 1.Last three consecutive signals given by the referee, which confirm the end of a match
Finish 1.The act of Finishing
Finishing 1.Scoring a goal
Fist 1.The Act of Fisting
Fisting 1.Clearing technique used by goalkeepers by punching the ball with their hands
Flag 1.Short reference for Corner flag 2.Alternative term for Banner 3.Small banner logo of a team, usually triangular. Captains exchange them sometimes, just before kickoff
Flank 1.Part of the Playing pitch, which does not include the middle
Flat four 1.Defensive line made up of two Stoppers and two Fullbacks, without a Sweeper
Floater 1.Uncontrolled and lofted pass or shot
Footwork 1.Ability to dribble or control the ball 2.Measurement of coordination in technical skills
Footy 1.Alternative reference for Association football
Formation 1.Strategic positioning that explains the general form a team. Formations can be written numerically as A-B-C, where as A represents the number of defenders, B, midfielders and C, attackers. Also known as System
Forward 1.Alternative term for Attacker. Mostly used in the United States 2.Direction to one's enemy goal
Fresh legs 1.Substitute who has not played in the current soccer match
Frog 1.Dribbling move, where the player leaps with the ball caught between his feet
Full time 1.The end of a soccer match, usually 90 minutes
Fullback 1.Alternative name for Defender
La Furia Espanola 1.Nickname of the Spanish national team
Futebol 1.Association football, from Portuguese or Brazilian
Futsal 1.Indoor soccer
Game 1.Alternative name for Association football 2.Alternative name for Match. Mostly used in the United Stated
Gazzetta dello Sport 1.Italian sports newspaper concerning soccer
Gerena 1.Training facility of the Bulgarian PFC Levski Sofia.
Giants stadium 1.Home ground of the New York Metrostars. It's located in New Jersey and has a capacity of about 80,000.
Give and go 1.Alternative name for Wall pass
Glancing header 1.Heading technique in soccer, where upon contact the player turns his head (glances) in the direction of his aim
Goal 1.Rectangular structure formed by three posts, which may also include a net and additional supporting devices. The standard soccer goal is made up of two vertical posts, about 8 feet high. The two vertical posts are connected at the top by a crossbar which is 24 feet in length. 2.Unit in the point system used to measure the score of a soccer game. A goal is scored when ball passes through the posts of a goal.
Goal area 1.Alternative name for Small box
Goal line 1.Two marking lines in a standard soccer pitch, which connect the Sidelines at the four corners
Goalie 1.Short reference for Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper 1.Player in a soccer team who is allowed to use his hands in the Penalty box. The Goalkeeper's job is to protect his team's goal from enemy attempts to score. Also known as Keeper or Goaltender
Goalkeeping 1.The condition of playing Goalkeeper
Goaltender 1.Alternative name for Goalkeeper
De Goddelijke Kanaries 1.Brazil's national team
Going around 1.Beating an enemy through dribbling or speed. Mostly used in Britain
Golaço 1.Goal, from Spanish
Golden ball 1.Annual award given to the best footballer in Europe. The Golden ball is the most prestigious individual award in soccer. Nominees are selected by France Football Magazine and the winner is chosen by a global vote of national coaches across Europe
Golden boot 1.Annual award given to the most productive Goal scorer in European club championships 2.Award given to the player with most goals at the World Cup tournament
Golden globe 1.Annual award given to the FIFA Player of the Year
Golden goal 1.Recent rule in soccer, which states that the first goal scored in overtime wins the game. The 1996 European Championship was the first major tournament where this rule was enforced. Ironically, Germany won the tournament thanks to a Golden goal by Oliver Birhoff against the Czech Republic
The Greens 1.Nickname of the Algerian national team 2.Nickname of Libya's national team
Ground 1.Alternative term for Stadium 2.Alternative term for Playing pitch
Gunner 1.Alternative term for Attacker or Goal scorer 2.Supporter of FC Arsenal 3.Player of FC Arsenal
Half 1.One half of a soccer pitch 2.Short reference for Halfway line. 3.Short reference for Half time
Half break 1.Alternative name Half time
Half volley 1.Technique of volleying the ball, or kicking it while it's in the air
Halfback 1.Alternative name for Midfielder. Mostly used in the United States
Half time 1.The end of the first half of a soccer match 2.The period of time between two playing halves. In a standard soccer match, Half time is 15 minutes
Halfway line 1.Marking line in a standard soccer pitch that separates the entire field into two equal sections. The halfway line is parallel to the Goal line
Hand of God 1.Diego Armando Maradona's unnoticed illegal goal which eliminated England at the 1986 World Cup. Diego used his hand to hit the ball over English keeper Peter Shilton. He later claimed that "Even if there was a hand, it was the hand of God!"
Harambee Stars 1.Nickname of Kenya's national team
Harpastum 1.Ancient Roman game, similar to rugby
Hat trick 1.The scoring of three goals in a single match by one player
Head 1.The act of heading the ball
Head coach 1.The manager or main coach of a soccer team
Header 1.Technique used for striking the ball by using the head, more precisely the forehead 2.Alternative term for Match
Heading 1.The condition of using a Header
De Hengsten 1.Nickname of Burkina Faso's national team
High performance 1.Playing soccer with a high work rate over a long duration 2.Alternative term for Physical conditioning
Les Hirondelles 1.Nickname of Burundi's national team
Home 1.A team's home stadium
Horses 1.Nickname of Burkina Faso's national team
Horseshoe formation 1.Alternative name for 4-5-1
Indirect kick 1.Free kick from which direct scoring is not allowed
Indomitable Lions 1.Nickname of Cameroon's national team
Injury time 1.Time added at the end of a match, usually to compensate for interruptions during the game like dealing with injured players
Inside curve 1.Kicking technique for curving the ball, where the player uses the area around the base of his big toe
Instep 1.Area of the foot, the inside part of the shoe laces 2.Short reference for Instep drive
Instep drive 1.Kicking technique used for striking the ball with power
Inswinger 1.Cross curving towards the enemy goal
Itamba 1.Nickname of Burundi's national team
Jack's Army 1.Nickname of Ireland's national team
Jersey 1.Alternative name for Shirt
Jockey 1.The act of Jockeying
Jockeying 1.Staying in front of an enemy who is carrying the ball without actually tackling him
Juggle 1.The act of Juggling
Juggling 1.Maintaining the ball aloft by repeatedly striking, usually with the foot or head
Kamata 1.The Dagger, from Bulgarian. Nickname of Bulgarian attacker Hristo Stoichkov
Kanaries 1.Nickname of Brazil's national team
Keep 1.Short reference for Goalkeeper 2.The act of Goalkeeping
Keeping 1.Short reference for Goalkeeping
Keep away 1.Soccer game in which two teams are trying to maintain possession of the ball
Keeper 1.Short reference for Goalkeeper
Kick 1.The act of Kicking 2.Alternative name for Shot
Kick and run 1.Impuslive style of soccer lacking an organized approach in offense. The ball is played randomly according to the first available opportunity
Kicking 1.Technique which involved striking the ball with the foot
Kickoff 1.Dead ball situation which is executed at the start of each half and after every goal
L 1.Letter, used in soccer statistics to indicate a loss
Laws 1.Short reference for Laws of The Game
Laws of the Game 1.FIFA's official set of guidelines used for conducting a match of Association football
Lead 1.Amount of goals by which a team is leading
League 1.Collection of teams competing against each other in a tournament 2.Alternative name for Division
Left 1.Left side of the field, when viewed from a team's own half in direction of the enemy goal
Left footed 1.Player who is more comfortable playing with his left foot
Leg 1.One match from a Two-legged encounter
Libero 1.Alternative name for Sweeper
LIJSL 1.Abbrevation for Long Island Junior Soccer League
Linesman 1.Assistant referee who runs along the throw in lines of a pitch remain vigilant for close offside and throw in calls
Lineup 1.Short term for Starting lineup
Lions Indomptables 1.Nickname of Cameroon's national team
Lions of Teranga 1.Nickname of Senegal's national team
Loft 1.Alternative name for Chip
Lone Star 1.Nickname of Liberia's national team
Long shot 1.Shot at goal, taken from a long distance
Low-Ubangui Fawns 1.Nickname of the national team of the Central African Republic
Maestro 1.Skillful playmaker who "conducts" the offensive movement of a team
Magician 1.Very skillful player
Man on 1.Warning term used by footballers to caution a teammate who has the ball that he is being pressured
Manager 1.Alternative name for Head coach. Mostly used in Britain
Mannschaft 1.Nickname of Germany's national team
Maracana 1.Legendary stadium, built solely for football. Maracana has a capacity of about 130 000 and is located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Mark 1.The act of Marking 2.Enemy player who is being marked by a defender
Marker 1.Enemy defender who is marking a player
Marking 1.Covering an enemy player with the intent of limiting his options
Match 1.Standard game of Association football, usually played in two 45-minute halves
Matthews 1.Famous dribbling move in soccer
Meridian Match 1.First Bulgarian daily football newspaper
Mexican wave 1.Technique used by spectators at a stadium, that produces the visual effect of a wave going trough the stands. It was invented during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico
Midfielder 1.Soccer position for players who deals with both the offensive and defensive matters in a match
Miss 1.Unsuccessful finish
Mondial 1.Alternative name for World Cup
Mondiale 1.Short reference for Championato Mondiale
Morale 1.Psychological condition of a soccer player or team
Move 1.Short reference for Dribbling move
MVP 1.Abbrevation for Most Valuable Player
NASL 1.Abbrevation for North American Soccer League
National Eleven 1.Nickname of Tunisia's national team 2.National team of a country
Net 1.Device around a goal which eliminates close calls by extending outward from the posts. 2.The act of Netting
Netting 1.The condition of Finishing
New York Cosmos 1.Professional soccer team from New York, that played in the NASL. Pele finished his career at the Cosmos
North American Soccer League 1.Soccer league of professional teams across USA and Canada. The NASL attracted many stars past their prime including Pele, George Best and Johan Cruyff
Number 1.Integer printed on the back of a player's jersey. Soccer numbers usually start from 1 (for goalkeepers) and go up to 11 (for left winger.)
Nutmeg 1.Dribbling move in which a player slips the ball between the legs of an opponent.
Oberliga 1.Germany's second professional division
Ocean Stars 1.Nickname of Somalia's national team
Official Caution 1.Warning given by the referee to a disobeying player 2.Alternative name for Yellow card
Offside 1.One of the most misunderstood laws in soccer. A player is in offside, if he is passed the ball at the time when there is one or no enemies between him and the enemy goal line.
Offside trap 1.Tactical method used to trick enemy attackers by leaving them in offside. Defensive lines that use the offside trap will usually push up when the ball moves away from their goal.
Old Traford 1.Manchester United's home ground
One footed 1.Player who only has one effective foot
One-two 1.Alternative name for Wall pass
Onside 1.Not offside
De Ontembare Leeuwen 1.Nickname of Cameroon's national team
Onze National 1.Nickname of Tunisia's national team
Oranje 1.Nickname of the Dutch national team
Outside curve 1.Technique used to curve the ball, in which the player uses the outside of his foot
Outswinger 1.Cross which is curving away from the enemy goal.
Overlap 1.Short reference for Overlapping run
Overlapping run 1.Attacking run in which a player goes behind the ball carrier
Own goal 1.Goal scored by a player in his own net
Palancas Negras 1.Nickname of Angola's national team
Panels 1.Rectangular patches of fabric which make up the outside of a standard ball used in soccer. Traditionally, a ball is made up of 32 panels
Park 1.Sports complex, usually including a soccer stadium 2.Alternative name for Stadium. Mostly used in Britain
Pass 1.Distributing or handing the ball over to a teammate
Penalty 1.Short reference for Penalty kick
Penalty area 1.Alternative name for Penalty box
Penalty box 1.Rectangular marking in a regular soccer pitch. The penalty box is 44 yards in width and 18 in depth. Inside the penalty box, there is a "small box" which is 20 by 6 yards.
Penalty kick 1.Direct free kick taken at a marked point, 11 meters away for the goalline. In a penalty kick, the ball has to be shot at goal and cannot be passed.
Penalty shot 1.Alternative name for Penalty kick
PFC 1.Abbrevation for Professional Football Club
Pharaohs 1.Egypt's national team
Phase 1.Stage of a soccer tournament or championship
The Phenomenon 1.Nickname of Brazilian attacker Ronaldo
Picking up 1.Covering or marking an enemy player.
Pickup 1.The act of Picking up 2.Short reference for Pickup game
Pickup game 1.Unorganized recreational soccer match
Pitch 1.Short reference for Playing pitch
Placement 1.Direction or accuracy of a shot or pass
Playmaker 1.Skillful midfielder who coordinates the attacking movement of a team
Playoff 1.Knock out stage of a soccer tournament
Points 1.Unit from a team positioning system used at many soccer tournaments. According to the latest FIFA regulations, 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a loss. Winning teams used to get 2 point in the early 1990's, but FIFA changed it to 3, in order to stimulate attacking soccer.
Pok a Tok 1.Ancient Meso-American game, which incorporated techniques somewhat similar to soccer
Possession 1.Keeping the ball in control
Post 1.Short reference for Goal post
Predator 1.Popular brand of Adidas soccer boots marketed by David Beckham
Preliminary 1.Match whose outcome determines which of the participants will advance to a tournament
Premier league 1.Short reference for Barclaycard Premier League
Premiership 1.Short reference for Barclaycard Premier League
Pressure 1.The act of Pressuring
Pressuring 1.Limiting the options of the enemy player in possession of the ball 2.Challenging the player in possession of the ball
Primera Division 1.Spain's top football division
Qualification 1.Alternative name for Preliminary match 2.System of Preliminary matches that determine which of the participants will advance to a tournament
R-9 1.Nickname of Brazilian international Ronaldo
Red 1.Short reference for Red card
Red card 1.The most severe penalty that can be given by an official to a player. According to FIFA rules, a red card suspends the player from the remainder of a game and prohibits him from participating in the next one.
Red Devils 1.Nickname of Belgium's national team 2.Nickname of Congo's national team 3.Nickname of Manchester United Football Club
Red Sea Boys 1.Nickname of Eritrea's national team
Ref 1.Short reference for Referee
Referee 1.Match official who conducts the game according to the regulations
Relegation 1.In club soccer, dropping down to a lower division
Restart 1.Free kick, corner, throw-in or any type of action that brings the ball back into play
Ribbon 1.Special arm band worn by a team's at soccer matches
RICE 1.Abbrevation for Rest Ice Compress Elevate, method used for treating soccer injuries
Right 1.Right side of the field, when viewed from a team's own half towards the enemy goal
Right footed 1.Player who feels more comfortable playing his right foot
De Rode Duivels 1.Nickname of Belgium's national team
Roster 1.List of players playing at a team
Round 1.Specific stage of a tournament 2.One round consists of a number of matches played between the teams in a division. The number of rounds in a particular league can be found with the formula R = E x (T - 1) where E equals the number of encounters between the same two teams and T is the number of teams.
Round robin 1.Style of soccer tournament, in which teams starts out in groups from which the top squads advance to a playoff
Samba 1.Popular brand of Adidas indoor soccer boots
Sam's Army 1.Nickname of the US national team
Save 1.The act of handling a shot by the keeper
Scissors kick 1.Alternative name for Bicycle kick
Score sheet 1.List of the goal scorers in a match
Scorpion 1.Peculiar technique for clearing the ball, popularized by Columbia goalkeeper Rene Huigita
Scrimmage 1.Friendly training match, usually played within the players of the same team
Lo Scudetto 1.The Italian national league trophy
Sent off 1.The ejection of a soccer player from a match by red card
Serve 1.Alternative name for Cross
Session 1.Soccer practice
Set piece 1.Alternative name for Restart 2.Premeditated combination of passes
Shin guards 1.Alternative name for Shin pads
Shin pads 1.Protective gear worn to protect the area below the knees down to the ankles
Shirt 1.Part of uniform of a soccer player, covering the upper body.
Short corner 1.Corner kick that is executed with a short pass rather than a long serve into the box
Shot 1.Attempt to place the ball in the enemy goal
Shoulder to shoulder 1.Clean physical challenge
Side 1.Alternative name for Team 2.Alternative name for Touchline
Sideline 1.Alternative name for Touchline 2.Alternative name for Bench
Sleeper 1.Easy finishing opportunity
Slide 1.Short reference for slide tackle
Slide Tackle 1.Spectacular defensive technique used for depriving an opponent of the ball
Small box 1.The smaller of the two penalty boxes located in front of each goal. The small box is 20 by 6 yards in size
Soccer 1.Association football, from American
Socceroos 1.Nickname of the Australian national team
The Sparraws 1.Nickname of Burundi's national team
Spectator 1.Person attending or viewing a match
Spice boy 1.Nickname of English international David Beckham
Squad 1.Alternative name for Team
Squadra Azzurra 1.Nickname of the Italian national team
Squirrels 1.Nickname of Benin's national team
Stadium 1.Building created with the intent of holding soccer matches or other athletic events
Stallions 1.Nickname of Burkina Faso's national team
Standings 1.Table showing the placement of soccer teams in a league or division
Stands 1.Area of a stadium where the spectators are situated
Starter 1.Player on the Starting lineup
Starting lineup 1.Eleven players who begin in a match
Stick 1.The act of Sticking
Sticking 1.The condition of marking
Stopper 1.Defensive position for players situated in the middle of the defensive line
Striker 1.Alternative name for Attacker 2.Offical mascot of the 1994 World Cup
Strip 1.Alternative name for Uniform. Mostly used in Britain
Stud 1.Bottom part of a soccer player's boots
Substitute 1.Player who isn't starting in the game but is available to join from the bench
Super Eagles 1.Nickname of the Nigerian national team
Super sub 1.Player who performs his best in shorts periods of time, usually as an entering substitute
Support 1.Off-the ball run which is intended to help the ball carrier by providing him with a safe passing option
Sweeper 1.Defensive position of the last man in a soccer formation. The sweeper position is very popular in Germany. Frantz Bekenbauer is the most famous sweeper in history.
System 1.Alternative name for Formation
T 1.Letter used in soccer statistics that indicates a draw or a tie
Tackle 1.Defensive technique used for depriving an opponent of the ball
Tartan Army 1.Scotland's national team
Throw 1.Alternative name for Throw in
Throw in 1.Restart in soccer, used after the ball has gone out over one of the Sidelines
Tiebreaker 1.Goal that gives a particular team a lead in the score
Time 1.End of a match
TIPS 1.Abbrevation for Technique Intelligence Physique and Speed, ranking system for players used by Dutch clubs inclduing FC Ajax Amsterdam
Tommy Smith 1.Sports and soccer commentator for ESPN
Touchline 1.Two marking lines of a standard soccer pitch which define the limits of a field in terms of width 2.Alternative name for Bench
Trap 1.The act of trapping or settling the ball 2.Alternative name for Offside trap
Trapping 1.Technique used in soccer for controlling the ball
Treble 1.Winning all the three major European titles in the same year - National Championship, National Cup and the UEFA Champions League
Triple header 1.Three consecutive soccer matches
Tsu chu 1.Ancient Chinese game which employs techniques similar to soccer
Turf 1.Surface of a Playing field 2.Alternative name for Artificial turf
Turn 1.Warning call used between teammates to notify the player with the ball that he can safely turn with it
Two footed 1.Player who is able to effectively play with either foot
UEFA 1.Abbreviation for United European Football Association, the second largest football organization in the World. UEFA's members include all the European counties including Israel. UEFA organizes many international tournaments like the European Championship (EURO), Champions League, UEFA Cup and Intertoto.
UEFA Champions League 1.The oldest and most respected international club tournament in Europe and the World. It is held every year and features the top European clubs.
Uniform 1.Identical attire worn by an entire team. Standard uniforms are made up of a shirt, shorts and socks. National teams wear uniforms that represent the colors found on their country's flag.
Upfield 1.Direction, away from one's goal
Upper 90 1.Upper corner of a soccer goal, where the vertical and horizontal goalposts meet. Also known as Upper 90
USASA 1.Abbrevation for United States Amateur Soccer Association
Vatreni 1.Nickname of Croatia's national team
Les Verts 1.Nickname of the Algerian national team
Volley 1.Kicking technique in soccer used for striking a ball while it is above ground
W 1.Letter, used in soccer statistics to indicate a win 2.Technique used by goalkeepers for handling the ball
Wall 1.Collection of players lined up in front of a free kick taker with the purpose of limiting his shooting angle
Wall pass 1.Combination play between two teammates, where one player passes the ball to the other who returns it back with at first touch
Walyas 1.Nickname of Ethiopia's national team
Warriors 1.Nickname of Zimbabwe's national team
Wave 1.Short reference for Mexican wave
WC 1.Abbrevation for World Cup
Week 1.Single round of a league or championship
Weight 1.The amount of power applied to a shot or pass
Wide 1.Away from the middle of a pitch; on the flanks
William Webb Ellis 1.The inventor of rugby, grandfather of Association football
Wing 1.The outskirts of a soccer pitch, along each touchline 2.Alternative name for Winger
Winger 1.Soccer position of a midfielder who play along the flank
WM 1.Alternative name for 3-4-3
W-M 1.Alternative name for 3-4-3
Woodwork 1.Alternative name for Goal post
World Cup 1.Soccer tournament held every four years on a different continent. The host nation is qualified automatically. The modern World Cup is played in a standard Round robin style with eight groups by four teams. The first World Cup was held during 1930 in Uruguay as an alternative to the Olympic Championship.
Yellow 1.Alternative name for Yellow card
Yellow card 1.Penalty given to an individual player by the official. According to FIFA regulations, if the player gets two yellows in the same match, he automatically receives a red. Usually, when a player receives two yellows at the same tournament (but in different games), he is not allowed to partake in the following match.
Young Red Sea 1.Nickname of Djibouti's national team
Zebras 1.Nickname of Botswana's national team
Zizou 1.Nickname of French midfielder Zinedine Zidane