Football idioms

[markohnm]

Hey guys, I would really need some help for my thesis. I'm writing about sports idioms and would like to find some more idioms connected to football (European football, soccer in USA - not American football!).

So if you do remember any please tell me about them. You can also write some connected to basketball if you know any, but football is priority.

Thanks

[konungursvia]

He "has got pace"... means he is a fast runner.

They need practice on "set plays" means corner kicks, penalty kicks, structured actions.

[Tdol]

It's a game of two halves.

[MrPedantic]

It's a big ask.
He was immense.
to nutmeg
on the park
striker's tackle
spotkick
set piece
to kick the ball into row Z
to dive
in the box
in the technical area
an early shower
early doors
hit the woodwork
stepovers
to turn inside
long ball
route one
olé football
an assist
dead ball situation
the 12th man
on the bench
first touch
to hoof
to play someone onside
holding role
diamond (formation)
in the hole
to play off the striker
10 men behind the ball
the catenaccio
total football
4-4-2
celebration

MrP

[markohnm]

Hey, thanks for the help so far. But if you remember any more, just keep them coming. I need quite a lot of them.

And also, MrPedantic, thanks for all the idioms, but coudl you help me with the meaning of the following:

It's a big ask.
stepovers
route one
to hoof

Thanks

[MrPedantic]

Hello Mark,

"It's a big ask" - "It is a very difficult task" (this phrase is not unique to football, but is mostly heard in that context).

"Stepovers" - this is what Ronaldo does, when he allows the ball to run in front of him, while constantly moving his right foot from one side of the ball to the other. (It is designed to confuse an opponent who wants to tackle you.)

"Route one" - a long ball up the pitch from your own penalty area to a striker. ("Route one" because it is a slightly basic way to proceed: to be contrasted with slow progress up the pitch by means of short passes.)

"To hoof" - to kick the ball hopefully and with great force up the pitch, to no one in particular, in a not particularly stylish fashion. Sometimes the crowd will accompany such a clearance with a shout of "hoof!".

Best wishes,

MrP

[engee30]

This one might be pretty useful when your team has lost the game, and the referee is the only person on earth to be blame for the loss:
We was robbed!

[engee30]

BBC World Service | Learning English | Vocabulary - football

[markohnm]

that's great guys, and thanks for the bbc site.

But I also need to find some idioms, that are used in everyday life, but they originate from football...

For example: in the nick of time, keep the ball rolling, get a kick out of

Again, tnaks for any help

[stefan_kar]

stonewall penalty
miss a sitter
screamer