Learn English Through Football Podcast

This football language podcast looks at a short part of a match report and some of the football language used - including 'all over the place

We look back at some of the language from the incredible World Cup play-off match between Italy and North Macedonia in which the European champions were knocked out of the World Cup by a side that has never played in a World Cup before.

In this football language podcast we take a look at the upcoming play-off matches in CAF to determine the 5 African qualification spots

We look at language from the Champions League game between Real Madrid and PSG and in particular at language connected to 'collapse'...

In this week's football language podcast for learners of English, we look back at some of the language from the Manchester derby between City and United. In particular, we look at the phrases 'outclass'; 'over-run' and 'restore their lead'.

This football language podcast looks at football language connected with corner kicks - including 'inswinger'.

In this football language podcast for learners of English who love football, we look back at some of the language from two games from the last 16 of the 2022 Champions League. We also look at the phrases 'backheel'; 'get stamped on' and answer some football language questions from our listeners.

In this football language podcast for learners of English who love football, we look back at the final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations between Egypt and Senegal.

This football language podcast looks at some of the football language connected to Kidderminster's amazing FA Cup run.

Unstoppable header: We look at ways to describe Virgil Van Dijk's headed goal against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

In this football language podcast for learners of English who love football, we look back at week 2 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations from Cameroon.

In this football language podcast for learners of English who love the beautiful game, we look back at the first week of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

In this football language podcast for learners of English who love the beautiful game, we look at some language that describes a team's performance over a series of matches: 'in a row'; 'consecutively' and 'on the bounce'.

This football language podcast looks at the phrase - heavy metal football. This is a quote from the German coach, Jurgen Klopp, and is often used to describe a style of play.

2020-21 Women's FA Cup Final: In this football language podcast we look at some of the language used to describe the 2021 Women's FA Cup...

This football language podcast focuses on one word - bounce. This is used in a variety of phrases in the language of football.

In this football language podcast for learners of English who love the beautiful game, we look at some of the language used to describe the winners from the 2021 Ballon d'Or awards.

In this football language podcast we look at some of the language from the final of the 2021 Copa Libertadores between Palmeiras and Flamengo

Head Off The Line: We look at some of the words and phrases from the Champions League group game between Manchester City and PSG

In this short football language podcast we take a look at the phrase 'interim manager' which has been in the news this weekend due to Ole...

World Cup 2022 - European Qualifiers: We look back at some of the drama from the European qualification matches for the 2022 World Cup...

This football language podcast focuses on the phrase acres of space, which is used to talk about a player's position. The transcript for this podcast is available below, and you can also access our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions please contact us at [email protected] or leave a question or comment on our forum.A (DB=Damon) Acres of Space - Football Language Podcast: Season 2021-22 DB: You're listening to languagecaster.com's football language podcast. Hello there. Thanks for dropping by. My name's Damon, one half of the langaugecaster team. The other half is Damian, who is across the world from me in London. I, meanwhile, am in a beautiful, autumnal Tokyo. This podcast series and our site is a great place to come if you want to improve your English while also talking about the beautiful game of football. On today's short football language podcast, we'll take a look at the phrase 'acres of space' and some other phrases connected to it. Before we do that, if you like what we do here at languagecaster, please show us by leaving comments, sharing our podcasts and posts, and maybe also by leaving a donation to help keep us up and running. ** Click below to donate to languagecaster.com and keep the football language coming! ** [paypal-donation] Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Portuguese). Acres of Space DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and that message was in Portuguese - thank you Akiko! OK, to be in acres of space. Let's take a look at this phrase. First of all, we have acre, which is a measure of area, like hectare or square metres. An acre is roughly the size of two football pitches - actually 1.75 football pitches, but two is easy to remember. It is an Old English word and has been largely replaced by metric measures like metres and hectares.A But football, with its roots in British history, still uses a lot of old measurements: for example, the six-yard area; the penalty spot is 12 yards from the goal-line etc. Back to the phrase, if you say a player is in acres of space, you mean there is no opponent near them. They are standing in a lot of space - acres of space. Here's an example from Marca: Manchester United shifted the ball from left to right and that meantA Bruno Fernandes had acres of space on the right-hand side of the box, but he fired his shot high and wide of Alisson's goal. Here the verb is have, or had: Fernandes had acres of space. The Freedom of the Park Another way to say a player has a lot of space, or too much space if you are the defending team, is to say they have the freedom of the park. When you use this phrase or acres of space, you are criticising the defending team for not being tight enough, close enough, to the player with the ball. Here's an example from a game last year between Leicester and Liverpool on 90mins.in: With Leicester more or less camped inside their own third, the 21-year-old had the freedom of the park, firing characteristically inviting crosses into the box. The opposing team can also 'give' a player the freedom of the park. So Leicester gave Trent Alexander-Arnold the freedom of the park. All the time in the World DB: Our final phrase to talk about players in a position where they have a lot of space is - all the time in the world. She's got all the time in the world, means again there is no opposing player close enough to pressure the ball carrier. Here's an example from the Irish Times: A 4-0 victory would not have flattered Inter, for whom Cassano and elegant Colombian playmaker Fredy Guarin seemed to have all the time in the world to look up and pick out the tempting green space behind Jan Vertonghen and William Gallas. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (French). Good Bye DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and thank you for that message in French! Right, that brings us to the end of this short football language podcast. We had three phrases to say a player is being given too much time and space: He's in acres of space. They've given him the freedom of the park. He has all the time in the world to play a pass. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]. You can read the transcript for the show on our website at languagecaster.com and post on our forum! And if you like what we do, as we said at the start of the show, A leave a donation to keep our site up and running. Enjoy all the football.A Ta-ra!

Ronaldo's Late Goals: We look at some of the language used to describe Ronaldo's recent late goals for Manchester United in...

Learning English Through Football Podcast: Halloween Language: We look at some words connected to Halloween that appear in football...

This football language podcast focuses on the phrase 'buffet ball' used to describe a particular type of cross.

In this football language post we look ahead to some of the big games taking place in Europe this weekend-a real Super Sunday

This football language podcast features language from the Atlético Madrid versus Liverpool match, including the phrase stonewall pen. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, and you can also access our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions please contact us at [email protected] or leave a question or comment on our forum.A (DB=Damon) Stonewall Pen - Football Language: Season 2021-22 DB: You're listening to languagecaster.com's football language podcast. A Hello everyone, my name's Damon, one half of the Languagecaster team. and you've reached the place to be for all things related to football language. This podcast series and our site is a great place to come if you want to improve your English while also talking about the beautiful game - football. On today's show, we'll focus on some language used to talk abut the Atlético Madrid versus Liverpool Champions League group stage match played this week - and we'll start with stonewall pen. ** Click below to donate to languagecaster.com and keep the football language coming! ** [paypal-donation] Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Spanish). Stonewall Pen DB: Thank you for that message, which was in Spanish. Right, let's kick off with our first phrase, which is stonewall pen. Now, in the Atlético Madrid versus Liverpool game there were two penalty shouts, one to Liverpool, which was given, and one to Atlético, which was first given and then overturned. A penalty shout, is a claim for a penalty. The first penalty shout was a stonewall penaltyA or, to sound a bit more causal, we can reduce penalty to pen, a stonewall pen. So, what is A a stonewall pen? Well it means a definite penalty, a clear penalty with no doubt. So if there is a penalty shout and it is a stonewall pen, the referee will give the penalty, award the penalty, quickly and without needing to think. Here is a comment from a reader on a CBS Sport match report: Alexander-Arnold thumps one high into the box. Hermoso just runs straight at Jota, barging into him. A stonewall spot kick. http://gty.im/1347556491 They use spot kick instead of pen or penalty, but the meaning is the same. A clear penalty. Seen them given DB: The next penalty shout in the match was by Atletico Madrid, as they claimed a penalty when Atléti'sA defender Gimenez went down after contact with Jota. The ref gave it, but VAR asked him to check his decision. After looking at the monitor, he overturned, he cancelled, his first decision. Now, I'm a Liverpool fan, so I was very happy, but I've seen them given. This phrase means, while not a clear penalty, these penalty shouts are sometimes given; it would not be a surprise. I think most people would say they've seen them given for Atléti'sA penalty shout. Went down too easily DB: The referee probably thought that there was not enough contact between Jota and Gimenez, that Gimnez went down too easily. If you go down too easily, you are deliberately using contact to try to win a free kick or a penalty. You are trying to con the ref, cheat the ref. So, in this match, we saw a Liverpool penalty shout given or awarded by the ref, it was stonewall pen. Atleti's penalty shout was overturned, cancelled, even though we've seen them given. The referee thought Gimenez had gone down too easily and was trying to con him. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (Al-Hilal SC fan). Good Bye DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and thank you Ahmed Adam from Sudan! Right, that brings us to the end of this short football language podcast. Remember these phrases - Penalty shout, stonewall pen, award and overturn a penalty, seen them given, go down too easily and con the ref - all phrases to talk about this game. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]. You can read the transcript for the show on our website at languagecaster.com and post on our forum! And if you like what we do, leave a donation to keep our site up and running at, you've got, languagecaster.com. Enjoy all the football.A Ta-ra!

In this football language post we look at some of the words and phrases that emerged from the 2022 World Cup qualification matches that have been taking place over the past week.

In this football language podcast we look at some of the words and phrases from the recent Nations League semi-final and final that took place in Italy.

This football language podcast features language from the Estonia vs Wales World Cup Qualifier, including to poke home

This football language podcast takes a look at the Liverpool vs Manchester City match played last weekend in the 2021-22 season. We focus on some of the language used to talk about this exciting match, including the cliche 'there or thereabouts'. You can read a transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at [email protected] or leave a question or comment on our forum.A (DB=Damon) There or thereabouts - Football Language Podcast: 2021-22 Season: Liverpool vs Man City DB: Hi there you're listening to languagecaster.com's football language 2021-2022 season podcast and my name's Damon, one half of the Languagecaster team. Damian, our languagcaster team member is in London and I'm based in Tokyo. Over here in Japan, we're enjoying some fantastic weather after a big typhoon dumped a load of rain on us on Friday. And talking of fantastic, the match we focus on today was certainly a fantastic game, which saw Liverpool and Manchester City drew 2-2. In this short podcast, we'll look at a few football phrases that can be used to talk about this game, but first, here is a message from one of our supporters from Korea. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Korean). DB: Thank you for that message. Right, let's kick off with some language connected with the first meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City this season. Top-of-the-table clash DB: This game, with Liverpool in 1st place and Man City in 2nd before kick off was a top-of-the table clash.A 'Top-of-the table clash' is a phrase you'll often hear when teams in the top four spots go head to head, or play each other. Before the season started, most pundits had Manchester City as favourites to win the Premier League and some saw Liverpool as potential challengers. So, some people were already saying this game was aA 'title decider'. This A top-of-the-table clash was a title decider. Although, as we are only seven games into the season, most people would say it is too early to talk about titles. But in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons the early matches between these two teams did seem to have an impact on the way the seasons went. In 2018, Manchester City drew at Anfield and went on to win the return and then of course winning the league by 1 point. In 2019, Liverpool blew Manchester City away 3-1 and opened up a massive lead early in the season. Liverpool's 3-1 win at Anfield in 2019 certainly felt like a six-pointer, a game that denied one team 3 points (Manchester City) and gave 3 points to their rival (Liverpool). Watch out for this phrase towards the end of the season, especially for teams near or in the relegation zone, at the bottom of the table. Games between teams close together on points and trying to avoid relegation are often called six pointers. So, we have top-of-the table clash, title decider, and six pointer. All of these phrases you may have heard or read in connection with the 2-2 A draw between The Reds, Liverpool, and the Sky Blues, Manchester City. There or thereabouts DB: It was a cracking 2-2 with some great goals and a breathless pace. City dominated the first half but lacked a cutting edge up top. They created some great chances but lacked someone to put the ball in the net. Liverpool responded in the second half and pushed City higher up the pitch, taking the lead twice. And both teams didn't let their heads drop when their opponents scored. Man City hit back within five minutes of going behind and Liverpool kept pressing and creating openings, with Salah scoring one of the best goals this season. http://gty.im/1344612852 Both teams impressed and most pundits feel both teams have a good chance of winning the title. We can use the phrase 'be there or thereabouts' to say this. To be 'there' - means to win the title; and to be thereabouts, means to be second or third. So when you say both teams will be there or thereabouts, you are expecting both teams to be contenders, maybe finishing in the top two spots. I am pretty certain that Liverpool and Manchester City will be there or thereabouts in May! Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.co m (in Polish). Good Bye DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and that was in Polish! Right, we are at the end of this short football language podcast. Remember these phrases - top-of-the-table clash, title decider, six pointer, and to be there or thereabouts. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]. Remember, you can read the transcript for the show by coming along to our website at languagecaster.com and post on our forum! Enjoy all the football.A Ta-ra!

First-Half Goal Blitz: We look at some of the words and phrases from the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham at the weekend

In this football language podcast we look at phrases linked to penalties from the West Ham versus Manchester United Premier...

We look at the phrases 'chalked off'' and 'the goal stands' which appeared in the BBC report on the Manchester City vs Tottenham WSL game

Tap-in: We focus on the the three goals scored by Liverpool, including Mo Salah's 100th goal in the Premier League.

In this football language podcast we look at some of the words and phrases from the Guardian newspaper report on the 2022 World Cup qualifying match between Portugal and Ireland.

Reach an agreement: In this podcast we look at the phrase 'to reach an agreement' after Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford.

Pickpocketing - Football Language: 2021-22 Season: Southampton vs Manchester United: We focus on the own goal scored by Fred, which gave Southampton the lead.

We look at some of the football expressions with the word 'bench', including 'on the bench', 'off the bench', 'strong bench' and 'to bench

We look ahead to the 2021-22 Premier League season which starts this weekend. Who will be champions? Which teams will be relegated?

In this football language podcast we look back at some of the phrases that emerged from the 2020 Men's Olympic Final between Brazil and Spain

We look back at some of the phrases that emerged from the 2020 Women's Olympic Final between Canada and Sweden, including 'sudden-death'

The language of football transfers in 4 easy steps: In this post we take a look at the language of football transfers. There is also a short vocabulary list at the foot of this post.

In this podcast we look at the phrase 'end a drought' which came from the 2021 Copa America final match between Brazil and Argentina

We look at the phrases 'soft penalty' and 'fall behind' from the 2020 European Championship semi-final match between England and Denmark.

This football language podcast looks back at the first semi final of Euro 2020 between Spain and Italy. We focus on the midfield battle with the phrase 'pull the strings'. You can read a transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at [email protected]. (DB=Damon) Pull the Strings - Football Language: Euro 2020 - 1st Semi Final DB: You're listening to languagecaster.com's football language Euro 2020 podcast. Hello there everyone, my name's Damon, one half of the languagecaster team and today I'll be talking about some football language connected with the first semi final of Euro 2020. What a fantastic game, first of all! congratulations to Italy, who go through after penalties - full-time ended 1-1 and extra time was a stalemate. And commiserations to Spain, who were probably the best team on the night, but experienced the heartbreak of losing a penalty shoot out. Spain certainly played brilliantly, as did Italy, and I want to kick off with the phrase 'pull the strings'. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (Italian). Pull the Strings DB: Yes you are listening to languagecaster and our football language podcast and that message was in Italian. http://gty.im/1327330411 OK, to pull the strings: this means to control something. The strings are the strings of a puppet, a doll that moves according to how you pull its strings. This phrase is most often used to describe midfield players, as it is they who are usually in control of the ball. For Spain, a deep lying midfielder, like Busquest, or perhaps someone further forward, like Pedri, could pull the strings. And they did. They dominated the ball and controlled the flow of the game - mostly. Spain had over 65% possession. This is how the Washington Post described Spain's dominance: "With Barcelona phenomenon Pedri pulling the strings, the Spaniards knocked the ball around with ease, occasionally unlocking the Italy defense through smooth passing patterns." Another phrase similar to pull the strings is to run the game, and here is the Guardian on Pedri: "the brilliant 18-year-old midfielder who ran the game and completed 98% of his passes." http://gty.im/1326673170 Knock the Ball Around DB: But let's return to that Washington Post quote with PedriA pulling the strings, knocking the ball around with ease. To knock the ball around, is to pass the ball several times between players and in a relaxed way. If you knock the ball around, you are in control and the opposition cannot get close to you. It gives a nuance of calm and skill. Spain definitely showed both those qualities - calmness and skillfulness. Another phrase, which is similar is to ping the ball around, to ping it around. This perhaps adds another layer of meaning, speed. To ping something is to hit it hard, like a bell being hit, or a ball being passed firmly from one player to another. Held Their Nerve DB: But even though Spain ran the game and their midfield pulled the strings, it was Italy who won. And this is where we would use the cliche 'they held their nerve' or 'nerves' in the penalty shootout. If you hold your nerve, you are calm in a stressful and tense situation. You are cool and rely on your skill. I think every single player was as nervous or as calm as the other, but often the winning team in a penalty shootout is praised for holding their nerve. And that is the headline that uefa.com chose for this game: "Italy 1-1 Spain (pens: 4-2): Azzurri hold nerve to reach EURO final." So well done again Italy. Who will they meet in the final? England or Denmark? Let's just hope it is another cracking game. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in English). Good Bye DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster.com and that was in - English for a change! Right, that brings us to the end of this short football language podcast. We looked at describing a dominant midfield display with pull the strings, run the game, knock the ball around, ping the ball around, and finally discussed the cliche for penalties - held their nerve. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]. Remember, you can read the transcript for the show by coming along to our website at languagecaster.com. Enjoy all the football.A Ta-ra!

In this football language podcast we look at the phrase 'tally' from the UEFA.com report on the quarter-final between Ukraine and England.

Roof of the net - This football language podcast looks back at the first day of the quarter final action at Euro 2020 and a penalty shootout

We look at the phrases 'talisman' and 'steer' from the BBC report on the 2020 European Championship last-16 match between England and Germany.

Goalfest - This football language podcast looks back at the third day of the last 16 action and Spain vs Croatia and France vs Switzerland.