Uefalona

Atletico can count themselves lucky to get a penalty against Uefalona.

2016 April 13, ni...devx.co.nz, “UCL QF 2nd Legs [R]”, in rec.sport.soccer (Usenet):

It would be great to see who the refs favour if Rubentus play Uefalona in the CL.

2017 March 10, Diabolik, “Juve - TTFKATSP [R]”, in rec.sport.soccer (Usenet):

Alternative letter-case form of UEFAlona


major score

(Canadian football) A touchdown, which scores six points.


no yards

(Canadian football) A penalty in which the kicking team, on either a kickoff or punt, fails to give the receiver on the receiving team a 5-yard restraining area to catch the ball.


kickout

This is the style of kick made by goal keepers in soccer in a kickout and by players in the Rugby type of game in the kick-off .

1917, Wilbur Pardon Bowen, Applied anatomy and kinesiology, the mechanism of muscular movement, page 292:

(soccer) A kick made by the goalkeeper from the goal area.

In the great Michigan game of 1903, it was he who got the ball on the kickout.

1906, Graff F. Wolfe, The Story of Wall Ka-Zoo, page 112:

Jones caught the kickout on the fifteen-yard line and Hudson kicked goal.

1906, The United States Army and Navy Journal and Gazette, page 276:

Another change requires that on the kickout the opponents line up on the 20-yard line, instead of on the 25-yard line, and that the ball be kicked from some point behind the 20-yard line.

The kickout was fumbled and Barrett lost his chance to try for the goal.

1915, The Cornell Alumni News - Volume 18, page 97:

“We called [the play] 26 Blast on that play and I was reading Jaydon Wright’s kickout block on the end,” Smith said.

2021 April 4, Nicholas Holstein, “FOOTBALL: Youthful Irish gain confidence, experience in win over Chicago Christian”, in Daily Journal (Kankakee, Illinois):

(rugby, American football) A drop kick by a player on the side to return the ball back into play.


set shot

2016 Nick Bowen, Match report: Dogs dust Swans to snap 62-year drought Australian Football League, 1 October 2016. Accessed 6 May 2019.
The Swans then wrested control of the game in the midfield to hit back with the next four goals, the first a 50m set shot from Mitchell and the last two clever snaps from midfield bull Kennedy.

Australian rules football
Australian rules football

(Australian rules football) A kick for goal after a free kick has been awarded to the kicker and play has stopped.


Redblack

(Canadian football) A player for the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Redblacks


Blue Bomber

(Canadian football) A player for the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.


Whites

1996, S. Greenfield, "When the Whites Go Marching In? Racism and Resistances in English Football", Marquette Sports Law Review, Vol. 6, No. 2, Art. 7, p. 315: #*: "When the Whites go Marching In" is a version of the hymn "When the Saints Go Marching In" and has been sung by football fans whilst attending "away" matches in other countries... In this context the reference is to English supporters indicating their disapproval of black players.

When the Whites go marching in, oh, when the Whites go marching in, oh, I wanna be in that number when the Whites go marching in!

(sports, historical) Any of several sports teams whose uniform is predominantly white, particularly

(soccer, UK) The away team during international matches.


stand on one's head

en-verb

stand on one's head (third-person singular simple present stands on one's head, present participle standing on one's head, simple past and past participle stood on one's head)

stands on one's head (present singular third-person)
standing on one's head (participle present)
stood on one's head (participle past)
stood on one's head (past)

(idiomatic, ice hockey, soccer) Of a goalie: to make exceptional saves.


LFL

Lingerie Football League
w:en:Lingerie Football League

(sports, American football) Initialism of Lingerie Football League.

Legends Football League
w:en:Legends Football League

(sports, American football) Initialism of Legends Football League.


leather poisoning

Based on the leather out of which most Australian rules footballs are made, and a humorous "poisoning" someone could suffer if they touch it too much.

2016 Andrew McGarry, AFL 2016: From the Grand Final rematch to Boomer Harvey's big day, six matches to watch for this season ABC News, 17 March 2016. Accessed 24 June 2019.
For eight years Patrick Dangerfield delighted Crows fans, picking up regular leather poisoning while producing a sizable highlights reel and causing opposition teams to scratch their heads on how to stop him.

2019 Lance Jenkinson, Werribee lets another close game slip away Star Weekly, 21 May 2019. Accessed 24 June 2019.
Tom Gribble had his usual bout of leather poisoning with 35 disposals, while Michael Barlow returned from injury to collect 31 to go with seven tackles.

(Australian rules football, humorous) A fictitious disease said to be contracted by a player who accumulates a large number of possessions of the ball.


Lioness

(soccer) A player for England women's national football team


Red Star

(soccer) Red Star Belgrade (a professional football club from Belgrade, Serbia)


armchair quarterback

en-noun

armchair quarterback (plural armchair quarterbacks)

My dad is such an armchair quarterback; he recognizes every bad decision the coach makes as soon as the play is over and he knows whether or not it worked.

To turn an armchair quarterback into a triple-threat man, just ask him to rake the leaves. He'll put up a terrific kick, pass the buck to his kids, and put up a long run.

1959 Oct, “Notes on these changing times”, in Herbert L. Brown, Jr., editor, The Kiplinger Magazine: Changing Times, volume 13, number 10, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., page 2:

(colloquial, idiomatic, chiefly US) A person who watches sports on television, typically American football, who often verbally suggests plays or critiques the players and coaches.


zero blitz

(American football) A defensive scheme which involves no deep defenders, person-to-person coverage and a heavy pass rush.


pass rush

Coach Ron Rivera was hired to restore pride and discipline (and winning seasons) to a decaying franchise, and for a defensive-minded coach, buttressing the pass rush with the best defensive end prospect in the class is a reasonable way to start.

2020 April 24, Ken Belson, Ben Shpigel, “Full Round 1 2020 N.F.L. Picks and Analysis”, in New York Time:

(American football) A defensive tactic which involves one or more players charging towards the quarterback either to get a sack or other pressure.


pass rusher

A late-scoring push forced overtime, but even in added time, the team was forced to go for a field goal on their initial drive after a pass rusher forced an overthrow from Purdy. This allowed Mahomes in and the emerging all-time great doesn’t often make mistakes.

2024 February 12, Ben Morse and Steve Almasy, “Kansas City Chiefs defeat San Francisco 49ers in OT in Super Bowl LVIII, become first back-to-back NFL champions in 19 years”, in CNN.com:

(American football) A defensive player who engages in a pass rush, who attempts to sack or pressure the quarterback.


chest down

en-verb

chest down (third-person singular simple present chests down, present participle chesting down, simple past and past participle chested down)

chests down (present singular third-person)
chesting down (participle present)
chested down (participle past)
chested down (past)

(ball games, especially soccer) to control a high ball with the chest (for example, in order to shoot, dribble, or pass it)


scout team

(American football) A group of players on a team, often from the practice squad who emulate the style of play of future opponents so that the starting players can practice against them.


practice squad

(American football) A group of players who are not eligible to play in games, but who participate in practices.


broken field

Quarter-backs this year who have gained considerable notice are Fallis of Haskell Indians and Pooler of Kansas University, they both being very good in a broken field.

1905, Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide, page 169:

The forward passer receives the ball, runs a yard or two as a feint, and then, with scarcely a look over the broken field, selects a person and a place and throws the ball.

1972, Chronicle of American Physical Education, page 383:

Barely two minutes after the interval the margin was reduced to just a single point after Elliot Daly, under a bit of pressure, knocked on 40 metres from his own line and gave the Wallabies a broken field to play with.

2019 October 19, Robert Kitson, “England into World Cup semi-finals after bruising victory over Australia”, in The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media:

(rugby, American football) A field in which there are defensive players from the other team between the player who has the ball and the goal.


COYBIG

(soccer) Acronym of come on you boys in green: a chant in support of Celtic F.C. and the Republic of Ireland national football team.


American handegg

en-noun

American handegg (countable and uncountable, plural American handeggs)

/əˈmɛɹɪkən ˈhændɛɡ/

I want a picture of a football (a real one, not one of those american handeggs) with wings.

2013 April 17, Stars_InTheirEyes, “Let us play Pic Hunter!”, in Egosoft.com (forum), archived from the original on 2014-10-08:

I haven't tried it yet but It's been suggested to practice your relese^([sic]) by throwing mini nerf footballs (or American handeggs, for those of you not in 'Murica) underhanded.

2015 March 16, u/dabobbo, “Practice at home”, in Reddit, archived from the original on 2022-12-21, r/Bowling:

(slang, countable, humorous, derogatory) The ball used to play American football.


jet sweep

(American football) A play where a wide receiver catches a short pitch, then runs left or right prior to running downfield.


coffin corner

coffin corner (American football)
coffin corner (aerodynamics)

During that second half, Carideo, one of Notre Dame's greatest punters, repeatedly kept SMU bottled up deep in its own territory on “coffin-corner” punts which invariably went out of bounds inside the Mustangs' 10-yard line.

2010, Jack Cavanaugh, The Gipper: George Gipp, Knute Rockne, and the Dramatic Rise of Notre Dame Football:

Kick it hard, kick it deep, and aim for the coffin corner when close enough to the opponents' end zone.

2014 November 7, “Rugby-style kicking helps Chiefs' Colquitt take punting to another level”, in Kansas City Star:

His ability to find the coffin corner pinned countless opponents deep in their own zone, and even when he didn’t have the big numbers that some other CFL punters did, he was always considered to be one of the very best directional punters in the league.

2019 November 28, Daniel Austin, “Rob Maver announces retirement after 10 seasons with Stampeders”, in Calgary Herald:

During his career, Higgins punted 135 times for an average of 43.5 yards, with 40 in the "coffin corner".

2019 December 13, “Higgins gets third All-America honor”, in The Marshall Democrat-News:

(American football) A corner of the field formed by the opponent's goal line and a sideline, into which a punt is often aimed in order to force the opposition to play close to their goal line.


Ammie

From amateur + -ie, from the club's former name, the Salford Amateurs.

(soccer) Someone associated with Salford City F.C., as a fan, player, coach etc.


suicide squad

The most violent men in pro football play on the suicide squads.

1971, LIFE, volume 71, number 23, page 3:

(American football, slang) Synonym of special team


ABU

(UK, soccer, slang) Initialism of anyone but United: a fan who dislikes Manchester United and will support any team that is playing against them.


falling leaf

So called from the gradual "drifting" motion like a leaf falling from a tree.

(soccer) A dated kicking technique used to put the ball into a swaying movement that makes it harder to estimate its trajectory.


spectacular mark

spectacular mark (plural spectacular marks)

(all informal)

(Australian rules football) A mark (or catch) that typically involves a player jumping up on the back of another player.


ruckwoman

(Australian rules football) A female ruck; a woman who contests rucks.


RB

(American football) Initialism of running back.


Chel

(UK, slang, soccer) A supporter of the English football club Chelsea F.C..


Lombardi-esque

en-adj

Lombardi-esque (comparative more Lombardi-esque, superlative most Lombardi-esque)

more Lombardi-esque (comparative)
most Lombardi-esque (superlative)

Players were still passing out “Gator Bowl Champions” hats and celebrating with their Lombardi-esque trophy when Muschamp, speaking to the roughly 10,000 fans lingering in the stands, didn't fully buy into the revelry.

2012 January 3, Greg Luca, “Muschamp minimizes Gator Bowl win as Florida avoids losing season”, in The Independent Florida Alligator:

In the past, each Super Bowl has had its own logo. But this year the NFL is switching to a generic logo based on the Lombardi Trophy. […] while the Super Bowl may be the biggest event on the planet, the Lombardi Trophy still ain't no Stanley Cup, no matter how many Lombardi-esque logos the NFL comes up with.

2011 February 3, Paul Lukas, “Super Bowl XLV primer on aesthetics”, in ESPN.com:

(American football) Resembling or like the Lombardi trophy.


touchdown pass

en-noun

touchdown pass (plural touchdown passes)

Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 5,671 yards and set a Football Bowl Subdivision record with 60 touchdown passes — the final 12 of which came in his last two games, blowouts over Oklahoma and Clemson, to propel L.S.U. to a national title.

(American football) A pass in which the receiver then scores a touchdown.


edge rusher

According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons, listed at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, played at least 100 snaps at five positions — slot cornerback, edge rusher, linebacker and both safety spots — and finished with 16½ tackles for a loss, eight sacks, eight pass deflections and three interceptions.

(American football) A defensive player who runs on the outside of the field, making a turn at the last minute to get to the offensive player who has the ball.


receiving yard

In addition to putting up nearly 3,300 receiving yards and 32 touchdown receptions in three college seasons, he was also the main punt returner for the Sooners.

2020 April 24, Ken Belson, Ben Shpigel, “Full Round 1 2020 N.F.L. Picks and Analysis”, in the New York Times:

(American football) Yard gained by the offense on a play in which a receiver caught the ball.


hog molly

General Manager Dave Gettleman swoons over “hog mollies” — his nomenclature for enormous offensive linemen — and that, no doubt, is a priority for him as he builds around quarterback Daniel Jones. In Andrew Thomas, the Giants have their hog molly.

(American football) A very large and obese player, especially in the offensive line.


forced throw

As he'd promised, Donny Doyle had been in the Bucks quarterback's face all day, except for the time he'd dropped to cover the running back and made a clean pick of Franks' forced throw.

2007, Phil Truman, Game: Some Have It, Some Don't, page 102:

His film — from last season, especially — also contains instances of lapsed mechanics, forced throws and shaky field vision.

(American football) A throw to a teammate from the player who is running with the ball in order to avoid being tackled.


tackle for loss

tackle for loss (plural tackles for loss)

The Seattle Seahawks, who are defensive minded but have slipped in recent years, chose Jordyn Brooks, a linebacker from Texas Tech. He led the team in tackles in three of his seasons at Tech. He also had 20 tackles for loss and three sacks last year, when he injured his shoulder.

(American football) A tackle that causes a loss of yardage for the opposing running back or wide receiver.


running lane

On the field, Brown thwarted triple-teams, mauled quarterbacks and stuffed running lanes.

2020 April 24, Ken Belson, Ben Shpigel, “Full Round 1 2020 N.F.L. Picks and Analysis”, in New York Times:

(American football) An informal division of a football field indicating the channel through which a player will run either to catch a pass or when carrying the ball.


boundary corner

boundary corner (plural boundary corners)

The field corner and boundary corner line up on number 1 strong and number 1 weak, respectively.

2000, Dick tomey, Rich Ellerson, Larry MacDuff, and Johnnie Lynn, “Swarming the Offense”, in American Football Coaches Association, editor, Defensive Football Strategies, page 80:

If Cover 4 is played with the strong safety in a cloud position and the boundary corner as the deep- one-half defender, the boundary corner has similar alignment and responsibility as in Cover 5.

2008, Ron Vanderlinden, Football's Eagle & Stack Defenses, page 34:

Even if the 5-foot-10 Gladney doesn’t stick as a boundary corner because of his size, his coverage skills, tenacity and feistiness make him an ideal candidate to flourish in the slot.

2020 April 24, Ken Belson, Ben Shpigel, “Full Round 1 2020 N.F.L. Picks and Analysis”, in New York Time:

(American football) A defensive position, responsible for covering the deep half of the field on the boundary side.


route runner

“The best route runner I have ever seen,” Vincent said. “When he was with the Rams, then over to Washington, he was real clever. He made everything look alike. You didn't know whether he was running a two-yard route or a 'go.'

2006, Gordon Forbes, Tales from the Eagles Sideline, page 61:

You must have great awareness to be a great route runner.

2012, Merritt J. Norvell, Route Running for Wide Receivers:

He has a slightly-limited route tree as primarily a vertical deep threat. He is a sufficient route runner despite underutilizing his size during the stem phase.

2021, Matt Manocherian, SIS Football Rookie Handbook 2021:

After plucking Courtland Sutton in the second round last year, the Denver Broncos needed to complement him with another receiver, preferably one who can stretch the field now that Pro Bowl wideout Emmanuel Sanders has left for New Orleans.
Jerry Jeudy, a polished route-runner who can line up anywhere in a formation, fits that description.

(American football) A receiver who is good at finding a route through the defensive players on the other team in order to get into position.


safety spot

Competing for the safety spot are soph Mike Hincewicz and freshman Gary Marshall, a small player in Davis' mold at 6-0, 155 pounds.

1970, Princeton Alumni Weekly - Volume 71, page 10:

But with Samari Rolle at the other corner and Blaine Bishop at the other safety spot, the team will find a combination that works.

2001, Craig Carter, Pro Football Guide, page 94:

(American football) The position of defensive safety; a position furthest from the line of scrimmage whose responsibility is to defend against passes as well as to be the tackler of last resort.


USSF

United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation#English

(US, soccer, sports) Initialism of United States Soccer Federation.


screen pass

(American football) A short pass to a receiver protected by blockers.


false number 9

From the traditional use of the number 9 for centre-forwards, and the difference from a traditional centre-forward, who would stay near the line of defenders until an opportunity arose to move past them toward goal.

not in his favoured midfield role, either but as a false No 9: the sort of role Guardiola only hands to his chosen, crystalline few: Mario Götze at Bayern Munich (less successfully), Lionel Messi at Barcelona (a little more so).

2020 August 7, Jonathan Liew, “Phil Foden stars to offer Manchester City glimpse of multiple futures”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) An unconventional lone striker or centre-forward who drops deep into midfield.


Cincitucky

(American football, slang, by extension) The Cincinnati Bengals.


outyard

en-verb

outyard (third-person singular simple present outyards, present participle outyarding, simple past and past participle outyarded)

outyards (present singular third-person)
outyarding (participle present)
outyarded (participle past)
outyarded (past)

From out- + yard (“unit of length equal to 3 feet”).

af

Although Oklahoma outyarded the Jays 339 to 155, Kansas fought magnificently and earned its 13-13 tie. Royal's punting had begun to jell. He kicked four out-of-bounds against the Crimson and Blue.

1984, Harold Keith, Forty-Seven Straight: The Wilkinson Era at Oklahoma, Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 28:

(American football) To gain more yards than.


kick-to-kick

Carey learnt to slide and mark in the wet playing kick-to-kick with his brother, Dick, back home in Wagga.

2011, Ken Piesse, Football Legends of the Bush: Local Heroes and Big Leaguers, Penguin Group Australia, →ISBN:

They played kick-to-kick, which was good except Lewis couldn't kick the ball very well so they had to stand close.

2012, Richard Yaxley, The Musician and the Murderer, Booktango, →ISBN:

I'd been to the 'G' before to watch AFL games and had played kick-to-kick on the surface with my mates after the final siren, but this was a special day because we'd been asked to do a lap of honour.

2016, Brent Harvey, Boomer, Macmillan Publishers Aus., →ISBN:

In between kick-to-kicks and turning snags at the Hawks' Riverbend Park family function on Tuesday, Shiels spoke in no uncertain terms about whether he'd like to see a new deal struck.

2020 February 4, Hamish Geale, “Hawks 'absolutely' want to stay in Tassie: Shiels”, in The Examiner, archived from the original on 2020-09-02:

(Australian rules football) An activity in which two or more people kick a football between each other.


Rose Bowl

(US, American football) The annual NCAA college football championship game typically played on New Year's Day.


backheader

(soccer) A hit of the ball with the back of the head


outside-forward

(soccer, dated) A forward playing on the wing, wider than the inside-forward


left-half

(soccer, dated) A player who plays wide on the left side of midfield


right-half

He had grown up admiring his United predecessor Eddie Colman, a right-half of greater natural gifts, who died in the Munich air disaster of 1958. By that time Stiles had already represented England schoolboys as a right-half, displaying attacking talents that would be somewhat inhibited in his later career.

2020 October 30, Brian Glanville, “Nobby Stiles obituary”, in The Guardian:

(soccer, dated) A player who plays wide on the right side of midfield


inside-forward

He had grown up admiring his United predecessor Eddie Colman, a right-half of greater natural gifts, who died in the Munich air disaster of 1958. By that time Stiles had already represented England schoolboys as a right-half, displaying attacking talents that would be somewhat inhibited in his later career.
He made his debut for United, in fact, as an inside-forward in the 1960-61 season, playing 26 league matches and scoring twice.

(soccer, dated) A forward playing on one side of the centre forward, but not as wide as the outside-forward


Man Utd

Manchester United Football Club
w:Manchester United Football Club

(soccer) Abbreviation of Manchester United Football Club.


hurry-up offense

en-noun

hurry-up offense (plural hurry-up offenses)

(American football) An offensive style in which the offensive team avoids delays between plays, sometimes also avoiding or shortening the huddle to limit or disrupt defensive strategies and flexibility.


upman

(American football) A player of the return team at kickoff


flexbone

(American football) A formation involving three running backs in which a fullback is lined up behind the quarterback and two slotbacks are lined up behind the line of scrimmage at each end of the offensive line.


flankerback

(rugby, American football) A back whose task is to receive the ball from a scrum.


NWSL

National Women's Soccer League
w:National Women's Soccer League

(soccer) Initialism of National Women's Soccer League - the top league of women's soccer in the US.


Lions

(cricket) The Sri Lanka national cricket team.

(soccer) Singapore national football team

(sports) any sports team nicknamed the "Lions".


Ti-Cats

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a team in the Canadian Football League.


outkick one's coverage

en-verb

outkick one's coverage (third-person singular simple present outkicks one's coverage, present participle outkicking one's coverage, simple past and past participle outkicked one's coverage)

outkicks one's coverage (present singular third-person)
outkicking one's coverage (participle present)
outkicked one's coverage (participle past)
outkicked one's coverage (past)

Sometimes a punter will outkick his coverage, but the majority of the time there's some decision-making involved.

2018, John Powers, Fridays with Bill: Inside the Football Mind of Bill Belichick:

But when the punter outkicked his coverage, White decided to disobey his coach's orders and run with the ball.

2022, Tyler Bridges, Five Laterals and a Trombone:

(American football) To kick the ball so far downfield that one's teammates do not have time to get into position to block or tackle the opponent who catches it.


pad up

pad up (third-person singular simple present pads up, present participle padding up, simple past and past participle padded up)

pads up (present singular third-person)
padding up (participle present)
padded up (participle past)
padded up (past)

He padded up for the Bears in 1997.

(American football, intransitive) To put on pads to ready oneself to play American football; to play for a team.


race-norming

(American football) The practice of adjusting downwards the cognitive ability scores of players of colour.


ruckwork

(Australian rules football) The onfield play of a ruck.


chest mark

(Australian rules football) A mark (catch) in which the player receives the ball into both arms at chest height.


boomerang kick

(Australian rules football, rugby) A kick that sends the ball in a curved trajectory.


boot-studder

(Australian rules football) A person employed to repair boots for a football team.


behind post

(Australian rules football) One of a pair of shorter outer posts at either end of the field; a ball kicked between a behind post and a goal post scores one point.


footpass

(Australian rules football) A pass made by kicking the ball through the air directly to a teammate.


Ingerland

/ˈɪŋɡəˌlænd/

♪ Ingerland, Ingerland, Inger-la-and / Ingerland, Ingerland, In-ger-land ♪

(slang, UK, representing pronunciation used in football chants) England.


top bin

(soccer, slang) The upper left- or right-hand corner of the goal.


El Tri

El Tri have just defeated Japan in a 3-1 victory

(soccer) Nickname for Mexico's National Football Team


Lionesses

The Lionesses were given their biggest test of the year by a talented, albeit injury-hit, Brazilian side but delivered more silverware as their momentum continues to gather pace before this summer's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

2023 April 6, Emma Sanders, “Women's Finalissima:England beat Brazil in dramatic shootout”, in BBC Sport:

Weakened by a string of injuries and the retirement of star players, the Euro 2022-winning Lionesses will need luck on their side to stop the USA lifting their third successive title[.]

2023 July 15, Suzanne Wrack, “Can the England women’s football team pull off the World Cup dream?”, in The Observer, →ISSN:

(soccer, informal) England women's national football team


fly route

(American football) A pattern run by a receiver, straight upfield towards the end zone, with the aim of outrunning any defensive backs and getting behind them, catching an undefended pass while running untouched for a touchdown.


reserve team

(sports) A team composed of players under contract to a club but who do not normally play in matches for the first team.


down and distance

en-noun

down and distance (plural downs and distances)

The choice to punt at this down and distance is unusual.

(American football) The game situation described using the current scrimmage down and the yardage required to either the line to gain, or the goal line if no line to gain exists.


bring the wood

en-verb

bring the wood (third-person singular simple present brings the wood, present participle bringing the wood, simple past and past participle brought the wood)

brings the wood (present singular third-person)
bringing the wood (participle present)
brought the wood (participle past)
brought the wood (past)

(American football) To play, especially to tackle, with great force.


bulge in the onion bag

en-noun

bulge in the onion bag (plural bulges in the onion bag)


match ball

(soccer) The ball used in a particular match. It is often given to the man of the match after the game.


onion bag

From the resemblance to the net bags in which onions are sold.

You ponce, you slag, pop it in the onion bag.

2002, Fat Les (band), Who Invented Fish and Chips? (song)


wondersave

You can hear Allan McGregor attempt to persuade the referee that he never made a wondersave from Leigh Griffiths' first half effort, and you can also hear him give his defenders an earful.

2021 January 4, Mark McDougall, “Unique Rangers vs Celtic insight given by SPFL highlights package as every word caught on camera”, in Glasgow Live:

(soccer) A first-rate save; an exceptional save


Crom

From a typo of Crows that appeared on the live broadcast of an AFL game.

(Australian rules football, slang, humorous) The Adelaide Crows, an Australian rules football club based in Adelaide.


two-legged tie

(sports, soccer) A competition between two teams which comprises two matches or “legs”, with each team as the home team in one leg. The winning team is usually determined by aggregate score, the sum of the scores of the two legs.


Cedars

(soccer) The Lebanon national football team.


center-back

(soccer) Alternative spelling of centre-back


GAWA

(colloquial) Initialism of Green and White Army.


Alouette

(Canadian football) A player for Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes.


first leg

Coordinate term: two-legged tie

(sports, soccer) The first of the two matches or “legs” which are played between two teams in a two-legged tie. The winning team is usually determined by aggregate score, the sum of the scores of the two legs.


second leg

Coordinate term: two-legged tie

(sports, soccer) The second of the two matches or “legs” which are played between two teams in a two-legged tie. The winning team is usually determined by aggregate.


jump pass

(American football) A pass to a teammate made while jumping


Wet Toast Eagles

(Australian rules football, humorous, rarely derogatory) The West Coast Eagles, an Australian rules football club based in Perth.


Blue Tigers

(soccer) The India national football team.


Bengal Tigers

(soccer) The Bangladesh national football team.


Dockers

(Australian rules football) Fremantle Football Club, an Australian rules football club based in Fremantle, a suburb of Perth.


Suns

(Australian rules football) the Gold Coast Suns, an Australian rules football club based on the Gold Coast.


GWS

Greater Western Sydney Giants
w:Greater Western Sydney Giants

(Australian rules football) Initialism of Greater Western Sydney Giants.


AFLG

en:wikipedia:Australian Football League Germany

(Australian rules football) Initialism of Australian Football League Germany.


AFLNZ

AFL New Zealand
en:wikipedia:AFL New Zealand

(Australian rules football) Initialism of AFL New Zealand.


AFLPNG

AFL Papua New Guinea
en:wikipedia:AFL PNG

(Australian rules football) Initialism of AFL Papua New Guinea.


USAFL

en:wikipedia:United States Australian Football League

(Australian rules football) Initialism of United States Australian Football League.


DAFL

en:wikipedia:Danish Australian Football League

(Australian rules football) Initialism of Danish Australian Football League.


white card

(soccer) A card similar to the red card and yellow card, but used to acknowledge sportmanship or fair play.


Clockgate

(US, American football, informal) The controversy around the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game of November 3, 2001, in which the ball was spiked with one second remaining visible on the clock.


nod-back

Haaland was having his shirt pulled as he advanced onto Phil Foden's curling cross for his opener. He was part of a fantastic one-touch passing move for the second which ended with the loose ball from a slide tackle on Foden presenting him with a tap-in. He shrugged opponents out of the way to make sure he was in the right place to head home John Stones' nod-back for his third.

2022 August 31, Simon Stone, “Manchester City 6-0 Nottingham Forest”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A soft header played away from the opponent's goal


WLAF

World League of American Football
w:en:World League of American Football

(American football) Initialism of World League of American Football.


jump-cut

en-verb

jump-cut (third-person singular simple present jump-cuts, present participle jump-cutting, simple past and past participle jump-cut)

jump-cuts (present singular third-person)
jump-cutting (participle present)
jump-cut (participle past)
jump-cut (past)

After Lake insisted the sixth-year senior hadn’t impressed enough in practice to contribute in their first two games, McGrew responded with 31 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just six carries Saturday — releasing a guttural growl after jump-cutting and crossing the goal line for a 13-yard score in the first quarter.

2021 September 18, Mike Vorel, “After two frustrating losses, the dam finally breaks in Washington’s 52-3 win over Arkansas State”, in The Seattle Times:

(intransitive, American football) To perform a jump cut.


hoofball

Blend of hoof (“to kick, especially a long way downfield with little accuracy”) + football.

blend

Wimbledon continued to hold their own under Joe Kinnear. They played with passion and no little skill. It certainly wasn't just 'hoofball' as their detractors, such as Gary Lineker, claimed.

2012 July 2, Tim Quelch, Underdog!, eBook Partnership, →ISBN:

By the 1980s Italian football was also showing distinct signs of virility as it built up to its great moment in the sun with the 1990 World Cup. It had glamour and skill, just as British football was deep into its cul-de-sac of hoofball tactics and off-pitch thuggery.

2015 January 9, Nicholas Walton, Genoa, 'La Superba': The Rise and Fall of a Merchant Pirate Superpower, Oxford University Press, →ISBN:

'We're Leeds United, we're passing the ball,' sang delighted supporters, exhilarated at being rid of Warnock's despised hoofball.

2019 October 10, Dave Tomlinson, Leeds, Money, and Misery Me: Twenty Years of Hurt, 23 Mistakes and the Tale of Toma ..., AuthorHouse, →ISBN:

(soccer, derogatory) A style of play characterised by many long balls and few short passes.


Marseille turn

(soccer) A specialized form of dribbling by which the ball is dragged backward.


offensive guard

en-noun

offensive guard (plural offensive guards)

(American football) A lineman for the team in possession of the ball located on either side of the center and inside of the offensive tackles.


La Roja

(soccer) the Spain national football team


USMNT

w:United States men's national soccer team

(soccer) Initialism of United States men's national team.


ball-up

(Australian rules football) The method by which the field umpire restarts play at a neutral contest after a stoppage within the field of play, involving the throwing or bouncing of the ball up between two players, known as rucks, who then attempt to win possession for their teams.


gegenpress

(soccer) The use of the gegenpressing tactic.


LiVARpool

Blend of Liverpool + VAR (“video assistant referee”), implying that Liverpool F.C. is unfairly favoured in judgements made by VAR.

blend

The ability of Jürgen Klopp’s team to win even when the opposition bring their A-game has been a feature of the season. A simple explanation, beyond luck and “LiVARpool” conspiracy theory, is that their base levels are just so high.

2019 December 11, Barney Ronay, “Champions League’s full English another staging post in march of the superclubs”, in The Guardian:

[…] and amid calls of 'LiVARpool' coming into the equation again by the Chelsea faithful, Silva himself has had a say on what he thinks of the last two aforementioned VAR decisions […]

2022 March 7, Danyal Khan, “Thiago Silva sends Liverpool blunt message as West Ham and Chelsea VAR decisions go their way”, in football.london:

Someone else said: "I honestly think this FA cup is already rigged for LiVArpool There's been a lot of them red ribbons around it."

2022 May 14, Nick Murphy, “Chelsea fans have FA Cup conspiracy theory and say 'Pep and Tuchel were right all along'”, in The Daily Star:


England went even further, playing 1-1-8 (eight forwards), but crowded goalmouths saw the game end 0-0.

2010, Clive Gifford, “Formations”, in The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia, 2nd edition, →ISBN, page 60:

Both teams employed what could be considered attacking formations—Scotland (2-2-6), and England (1-1-8) […]

2011, Jaime Orejan, Football/Soccer: History and Tactics, →ISBN, page 31:

United made a scintillating start against Leicester […] but they seem to be sticking to a 1-1-8 formation, with Evans and then Chris Smalling playing as a sweeper-left-centre-right-back. This is why United have a defence as secure as a paper-tissue truss.

2014 September 22, Des Kelly, “Chelsea fans add a touch of dignity and class to a world of football excess”, in Evening Standard:

(soccer, historical or derogatory) A football formation with 1 defender, 1 midfielder and 8 strikers sometimes played in the 19th and early 20th centuries, now a derogatory reference to a team with poor defence.


St Totteringham's Day

By analogy with Christian feast days, with a blend of Tottenham + tottering.

After their 3-1 win at Hull, it is now mathematically impossible for Tottenham to finish above their neighbours in this season's Premier League. […] That means today is "St Totteringham's Day".

2015 May 4, Richard Innes, “St Totteringham's Day: Arsenal fans celebrate finishing above Tottenham AGAIN by trolling their big rivals”, in Daily Mirror:

TOTTENHAM'S 2-0 defeat of great rivals Arsenal today ensured they will finish above the Gunners in the Premier League for the first time since 1995. And in turn it has ended the curse of "St Totteringham's Day" […]

2017 April 30, John Hutchinson, “St Totteringham’s Day: Twitter reacts as Tottenham ensure they will finish above Arsenal in the Premier League and end the curse of ‘St Totteringham’s Day’”, in The Sun:

2022 October 4, Edwin Yeo, “Arsenal 3 Spurs 1 - It feels like St Totteringham's Day already”, in Yahoo News Singapore:

(soccer, colloquial) The day in an English Premier League football season on which it becomes mathematically impossible for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. to finish above Arsenal F.C. in the final rankings.


Spuds

Robbie Keane makes it Liverpool 1-2 Spuds.

2005 April 16, Roo, “Quick update...”, in uk.sport.football.clubs.liverpool (Usenet):

The Spuds and Man Utd posters (with the exception of Jenkins) are all keeping their heads down on account of their respective teams poor form.

2013 December 5, Baldoni, “heh heh heh”, in alt.sports.soccer.arsenal (Usenet):

@DanColly added: "Think the Spuds fans enjoyed the Saliba song last week. But they sing it for Bissouma after clipping a cross straight out of play."

2022 October 8, Ryan Tailor, “Arsenal and Tottenham fans argue as Spurs accused of 'stealing William Saliba chant'”, in Daily Express:

(soccer, derogatory) Tottenham Hotspur F.C.


counterpressing

Teams that are skilled in counterpressing are teams that attack with many of the players in close proximity to the ball carrier.

2017, Steffen Siebert, A League Of Their Own: The Secrets Of Club Soccer Champions, page 70:


anti-soccer

en-adj

anti-soccer (comparative more anti-soccer, superlative most anti-soccer)

more anti-soccer (comparative)
most anti-soccer (superlative)

There were many concerns as to whether soccer players were being sufficiently disciplined. In Brazil, Lima Barreto and Carlos Sussekind de Mendonça promoted drill and rote training as part of their antisoccer campaign.

2023, Matthew Brown, “Controlled Violence”, in Sports in South America: A History, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 150:


anti-soccer

Clodoaldo condemned the “inefficiency” and “lack of heart” he saw, especially in the midfield. Shockingly, the country of Pelé and the beautiful game had fallen into playing antisoccer—that is, trying to destroy the opponent's game with little thought of putting together effective attacks.⁸⁷

2014, Roger Kittleson, “Playing Modern: Efficiency over Art, 1971–80”, in The Country of Football: Soccer and the Making of Modern Brazil, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, →ISBN, page 108:

A corrupted or unconventional form of soccer.


All-Pro

All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey had 80 yards on the ground and 80 through the air. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings became the second person in Super Bowl history to throw and catch touchdown passes.

2024 February 12, Ben Morse and Steve Almasy, “Kansas City Chiefs defeat San Francisco 49ers in OT in Super Bowl LVIII, become first back-to-back NFL champions in 19 years”, in CNN.com:

(American football) A professional American football player selected (typically by press organizations) as the best player in a particular position during a given season.


goal machine

He [Robbie Fowler]would become one of Liverpool's finest – a goal machine – and, most importantly, he was one of our own. A real character who combined a touch of genius with a sense of mischief.

2021, Brian Barwick, Sixty Years a Red... and Counting!:


consensus national champion

en-noun

consensus national champion (plural consensus national champions)

(American football) In regard to national championships in college football, a team that was selected as national champions by both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll.


outfield player

outfield player (plural outfield players)

(soccer) Any of the players on a football team other than the goalkeeper.


bottleham

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-bottleham.wav

Blend of bottle + Tottenham, due to the team seeming to always bottle when they have a good chance of winning something (e.g. trophies or matches) in the eyes of fans.

Bottleham have bottled it again, having lost to Diogo Jota’s late 94th minute winner.


Pessi

All they need is one crumb of ammunition and they'll go for miles. Such is how the nickname "Pessi" was born. As fans on Twitter look for any possible way to reduce Messi's incredible career to a punchline, they've come up with a reductive way to pretend that he's not one of the best players to ever step on a football pitch.

[2022 December 19, Kyle Bonn, “Why Lionel Messi is called Pessi”, in The Sporting News:


RUFC

Ramsbottom United F.C.
w:Ramsbottom United F.C.

(soccer)
Initialism of Ramsbottom United F.C..

Retford United F.C.
w:Retford United F.C.

(soccer)
Initialism of Retford United F.C..

Rochester United F.C.
w:Rochester United F.C.

(soccer)
Initialism of Rochester United F.C..

Rossendale United F.C.
w:Rossendale United F.C.

(soccer)
Initialism of Rossendale United F.C..

Rotherham United F.C.
w:Rotherham United F.C.

(soccer)
Initialism of Rotherham United F.C..


CAF Champions League

(soccer) An annual African football (soccer) competition.


flag on the play

Here we go at last. It's Iona's ball on their own 10 yard line; they are in punt formation — wait — there's a flag on the play.

1955, Natalie E. White, The Billion Dollar Saint: A Farce in Three Acts, Dramatists Play Service, →ISBN, page 29:

In the modern game there is perhaps no phrase more familiar than "Flag on the play!" It is an instant and unmistakable signal to every player, to the benches, and to the fans, that a penalty is about to be enforced by a game official.

2012, Robert J. Scott, Myles A. Pocta, Honor on the Line: The Fifth Down and the Spectacular 1940 College Football Season, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 146:

(American football slang) A penalty flag.


nod in

en-verb

nod in (third-person singular simple present nods in, present participle nodding in, simple past and past participle nodded in)

nods in (present singular third-person)
nodding in (participle present)
nodded in (participle past)
nodded in (past)

Davies, captain in the absence of the injured Aaron Ramsey, scored the opener as, completely unmarked just three yards out, he nodded in Broadhead's 22nd-minute corner.

2023 October 11, Dafydd Pritchard, “Wales 4-0 Gibraltar”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer, transitive, intransitive) To score with a header


Busby Babe

Named after Matt Busby, the manager of Manchester United Football Club.

Manchester United Football Club
Matt Busby


flip throw

(soccer) An unusual throw-in in which the player, during the run-up, plants the ball on the ground, flips over it, and uses the momentum gained from the flip to increase the velocity of the ball.


bulge the onion bag

bulge the onion bag (third-person singular simple present bulges the onion bag, present participle bulging the onion bag, simple past and past participle bulged the onion bag)

bulges the onion bag (present singular third-person)
bulging the onion bag (participle present)
bulged the onion bag (participle past)
bulged the onion bag (past)

[…] such as Provan or McAvennie scoring at Hampden or Larsson bulging the onion bag twice in Seville.

2012, Paul Larkin, Poles 'N' Goals and Hesselink, page 139:

[…] bulged the onion bag for the Blades, and Downes and Prendergast replied for the Owls.


Oklahoma drill

Named after the Oklahoma Sooners football team by coach Bud Wilkinson, creator of the technique.

Offensively, Dan Sullivan and Bob Vogel were strong blockers in the Oklahoma Drill and Mike Curtis and Ted Hendricks savage as defensive operators.

1972 July 25, “Colts' Bubba holds firm in contact squabble”, in The Baltimore Sun, page 26:

The 'Oklahoma Drill' used to be one of the highlights of the Steelers' training camp.

1992, Jim O'Brien, Whatever It Takes: The Continuing Saga of the Pittsburgh Steelers II, James O'Brien-Publishing, →ISBN, page 32:

To make it work, Wilkinson needed three interior down linemen who could do the work of four (or more) by exploding off the snap, reading the ball carrier and then, in tight quarters, shedding blocks to make tackles. In other words, he needed players who would excel at the Oklahoma drill.

2015 August 19, David Fleming, “Is the Oklahoma drill a rite of passage or everything to fear about football?”, in ESPN:

(American football) In gridiron football, a practice technique wherein two players run at each other within a narrow corridor with the aim of either tackling the opponent, driving them out of bounds, or scoring a touchdown.

Bud Wilkinson
Oklahoma Sooners football
Oklahoma drill


nose tackle

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nose tackle.wav


middle guard

It allows the middle guard of the defense to roam, and with the combined efforts of his teammates he will emerge your leading tackler game in and out.

1956, Jack C. Mitchell, Bernard A. Taylor, Umbrella Defenses, W. C. Brown Company, page 17:

The middle guard faced off consistently against the offensive center, with one or occasionally both hands in the dirt. On running plays, he bore the traditional run-stuffing responsibilities.

2022 April 25, George Bozeka, editor, The 1951 Los Angeles Rams: Profiles of the NFL's First West Coast Champions, McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 285:

(American football) A defensive player positioned in the middle of the pitch, opposite the offensive center and between the defensive tackles; the nose guard.


touchball

Touchball […] is considered a major activity in the intramural programs of all the large universities.

1935, Minnesota Emergency Relief Administration. Department of Leisure Time, Recreational Manual (volume 2, page 1)

Synonym of touch football (“American football variant”)


Vardrid

(humorous, derogatory, soccer) La Liga club Real Madrid, regarded as being unfairly favored by VAR.


bump and run

(American football) A strategy used by defensive backs, in which a defender lined up directly in front of a wide receiver attempts to impede him with arms, hands, or the entire body and disrupt his intended route.


kick returner

(American football, Canadian football) A player who catches a kicked or punted ball and attempts to advance it towards the goal.


W-League

(soccer) the A-League Women (the top professional women's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand; equivalent to the A-League for men)


A-League

the A-League (canonical)
A-Leagues (plural)

(soccer) the top professional men's soccer league in Australia and New Zealand

(soccer) any of the three leagues that fall under the A-Leagues banner (the men's, women's and youth leagues)


play-calling

But some bad breaks, good defense from the Chiefs and conservative play-calling meant the 49ers offense stalled and Kansas City was able to rally.

(American football) Alternative form of playcalling


defensive line

(American football, Canadian football) The players of the team not possessing the ball who are positioned at the line of scrimmage.


AAFC

All-America Football Conference
w:All-America Football Conference

(American football) Initialism of All-America Football Conference.


long snapper

Fans rarely see the name of the long snapper, but he's the next most important player on special teams behind the punter or kicker.

2012, Greg Jacobs, The Everything KIDS' Football Book:

Lonnie was the long snapper for both of Adam Vinatieri's clutch field goals in the "Snow Bowl" against the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and for his 48-yard game-winning kick in Super Bowl XXXVI.

2013, Rick Gonsalves, Placekicking in the NFL: A History and Analysis, page 235:

My suggestion was to go ahead and walk-on and try out as a kicker but to tell them that he was also a long snapper.

2019, Don Osborne, Was It All Just for Kicks?:

(American football) A center who is skilled in throwing a long snap.


long snap

When I was playing professionally and I wasn't starting, I'd come in and do the long snaps.

2004, Joseph Blotner, Real Football: a Biography, page 372:

The long snap typically travels anywhere from 12 and 15 yards, depending on the alignment of the punter.

2006, Coach Education, Coaching Football Technical & Tactical Skills:

But Paco's long snap from center was high, and the holder, Joey Gallagher, couldn't get the ball down in time for Adam to kick it!

2011, Ronde Barber, Tiki Barber, Go Long!:

In Baltimore's 33 to 14 rout of New England in the AFC's Wild Card playoff game on January 9, 2010, he got off nine perfect long snaps, 3 for extra points, 2 for field goals, and 4 for punts.

2013, Rick Gonsalves, Placekicking in the NFL: A History and Analysis, page 237:

(American football) An underhand pass from the center to the punter.


long snap

long snap (third-person singular simple present long snaps, present participle long snapping, simple past and past participle long snapped)

long snaps (present singular third-person)
long snapping (participle present)
long snapped (participle past)
long snapped (past)

These days every team has someone on the roster whose only job is to long snap.

2007, John Feinstein, Next Man Up: A Year Behind the Lines in Today's NFL:

"I learned by watching my father do it," Zak explained. "I also knew the importance of it, so I learned how to long snap on my own. […]"

Tom always wanted to learn how to long snap.

(American football) To throw a long snap.


dragback

(soccer) The act of drawing the ball backward with one's sole.


safetyman

(American football, dated) safety (position)


passing game

(sports, American football) A type of play involving one player throwing the ball to a teammate.


Seleção

(soccer) the Brazil national football team


Vuck

Shortened form of "Victory". Popularised by a Melbourne Victory fan podcast, For Vuck's Sake (derived from the vulgar expression "for fuck's sake").

(informal, Australia, soccer) A supporter of Melbourne Victory (an Australian soccer club based in Melbourne)


BVB

(soccer) Initialism of Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund.


Série A

(soccer) the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (the highest division of professional football in Brazil)


Brasileirão

From Portuguese Brasileirão (“Big Brazilian”).


Championship

(soccer) the EFL Championship (the second-highest division of English football)

(soccer) the Scottish Championship (the second-highest division of Scottish football)


League Two

(soccer) the EFL League Two (the fourth-highest division of English football)


League One

(soccer) the EFL League One (the third-highest division of English football)


Burger League

In reference to American fast food chains.

(neologism, soccer, informal, humorous, sometimes derogatory) Major League Soccer (the MLS); the national professional soccer league in the United States


farmers' league

en-noun

farmers' league (plural farmers' leagues)

Derived from the humorous perception that players in a league referred to as a "farmers' league" are part-time footballers, and who also have other jobs unrelated to sports such as farming.

(informal, humorous, soccer, sometimes derogatory) a league with a perceived lack of talent and good players

farmarliga

football league with a perceived lack of talent


Camel League

Blend of (offensive) camel (“Middle Eastern person”) + Saudi Pro League

blend

(soccer, offensive) Saudi Pro League (the highest division of football in Saudi Arabia).


open play

We've struggled to score goals in open play since early March which contributed to our promotion hopes falling away last season.

2010 November 2, Phil Merrick, Bleed White: The fall and rise of Leeds United... to be continued, AuthorHouse, →ISBN:

A dropped goal is a kick at goal in open play and can be taken from anywhere on the pitch and by any player within the team.

2015 August 27, Gavin Hickie, Eilidh Donaldson, Rugby Revealed: Reaching Your Rugby Potential, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 222:

Orient's tended to result from set pieces, whilst Ebbsfleet's came from open play.

2020 August 6, Steve Leach, Twenty Football Towns, Saraband, →ISBN:

(sports, especially soccer and rugby) The period of play outside set pieces; the phase where possession can change by passing and tackling.


heel out

en-verb

heel out (third-person singular simple present heels out, present participle heeling out, simple past and past participle heeled out)

heels out (present singular third-person)
heeling out (participle present)
heeled out (participle past)
heeled out (past)

(American football, dated) To kick a ball backwards.


sweeper-keeper

With teams playing in a more compact fashion and defenders pushing up without the safety of a sweeper behind them, the keeper's role has evolved to that of a sweeper-keeper. Gone are the days when a keeper could remain in his sixyard box and just play his line.

2004 03, Jacob Daniel, The Complete Guide to Coaching Soccer Systems and Tactics, Reedswain Inc., →ISBN:

Sweeper keepers have high “soccer IQs” and know how to “read” the game brilliantly. They are able to play with their feet and head with equal skill to any defender.

2017 July 15, Paul Challen, What Does a Goalkeeper Do?, The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, →ISBN, page 22:

It was a rule that made all keepers potential sweeper-keepers, and van der Sar was one of the very best around.

2021 February 18, Leo Moynihan, Thou Shall Not Pass: The Anatomy of Football’s Centre-Half, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 104:

(soccer) A hybrid of goalkeeper and sweeper roles – a goalkeeper who leaves the penalty area to start attacks.


rush goalie

association football
association football

(sports, soccer) A variation of association football where the goalkeeper's role is more flexible than usual.


USWNT

w:United States women's national soccer team

(soccer) Initialism of United States women's national team.


Red Flames

(soccer) the Belgium women's national football team


Albiceleste

(soccer) the Argentina national football team


Pies

Australian rules football
Australian rules football

(Australian rules football, informal) the Collingwood Football Club


block tackle

Caoimhín Kelleher saved but Gordon recycled the move, crossing low for Kane, who was stopped by Nathan Collins’s block tackle.

2024 September 7, David Hytner, “Rice and Grealish start new England era with Nations League victory in Ireland”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) A defensive technique used to regain possession of the ball from an opponent by positioning the body in front of the ball and using the legs to obstruct the opponent's path, preventing them from advancing.


Ausenal

In reference to the fact that three Australians play for the club.

Cootes, Isabel (2024 September 12) “Matildas fullback Steph Catley says Arsenal "can go one better" to end their five-year WSL title drought”, in Optus Sport, Optus Sport: “The 30-year-old and her Matildas teammates at "Ausenal" are looking to end the five-year title drought in North London.”

(soccer, informal, neologism, chiefly Australia, England) Arsenal Women Football Club


Tottenham Ozspur

Blend of Tottenham Hotspur + Oz; in reference to the men's team's manager Ange Postecoglou (an Australian) and the three Australian players on the women's team.

Lewis, Dave (2023 June 5) “It's Tottenham Ozspur: Aussie duo behind Spurs' swoop for Postecoglou”, in FTBL, FTBL: “With Ange Postecoglou ready to pack his bags for North London - the case for rebranding Tottenham Hotspur as Tottenham Ozspur gains currency.”

(soccer, informal, neologism, chiefly Australia, England) Tottenham Hotspur Football Club or Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Women


Both teams employed what could be considered attacking formations—Scotland (2-2-6), and England (1-1-8) […]

2011, Jaime Orejan, Football/Soccer: History and Tactics, →ISBN, page 31:

(soccer) A soccer formation with 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 6 strikers.


woso

(Internet, soccer, US, Canada, Australia) women's soccer


Spursy

en-adj

Spursy (comparative more Spursy, superlative most Spursy)

more Spursy (comparative)
most Spursy (superlative)

From Spurs + -y. Tottenham Hotspur consistently finish near the top of the Premier League but have won no trophies in recent years.

In the 1978-79 season, Chelsea, who had come up the year before, finished dead last in the first division and were relegated again. But no worries, I still had my Robins in the top flight. But then they did something more Spursy than anything the Spurs could ever dream of. They were relegated in successive seasons between 1980 and 1982[…]

2018 May 15, Roger Bennett, Michael Davies, Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica: A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America's "Sport of the Future" Since 1972, Knopf, →ISBN, page 27:

Rice has a solid tournament for England. He is excellent in the quarter-final against France, until it all goes a bit Spursy for Harry Kane who uncharacteristically misses a penalty in the 2-1 defeat.

2024 January 30, Pete May, Massive: The Miracle of Prague, Biteback Publishing, →ISBN:

Then came the hammer blow as Pennant stated: "England are Spursy."

2024 March 26, Joe Brophy, quoting Jermaine Pennant, “Gareth Southgate’s record and ‘Spursy’ England worry me – we may have to play Italy, France and Spain to win Euros”, in talkSPORT:

(UK, soccer, humorous, informal) Having a promising team, but losing in an embarrassing way.

(UK, soccer, humorous, informal) Unpredictable.


defensive line of scrimmage

en-noun

defensive line of scrimmage (plural defensive lines of scrimmage)

(American football) The scrimmage line on the defensive side of the football field.


GGMU

w:Glory Glory (football chant)#Manchester United

(soccer) Initialism of Glory Glory Man United.


COYG

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Gunners. (used by supporters of Arsenal F.C.)


COY-

(soccer) Initialism of come on you. (used by supporters of football clubs, especially English football clubs)


COYI

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Irons. (used by supporters of West Ham United F.C.)


COYT

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Toffees. (used by supporters of Everton F.C.)


COYL

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Lions. (used by supporters of Millwall F.C.)


COYP

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Palace. (used by supporters of Crystal Palace F.C.)

come on you Palace

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Pompey. (used by supporters of Portsmouth F.C.)


COYRs

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Rs. (used by supporters of Queens Park Rangers F.C.)


COYS

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Spurs. (used by supporters of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.)

come on you Spurs

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Seagulls. (used by supporters of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.)


COYB

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Blues. (used by supporters of Chelsea F.C. and Everton F.C.)

come on you Blues

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Brentford. (used by supporters of Brentford F.C.)


COYW

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Whites. (used by supporters of Fulham F.C., Leeds United F.C. and Preston North End F.C.)

come on you Whites

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Wolves. (used by supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.)


COYR

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Reds. (used by supporters of Liverpool F.C., Manchester United F.C., Nottingham Forest F.C. and Southampton F.C.)

come on you Reds

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Rams. (used by supporters of Derby County F.C.)


COYH

From COY- + Hatters, COY- + Hammers or COY- + Hornets.

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Hatters. (used by supporters of Luton Town F.C.)

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Hammers. (used by supporters of West Ham United F.C.)

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Hornets. (used by supporters of Watford F.C.)


COYM

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Magpies. (used by supporters of Newcastle United F.C.)

come on you Magpies

(soccer) Initialism of come on you Mauves. (used by supporters of R.S.C. Anderlecht)


Ardiles flick

From the Argentine football player Osvaldo Ardiles, who performs the trick in a famous scene as a character in the 1981 film Escape to Victory.


rainbow kick

(soccer) A trick in which the player makes the ball arc over the opponent's head using both feet.


jumpers for goalposts

From the idea that children, in the absence of a proper pitch, will mark one using items of clothing (such as jumpers).

There is a strong, and understandable, tendency to romanticise a jumpers-for-goalposts golden age when football pitches looked like the battlefields of Flanders, assorted firms and crews spent their Saturday evenings trashing railway carriages and multi-millionaire players, bloodsucking investors and a globalised Manchester United had yet to ruin our lives.

2011 July 7, Anthony Clavane, Promised Land: A Northern Love Story, Random House, →ISBN, page 130:

In the next section we discuss the notion of 'jumpers for goalposts' in the United Kingdom, and how the modern notion of this, under different constraints, has emerged through activities such as cage football, mixed groups, playing against different ages, and so on.

2021 June 27, James Rudd, Ian Renshaw, Geert Savelsbergh, Jia Yi Chow, Will Roberts, Daniel Newcombe, Keith Davids, Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Athletic Skills Model: The Importance of Play in Supporting Physical Literacy, Routledge, →ISBN, page 45:

Fortunate to have open fields in front of her house , Paula and the boys from the estate would gather for the timeless routine of 'jumpers for goalposts', team selections, and games that only paused when mothers called them in for tea.

2024 September 26, Gail Emms, The Lost Lionesses: The incredible story of England’s forgotten trailblazers, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

(chiefly UK) Informal association football as played by children, especially as a romantic or old-fashioned ideal contrasted against the commercialism and cynicism of modern professional football.


Owl

Named from the Owlerton stadium where they used to play.

(soccer, slang) A player or fan of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.


defensive lineman

defensive lineman (plural defensive linemen)

(American football) A player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage when the opposition controls the ball.