40+ Useful Football Expressions and Idioms in English

Football Expressions and Idioms in English! The following article introduces the list of common phrases and idioms used in football with ESL image.

Football Expressions and Idioms in English

Common Football Expressions

  • win/ lose a match

SpainΒ lostΒ their first match 0-1.

  • draw a match

Uruguay and ArgentinaΒ drewΒ 0-0.

  • play against (sb)

Who were NigeriaΒ playing againstΒ last week?

  • beat (sb)

BrazilΒ beatΒ Italy in the final.

  • lose against (sb)

BoliviaΒ lostΒ 2-1Β againstΒ Argentina.

  • draw with (sb)

LiverpoolΒ drew withΒ Juventus.

  • shoot

MessiΒ shootsΒ too often. He needs to pass more.

  • score a goal

Van PersieΒ scoredΒ a wonderfulΒ goalΒ against Spain.

  • make a save

CasillasΒ madeΒ a few goodΒ saves.

  • concede a goal

PortugalΒ conceded 4 goalsΒ against Germany.

  • tackle (sb)

I didn’t know if he had the ball or not, so I justΒ tackledΒ him.

  • foul (sb)

The English players were trying toΒ foulΒ Pirlo.

  • get a yellow card

It was a bad tackle but he onlyΒ got a yellow card.

  • be sent off

PepeΒ was sent offΒ by the referee.

  • be substituted

Torres played so badly that heΒ was substituted.

  • back of the net

You should’ve seen it, it was such a great goal.Β Back of the net!

  • Man on!

Quick!Β Man on! Pass the ball to Jones!

  • We were robbed

It is very difficult to swallow, we feel likeΒ we’ve been robbed.

  • He’s got a sweet left foot.

He’s the best player on the team, andΒ he’s got a sweet left foot.

  • He pulled off a great save, what a save!

The goalkeeperΒ pulled off six terrific saves.

  • Hit the woodwork

He almost had it, but unfortunately itΒ hit the woodwork.

Other Phrases :

  • They got stuck in
  • Ran the defence ragged
  • He’s got a lot of pace
  • The goalkeeper made a howler
  • It’s a game of two halves

Idioms Related Football

  • get the ball rolling
  • get a kick out of something
  • kick something off, to kick-start something
  • keep one’s eye on the ball
  • watch from the sidelines
  • move the goalposts
  • be on the ball
  • a political football
  • at this (late) stage in the game
  • kick sb around
  • score an own goal
  • take sides
  • blow the whistle on sb
  • know the score

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somoene
somoene
2 years ago

i cant see the expressions, only idoms
…..

Cullaene
Cullaene
2 years ago

Why are there no expressions

Ismael
Ismael
1 year ago

i love this podcast it’s very useful πŸ‘πŸΎπŸ€—

Max Love
Max Love
5 months ago

Still, no explanation of any