Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:02 — 7.3MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | Youtube Music | RSS | More
2026 World Cup Language Podcast 6: (a) Stunner
Day six at the 2026 World Cup and on this World Cup language podcast we look at the noun ‘a stunner’ from the France versus Senegal match. You can read the 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 about the phrase or our podcast then you can contact us here.
Hello
DB: Welcome to the daily 2026 World Cup Language Podcast everyone. My name is Damon from the Learn English through Football team. Are you well? I hope so – there have been some cracking games so far, and more on day six of the World Cup. What’s your favourite goal so far? Mine is Moroccan player Saibari’s lob over Brazil’s goalkeeper Alison for the African team’s opening goal – a beautiful touch and in a big big match!
Lots more matches today. Are you keeping up? I am managing, but with a lot of catch up highlights. A lot of games here in Japan start around 4 or 5 am and, well, I have to go to work when the 8 am and 10 am matches are shown.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (from a Swedish fan)
DB: Thank you for that message which was from a Swedish fan.
http://gty.im/2281942406 v
(a) Stunner
DB: Right the phrase we have today is a stunner, which means an amazing or dramatic goal. In day six’s match up between France, one of the tournament’s favourites and Senegal, one of the strongest African teams, Mbappe scored a stunner, a great goal, from about 30 yards out. 30 yards out means, 30 metres basically,, from the goal, so a long way.
Here is how ESPN described it: ‘A late stunner from Kylian Mbappé sealed a dramatic win for France in their opener against Senegal.’
This was a great match, and the final score, 3-1 to France, flatters the European side. To flatter a side, means the win was not as easy as the score suggests. Senegal pushed France all the way, and as the ESPN report said, it was a late goal from Mbappe, a late stunner, that made the win safe. The goal came in the 96th minute.
But it was a great goal, smashed from outside the area into the net.
(a) Worldy
DB: Was it a ‘worldy‘, I’m not sure. A worldy means one of the best goals ever, a world class goal. This is usually reserved for the most remarkable or special goals. Now, Mbappe’s strike was great, but I don’t think it classes as a worldy.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more football language from the World Cup. Until then, ta-ra!
[/mks_one_half] [/mks_col]
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
Welcome to the website that helps students interested in football improve their English language skills. Football fans can practise with lots of free language resources, including football-language podcasts and our huge football-language glossary.