Vocabulary: Week 8

Here are some words and phrases you can hear on languagecaster’s Full Podcast’s Good, Bad and Ugly section – a review of the footballing news. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases as well as the Learners’ Podcast.

• To be fancied: When a team is expected to do well, favourites

Example: Cluj drew at home with much fancied Chelsea in the Champions League.

• To top (the group): To lead the table, to be first in the group

Example: Famagusta drew 0-0 and top the group along with Inter Milan.

To be brought down to earth: To be brought back to reality

Example: Some of the bigger sides in the Champions League were brought down to earth after results this week.

• To overcome: To win, to beat

Example: Liverpool overcame PSV 3-1 in the Champions League.

• To be on target: To score a goal

Example: Robbie Keane was finally on target for Liverpool against PSV.

• To break his duck: To finally score his first goal

Example: Keane broke his duck with that goal against PSV – his first goal for his new club.

• A piledriver: A rocket, a very powerful shot

Example: Steven Gerrard scored with a piledriver against PSV.

• To step down: To be forced to quit, to resign

Example: The Polish FA may have to step down from co-hosting the 2012 European Championships.

• Ligament: Part of the knee

Example: Didier Drogba and Paul Scholes both picked up ligament damage after Champions League matches last week.

• A blow: A setback, bad luck

Example: The injuries to Carvalho, Drogba and Deco have been a huge blow to Chelsea.

• A brawl: A huge fight involving many people

Example: There was an ugly brawl between players from Gremio and Internacional in the Brazilian League last week.