attack

to make a forceful attempt to score a goal

attacker

a player that has possession of the ball

away game

a game played at the opponent's ground

away team

the team that is visiting the opponent's ground

beat

to defeat

bench

a long seat for several people

captain

the player who leads and directs the other players on the field

centre circle

a circular marking in the centre of the field from which kickoffs are taken

champions

a team that has beaten all other teams in a sporting contest

championship

a sporting contest for the position of champion

changing rooms

the rooms where players dress to play

cheer

to shout in encouragement and give support

corner kick

a restart of the game where the ball is kicked from one of the four corners of the field

cross

a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a team player in the middle or on the opposite side of the field (also a verb)

crossbar

the horizontal beam across the top of a goal

defend

to resist an attack

defenders

the players that do not have possession of the ball

draw

a game that ends with both teams having the same number of goals

dropped ball

a way of restarting the game where the referee drops the ball between two players

equalizer

a goal that makes the score even (the same for both teams)

extra time

a further period of play added on to the game if the scores are equal

field

the rectangular, grass area where a game is played

field markings

the straight and curved white lines painted onto the field

FIFA

Federation Internationale de Football Association; the official body of international football

FIFA World Cup

a solid gold statue given to the champion of each World Cup tournament to keep for the next 4 years

first half

the first 45 minutes of the game, before half-time

fit

in form, in good health

fixture

a game played on a particular date

fixture list

a programme of games

forward

one of the three or four players on a team who play at the front and are responsible for most of the scoring

foul

an unfair or invalid piece of play, against the rules

free kick

a kick given to a player for a foul by the opposition; the player kicks the ball without any opposing players within ten feet of him

friendly game

a game that is not part of a serious contest

goal

1. a ball that crosses the goal line between the goalposts and below the crossbar, winning one point 2. the structure consisting of two posts linked by a crossbar into which all goals are scored

goal area

the rectangular area 20 yards wide by 6 yards deep in front of each goal

goal kick

a way of restarting the game where the ball is kicked from inside the goal area away from the goal

goal line

the boundary or line at each end of the field

goalkeeper, goalie

the player in front of the goal who tries to stop the other team scoring

goalpost

one of the two upright posts of the goal, 8 feet high

goal scorer

a player who puts the ball into the goal and so "scores a goal"

ground

the place where a game is played

half-time

the 5-minute rest period between the first half and second half

hand ball

a foul, when a player touches the ball with his arm or hand

header

the striking of the ball by a player with his head

home

a team's own ground.

hooligan

a violent troublemaker

injury

a wound suffered by a player (for example: broken leg, sprained ankle)

injured player

a player who has been hurt or wounded

injury time

time added to the end of the first or second half to compensate for time lost because of player injuries

kick

to strike or hit with the foot (also a noun)

kick-off

the start of a game, or restart after a goal, when a player kicks the ball forwards

Laws of the Game

the 17 main rules for football established by FIFA

league

a group of teams that play each other for competition

linesman

the 2 officials who help the referee; they watch the sidelines and goal lines

match

a game of football

midfield

a region of the field near the midfield line

midfield line

a line that runs across the centre of the field; centre line; halfway line

midfield player

the players that play behind the forwards

national team

the team representing a particular country or nation

opposing team

a team playing against another team

own goal

a mistake, when a team places the ball inside its own goal

pass

when a player kicks the ball to a teammate

penalty area

a rectangular area in front of the goal, 44 yards wide by 18 yards deep

penalty kick, penalty shot

a kick from the penalty spot by a player against the opposing goal keeper; awarded for the most serious violations of the rules or used in the event of a draw

penalty spot

the small circle 12 yards in front of the goal

possession

control of the ball

red card

a small card, red in colour, that the referee holds up to show that a player must leave the game for very bad behaviour

referee

the chief official; he starts and stops play, makes all decisions about the rules, and acts as timekeeper

score (verb)

to put the ball into the goal and gain a point

score (noun)

the amount of goals for each team

score a hat trick

when one player gets three goals in the same game

scorer

a player who scores or gets a goal

scoreboard

a large panel or other display that shows the current score or number of goals for each side

second half

the second 45 minutes of the game, after half-time

send a player off

when the referee tells a player to leave the field for bad behaviour

side

one of the two teams playing a game

sideline

the line that runs along the length of the field on each side; touchline

spectator

a person who watches a game (or other performance)

stadium

a special sports ground with seats for spectators where football (or another game) is played

striker

a team's best forward who plays near the centre of the field

studs

small points on the underneath of a player's boots to help prevent slipping

substitute

a player who replaces another player on the field

supporter

a spectator who supports one of the teams and wants it to win

tackle

to try to take the ball away from another player by kicking or stopping it with the feet

team

the members of one side

tie

when two teams have scored the same number of goals in a game; a draw

tiebreaker

a way of choosing the winner of a game when both teams have the same number of goals, for example by a series of penalty kicks

ball

the hollow sphere that players kick in soccer

coach

a person who trains a team

net

the mesh of cord hung over and behind the goal; can also mean the goal itself

pitch

the football field

ticket tout

a person who tries to sell tickets at a price higher than the official price

to keep goal

to be the goal keeper or goalie

to score a goal

to put the ball into the goal or net

to shoot at goal

to kick the ball towards the goal

touch line

the line that runs along the length of the field on each side; sideline

underdog

a team that is not expected to win

unsporting behaviour

rude or bad conduct

whistle

the instrument that the referee blows to create a loud, high-pitched sound

winger

a forward who plays to the side of the striker or strikers

World Cup

the international soccer competition between nations, organized by FIFA every 4 years

yellow card

a small card, yellow in colour, that the referee holds up to warn a player for bad behavior