Football glossary: 30 terms every fan should know
Commentary, punditry and stats are full of technical terms. We have gathered the most common ones, in alphabetical order, so you never feel lost in a football conversation again.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Assist | The final pass before a goal. |
| Brace | Two goals scored by the same player in one match. |
| Clean sheet | A match in which a team does not concede a goal. |
| Counter-attack | A fast attack launched right after winning the ball back. |
| Defensive midfielder | A player who shields the defence, also called a "holding midfielder" or "pivot". |
| Derby | A match between two rivals, usually from the same city or region. |
| Direct free kick | A free kick from which a goal can be scored directly. |
| Extra time | An additional 2×15 minutes in knockout matches. |
| False nine | A forward who drops into midfield instead of staying up front. |
| Full-back | A defender who plays on the right or left flank. |
| Goal difference | Goals scored minus goals conceded; used as a tie-breaker. |
| Hat-trick | Three goals scored by the same player in one match. |
| Indirect free kick | A free kick where the ball must touch another player before going in. |
| Matchday | A round of fixtures in a league. |
| Mixed zone | The area in a stadium where players speak to journalists. |
| Own goal | A goal a player scores into their own net. |
| Possession | The percentage of time each team has the ball. |
| Pressing | Putting high pressure on opponents to win the ball back quickly. |
| Round of 16 | The knockout stage with 16 teams remaining. |
| Set piece | A move that starts with a dead ball: free kicks, corners, penalties and throw-ins. |
| Shot on target | A shot heading towards the goal. |
| Squad rotation | Changing players in the starting line-up to rest key players. |
| Starting XI | The 11 players who start the match. |
| Striker | The centre-forward and main goalscorer of the team. |
| Tiki-taka | A style of play based on short passes and lots of possession. |
| Transfer window | The period in which clubs can sign players. |
| Trivela | A shot or pass struck with the outside of the foot. |
| VAR | The video referee who helps correct clear errors. Learn more. |
| Winger | An attacking player who operates near the touchlines. |
| xG (expected goals) | A stat that measures how likely a shot is to result in a goal. |
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