The Top 20 Football Americanisms - The US take on English Football

• By Sam Parton
• In Blog
• May 28, 2013

The Top 20 Football Americanisms - The US take on English Football

 

"It's still a shut-out but Gareth Bale bursts into the 18, hits a shot on frame, in the wheelhouse but it goes out of bounds, there must something wrong with his cleats".

To most English people the above makes absolutely no sense at all. In fact the only part they probably understood was 'Gareth Bale'. However actually all of the above are used by American commentators when commenting on American Soccer (football).

Naturally being American they have to add their own sense of drama so we have compiled a list of the best genuine American Soccer (football) jargon we could find. This is not a joke, all of the below are used by our American friends across the pond for their soccer (football) matches:

 

US
UK




zero-zero
nil-nil


shut-out
clean sheet


in the six
in the six-yard box


PK
penalty kick


match ups
man markers


on frame
shot on target


steal
tackle


in the wheelhouse
good spot to strike the ball


out of bounds
out of play


uniform
kit


cleats
boots


offence
attack


hotbox
penalty box


cross ball
a cross


rejected
saved (by goalkeeper)


roller ball
along the ground


the foul play
foul


premier half
first half


double team
two person tackle


from 12
from the penalty spot

You can also hear some genuine American soccer commentary here . This is not made up, these are taken from real MLS matches across the pond. Have you heard any more ridiculous Football Americanisms? If so please list them below!