BBC | British Council

FOOTBALL VERBS

Choose the right verb to complete the gap in each sentence.

1. They were 2-1 up but at the last minute they __________ a goal and drew.
a. Equalised
b. Let out
c. Gave up
d. Conceded

2. He’s an excellent winger and great at __________ the ball.

a. Drawing
b. Cutting
c. Crossing
d. Siding

3. The job of a defender is to __________ the ball as quickly as possible.

a. Clear
b. Clean
c. Get out
d. Hold

4. __________ the ball means kicking it before it hits the ground.

a. Dribbling
b. Volleying
c. Heading
d. Dummying

5. The World Cup becomes a __________ competition after the group stage.
a. Kick-out
b. Shoot-out
c. Kick-away
d. Knock-out

6. It was his second yellow card so he __________.

a. Was sent off
b. Was thrown in
c. Was taken off
d. Was let down

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BBC | British Council

FOOTBALL VERBS answers

1.
a. Equalised means to score a goal and make the score equal
b. Let out isn’t normally used in football
c. Gave up isn’t normally used in football
d. Conceded is the correct answer.

2.
a. Drawing isn’t normally used in football
b. Cutting isn’t normally used in football
c. Crossing is the correct answer. It means to kick the ball across the
front of the goal from the side of the pitch.
d. Siding doesn’t exist

3.
a. Clear is the correct answer. It means kick or head the ball away from
your own goal.
b. Clean isn’t normally used in football
c. Get out isn’t normally used in football
d. Hold is wrong

4.
a. Dribbling is keeping the ball close to your feet, on the ground
b. Volleying is the correct answer
c. Heading is using your head to hit the ball
d. Dummying is pretending to do one thing but then do another, e.g.
move the opposite way.

5.
a. Kick-out doesn’t exist
b. Shoot-out is used for a penalty competition
c. Kick-away isn’t used like this. You can kick the ball away.
d. Knock-out is the correct answer. When a team loses, they leave the
competition.

6.
a. Was sent off is the correct answer.
b. Was thrown in is used when the ball is thrown back into the game after
going off the pitch
c. Was taken off is used when the manager changes a player.
d. Was let down isn’t normally used in football

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