Have a look at these superb examples some of which you should be able to work into World Cup-related conversations:
. Angličan ('Englishman') - The Czech expression for a goal that goes in off a post
. Armario ('Wardrobe') - A burly central defender
. Artilheiro ('Artilleryman') - The Portuguese word used by Brazilians for a side's top scorer
. Aufzugsmannschaft or Fahrstuhlmannschaft ('Elevator/lift team') - German for a yoyo-team (i.e. one that keeps getting promoted and relegated)
. Brinca-na-areia ('Plays in the sand') - said of players who have excellent skills but no end product
. Chumpigol - A Spanish term, used particularly in South America, for a shot from a free-kick that goes through the wall and into the net
. Ehrentreffer ('Honour strike') - A consolation goal in Germany, also referred to as Ergebniskosmetik ('Result cosmetics')
. Ganhar de virada ('Win by turnover') - The Portuguese expression meaning to come back from behind to win
. Hacer la cama ('Making the bed') - What the Spanish yell when a player with a defender behind him doesn't jump for a high ball in order to create the impression that the defender has held him down
. Il Fantasista - The Italian phrase for the man in the hole behind the front two (whom Italians clearly believe should be a creative type)
. Jisatsu-ten ('Suicide point') - Japanese term for an own goal
. Jogador triatlo ('Triathlon player') - A Portuguese phrase for a player who runs about a lot and has a great repertoire of tricks but doesn't really star
. Le saut de grenouille ('Frog's jump') - How the French describe clasping the ball between both feet and jumping over an opponent's outstretched leg
. Moses - The Danish term for dribbling between two defenders and into the penalty area (figuratively dividing the Red Sea)
. Notbremse ('Emergency brake') - The German term for a professional foul; when a defender brings down a forward to prevent a certain goal
. Optimistblikket ('The optimist's look') - How the Danes describe the focused expression on a player's face as he intently watches the trajectory of a shot, suggesting it is going close when in fact it is travelling miles wide
. Pong - A delightful term from Denmark from the old Atari game, refers to the practice of knocking the ball around the back to waste time
. Rote Laterne ('Red lantern') - the way the Germans refer to a team at the bottom of a league (this theme is also found in France, where the basement-dweller is known as la lanterne rouge; in both countries, the last carriage on a train has a red light at the back)
. Schwalbe ('Swallow', as in the bird) - blatant dive (also used in Dutch). Den sterbenden Schwan machen ('To do the dying swan') is also common
. Shoeshine - The South African term for running the outside of the boot around a stationary ball, usually to taunt a less skilful opponent
. Wembleytor ('Wembley goal') - A German term for a 'goal' awarded even though the ball didn't cross the line. No hard feelings over 1966, then!
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
