Learn English Through Football

Damian Fitzpatrick
Learn English Through Football

Welcome to the Learn English Through Football Podcast for all learners of English who love the beautiful game of football.

  1. 1 HR. AGO

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Settle the tie

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Settle the tie In this week's football-language podcast we look back at some language from the Champions League play-off games, including 'settle the tie' from the Manchester City versus Real Madrid first leg match. We also look ahead to some of the big games this weekend in our predictions, including the Derby d'Italia. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com. https://media.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/content.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/LearnEnglishThroughFootballPodcast_Settlethetie.mp3 Hello DF: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast. Hello everyone and welcome to the show for all those who love the beautiful game of football and who want to improve their English language skills. My name is Damian and I am in a cold but bright London and I am one half of the Languagecaster team - the other member of course is Damon who is in Japan. And I wonder how he feels about his team Liverpool's draw at Everton mid-week under the lights? DB: Hi Damian. I knew you would ask about the Merseyside derby. I'm not going to lie, I was gutted when Everton scored that equaliser with the last kick in 7 minutes of added on time! Four goals and four red cards, drama, shithousery, dodgy refereeing, a rocking stadium, a fight between the players... what a great way for the last derby at Goodison Park to end! I would have preferred the three points though! What did you think? DF: It was a great occasion and great fun! I don't think it will affect Liverpool's run to the title but I am sure that Everton fans must be loving it! Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (from Vasco da Gama fan) DF: And how is your favourite team doing? Did they win, lose or draw this week? Can I just highlight one amazing victory for League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers who won their Conference League play-off first leg game away in Norway with the winning goal coming from a 16-year old player making his debut - that's playing his first ever game for the club. Michael Noonan is only 16 and is now one of the youngest ever scorers in European competition - amazing! That's a much better news story than if you are a Tottenham fan like me as we had two cup defeats - that's two cup exits - in four days last week which was very painful indeed! Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Japanese) DF: OK, that message, or stinger, was in Japanese and we'll be hearing some more languages throughout the show - can you guess what ones they are?

    12 min
  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Football Phrase of the Week: Under the Lights

    Football Phrase of the Week: Under the Lights In this football phrase of the week, we talk about the football phrase 'under the lights', connected with theupcoming Merseyside derby. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com https://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/football.language.under_.the_.lights.110225.mp3 Under the Lights DB: Hello there everyone. This is Damon from the Languagecaster team. Welcome to our Football Phrase of the Week.  I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the football. Today we are looking at the phrase under the lights, which is a phrase we can use to describe the action this mid-week when Liverpool play their local rivals, Everton, in the Merseyside derby. This is a mid-week game, so not the weekend, and usually these games are played in the evening, so people can finish work and then go and watch the game. Because it is in the evening, the stadium lights are turned on, so the game is played with lights, or under the lights. But when we say, the game will be under the lights, we don't just mean there will by lights turned on. The inference or suggested meaning is that the crowd might be nosier, more passionate, louder. Playing in the evening is unusual, and in the evening, many supporters may drink a bit more alcohol than a normal afternoon game. Therefore, the atmosphere may be more intimidating for the visiting team. Actor Andrew Gower, an Everton fan, told ESPN, '"I always say imagine if Everton won something again, that united energy would be off the scale. Gary Neville, Gary Lineker -- they all talk about Goodison under the lights and say when the gantry shakes there's nothing like it." Last Merseyside Derby As well as being under the lights, it will also be the last ever Merseyside derby played at Goodison Park, Everton's ground, as they will relocate next season to a new stadium by the docks. Liverpool will be hoping that the combination of playing under the lights and it being the last home derby for Everton doesn't inspire the Toffees to a win over their rivals! Stinger: You are listening to Languagecaster (in Spanish by Multilingua FC) Yes, you are listening to Languagecaster and that message was from our friends at Multilingua FC! We'll be back after next weekends action with some more football phrases and language. Drop us a line at admin@languagecaster.com if you have any questions, or post on our forum at languagecaster.com. We'd love to hear from you. Is your team playing under the lights this week? Enjoy all the football. Ta-ra. Related Terms * Form goes out the window * (a) Derby * Twelfth Man * a href="http://languagecaster.

    3 min
  3. FEB 8

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Squeak Past

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Squeak Past This football language podcast looks at some football language from an FA Cup tie between Man United vs Leicester, including to squeak past.You can read the transcript for this podcast below you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.   https://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/podcast.squeak.past_.080225.mp3 DB: You're listening to Languagecaster's Learning English Through Football Podcast. Hi there everyone. Welcome to the Learn English Through Football Podcast. I'm your host Damon, and I'm talking to you from Tokyo, which is again bright, sunny, but cold. Lots of snow on the other side of Japan to Tokyo, but blue skies here. How about Damian and London? DF: Hello everyone and hi to you too Damon from a wet and very cold London. I am okay, though as it's the day after the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final game between your team Liverpool and my favourite team Tottenham, I have been better! We can talk about that game later on in the show. What else do we have on this week's podcast? Today's Show DB: I'm sure you'll get over losing to Liverpool 4-1  on aggregate in the semis when Spurs win the Europa League! Right, as you said, we'll hear from you later with your comments on the Liverpool Spurs game and some football language from it. You'll also be giving us your predictions for some cracking games this weekend. But before that, we're going to take a look at some football language from the 4th round FA Cup tie between Manchester United and Leicester City. This week is the 4th round of this old tournament, and typically this round has more of the top teams matched against each other. Many of the non-league or lower division sides will have been eliminated, or knocked out, in the 3rd round. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Indonesian) DB: OK, that message, or stinger, was in Indonesian, and we'll hear more messages in different languages throughout the show - listen and see how many languages you can recognise. Or even better, send us a message in your language ('Hi. My name's (NAME) and you are listening to languagecaster.com'). Send it to us at admin@languagecaster. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Tagalog) Squeak Past DB: Right, the FA Cup fourth round match between Manchester United and Leicester. Going into this game, United were heavy favourites, as Leicester were in terrible form with eight losses in 10. The Manchester side did run out winners 2-1, but they needed a late winner in added time. Their performance was not convincing, was not good, and they were lucky to get the winner. In this situation, we can say they squeaked past Leicester or they squeaked into the fifth round. http://gty.im/2197602522 If a team squeaks past another, they are lucky to win. You may also hear 'squeeze past', which means the same thing. Chalk Off DB: Leicester City manager, ex-Man United striker Van Nistlerooy, certainly thought United were lucky to win.

    12 min
  4. FEB 4

    Football Phrase of the Week: Touching Distance

    Football Phrase of the Week: Touching Distance In this football phrase of the week, we introduce the football phrase 'touching distance', connected with the Arsenal vs Man City game. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com. https://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/weekly.football.language.touching.distance.040125.mp3 Touching Distance DB: Hi there everyone. This is Damon from the Languagecaster team. Welcome to our Football Phrase of the Week.  I hope you are all doing well. We are looking at the phrase touching distance, which is a word we can use to describe the weekend's action. The phrase is connected with the Arsenal versus Manchester City game. Going into this game, Arsenal were nine points behind league leaders Liverpool. That was a big gap, and the pressure was on Arsenal to win; lose, and the Gunners would be nine points behind having played a game more than Liverpool. If you watched the weekend's action in the Premier League, you will know that Arsenal thrashed a fragile Manchester City side 5-1. That meant they closed the gap on Liverpool to six points, to keep within touching distance of the leaders. Touching distance means close enough to still have a chance of catching a team above. The gap is still big, but it can be closed; catching Liverpool is not impossible. http://gty.im/2197267633 Here is how the BBC used this phrase in their match report: 'Arsenal have played a game more than Liverpool, but this impressive victory at least means they remain within touching distance of Arne Slot's pace-setters.' Stinger: You are listening to Languagecaster (in German) Yes, you are listening to Languagecaster and that message was in German. We'll be back after next weekends action with some more football phrases and language. Drop us a line at admin@languagecaster.com if you have any questions, or post on our forum at languagecaster.com. We'd love to hear from you. Enjoy all the football. Ta-ra. Related Terms * Two-horse race * Run-in * (to) Clinch * Game in hand https://languagecaster.com/football-language-glossary/

    2 min
  5. JAN 31

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Seal a Spot

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Seal a Spot In this football language podcast we look back at some of the language from this week's European action, including the phrase 'seal a spot'. You can read the transcript for this podcast below you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster. https://languagecaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/podcast.seal_.310125.mp3 Hello DB: You're listening to Languagecaster's Learning English Through Football Podcast. Hi there everyone. Welcome to the Learn English Through Footbal l Podcast. I'm you host Damon, and I'm talking to you from a bright, sunny, but cold Tokyo. It is the end of January, so that's no surprise. I imagine it is chilly in London too, where Damian, the other half of the team is based. Maybe his team's win, Tottenham, in the Europa League last night will warm him up a bit. How about where you are? What's the weather like, and more importantly, how is your favourite team doing? Did they win, lose or draw this week? Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Persian) DF: OK, that message, or stinger, was in Persian and we'll be hearing some more languages throughout the show - test your knowledge of languages and try and guess what languages they are. Here's one to get us started. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Turkish) Today's Show Right, I just mentioned Damian's team Tottenham and their 3-0 win against Swedish outfit, Elsborg. That means means Tottenham qualify for the last 16 knockout round. In this podcast, we will look at phrases that mean to qualify for, and different ways to say this in football. To Seal a Place (Tottenham Hotspur) Our first phrase is from a Guardian report on the Spurs vs Elsborg game: 'it was at least heartwarming for Tottenham to seal their place in the last 16 of the Europa League thanks to three academy products...'. In this sentence we have the verb phrase to seal a place - Tottenham sealed their place - in the last 16. To seal a place in the last 16 is to qualify for the last 16. The place is decided, it is sealed. http://gty.im/2196182665 Let's look at some variations for this phrase. First, we can change the noun 'place' for 'spot'; so seal a spot in. A little less common is 'berth' - seal a berth in. To Clinch a Spot (Liverpool) We can also choose from a variety of verbs. So, rather than seal a spot in, we can say, secure a spot in, or clinch a spot in. This last pattern was used in ESPN's report on the Champions League results: 'one of the only two losses (in the top 12) was suffered by a Liverpool team that had already clinched a spot in the top two.' So, we have a lot of options to talk about qualifying with these words. We can change the noun: to secure a place, or spot, a berth. Or the verb: to secure, to seal, to clinch. Remember, we also need to say what the team has qualified for: so, Tottenham secured a spot in the last sixteen in the Europa League.

    9 min
  6. JAN 27

    Football Phrase of the Week: Bring Down in the Box

    Football Phrase of the Week: Bring Down in the Box In this football phrase of the week we explain the expression, 'to bring down in the box' from the Chelsea versus Arsenal game in the WSL. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com. https://media.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/content.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/FootballPhraseoftheWeek_BringDownintheBox.mp3 Bring Down in the Box http://gty.im/2196025647 DF: Hello everyone. This is Damian from the Languagecaster team and I hope you are all doing well. And welcome to our latest football phrase of the week and this week we will look at an expression from the Women's Super League (WSL) game between leaders Chelsea and London rivals Arsenal. And the phrase is, To bring down an opponent. This expression is often used to describe when a player fouls an opposition player resulting in a free kick or a penalty. So, to bring down a player means that the player falls to the ground after being tackled (or fouled) by the opposition player; the player was brought down means that this player was fouled by the opposition player. If a defender brings down an opponent in the penalty area or the penalty box then a penalty will be awarded and this is what happened in the top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. Here is what the BBC said about the foul that led to the penalty: 'Substitute Guro Reiten scored from the penalty spot after England international Lauren James was brought down in the box by Arsenal captain Kim Little.' So, the Arsenal defender Kim Little fouled Lauren James in the penalty area and gave away a penalty - she brought her down to concede the penalty. Can you think of any more examples like this? And how would you say this expression, 'to bring another player down' in another language that you know? Let us know by dropping us a line at admin@languagecaster.com. Stinger: You are listening to Languagecaster (in French) Yes, you are listening to Languagecaster and that message was in French. And we'll be back with some more football language in our podcast later on in the week when we will be looking back at some of the language from this week's final Champions League and Europa League group stage games. Enjoy all the football and we'll see you again soon. Bye bye. More Examples * Example: Reiten scored from the penalty spot after England international Lauren James was brought down in the box by Arsenal captain Kim Little. * Example: Mbeumo then dipped a free-kick narrowly wide of the upright after Maxence Lacroix brought down Mads Roerslev 25 yards from goal. Related Terms

    3 min
  7. JAN 25

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Deep into stoppage time

    Learn English Through Football Podcast: Deep into stoppage time In this football language podcast we look back at some of the language from game seven of the Champions League group stage, including the phrase 'deep into stoppage time'. You can read the transcript for this podcast below you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com. https://media.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/content.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/LearnEnglishThroughFootballPodcast_Deepintostoppagetime.mp3 Hello DF: You're listening to Languagecaster's Learning English Through Football Podcast. Hello everyone and welcome to the show for all those who love the beautiful game of football and who want to improve their English language skills. My name is Damian and I am in a rather chilly London and I am one half of the Languagecaster team - the other member of course is Damon who is based in Tokyo. What's the weather like where you are? And how is your favourite team doing? Did they win, lose or draw this week? Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Japanese) DF: OK, that message, or stinger, was in Japanese and we'll be hearing some more languages throughout the show - can you guess what they are? Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Danish) Today's Show Now, on this week's football-language podcast, we look back at some of the language from game seven of the Champions League and Europa League group stages. And this week I watched three matches on TV and all of them produced lots of goals - 20 in total - a real goal fest! This expression means that a game (or a series of games) have produced a lot of goals; maybe there was a five, six or seven-goal thriller). First up, I will look at the phrase, 'deep into stoppage time' from the Benfica-Barcelona game. Then I will explain the word 'collapse' after PSG's comeback against Manchester City before finishing up by looking at the expression, 'to restore their two-goal advantage' from the Hoffenheim versus Tottenham game from the Europa League. Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Italian) Benfica 4 v 5 Barcelona: Deep into stoppage time http://gty.im/2195271728 This was an amazing game and one which Portuguese side Benfica must still wonder how they lost. They were 3-1 and then 4-2 up against Barca but then the away side hit three goals in the last 16 minutes to take all three points with the winner coming in the 96th minute. The BBC described the winning goal like this: 'Raphinha scored 'deep into stoppage time' to hand Barcelona a dramatic 5-4 comeback win at Benfica and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.' This means that the winner came very late indeed - remember that stoppage time (or injury time) is the time added on after the 90 minutes are up. This time is added on to the regular 90 minutes because there are different kinds of stoppages during the game such as a href="https://languagecaster.

    9 min
  8. JAN 21

    Football Phrase of the Week: Throw away a lead

    Football Phrase of the Week: Throw away a lead In this football phrase of the week we explain the expression, 'to throw away a lead' after Arsenal drew 2-2 with Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com. https://media.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/content.blubrry.com/footballlanguage/FootballPhraseoftheWeek_Throwawayalead.mp3 Throw away the lead http://gty.im/2193970961 DF: Hello everyone. This is Damian from the Languagecaster team and I hope you are all doing well. And welcome to our latest football phrase of the week and this week we will look at the expression, 'to throw away a lead'. And this is after Arsenal's draw at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend. Recently, we looked at the expression, 'to stretch their lead' which means that a team increases, or extends, their lead in a game. So for example, a team is winning 1-0 and then scores another goal to make it 2-0 we can say that they have stretched their lead; they have increased their lead. The opposite to this, I suppose, is when the winning team allows the opposition to come back into the game. And we can use the expression, 'to throw away a lead' to describe this situation, especially if the winning team is playing well and dominating the other side. And this is what happened on Saturday when Arsenal were comfortably leading 2-0 but then allowed Aston Villa to score twice in the second half to equalise. Arsenal threw away a lead; they threw away a two-goal lead. The idea of 'throw away a lead' suggests that Arsenal should have won the game easily but instead they only got one point from the game - they allowed a two goal lead to slip is another way of saying this, while we also use the phrase, 'blow a lead' or 'blow a two goal lead'. 'Arsenal had a late goal disallowed as they dropped (two) points in the Premier League title race after throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Aston Villa.' So, in this example from the BBC we can see that Arsenal were winning but were then pegged back by Aston Villa - they ended up drawing the game (they dropped two points). It looked like they were going to have an easy three points until Villa scored twice meaning that Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead. Can you think of any more examples like this? And how would you say this expression, 'to throw away a lead' in another language that you know? Let us know by dropping us a line at admin@languagecaster.com. Stinger: You are listening to Languagecaster (in Irish) Yes, you are listening to Languagecaster and that message was in Irish. And we'll be back with some more football language in our podcast later on in the week when we will be looking ...

    3 min

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Welcome to the Learn English Through Football Podcast for all learners of English who love the beautiful game of football.

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