When you start watching World Cup matches, odds are you\u2019ll hear announcers using terms and phrases you\u2019ve never heard before.<\/p>\n
Soccer has its own language. Its own slang. Its own rhythm.<\/p>\n
And if you\u2019re hoping to sound like an expert while watching the world\u2019s biggest sporting event, where do you go for help?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the penultimate event in the world, right? I think there\u2019s a bigger viewership for the World Cup than there is for the Olympics,\u201d said Josh Shapiro, Harvard men\u2019s soccer coach. <\/p>\n
But to fully enjoy the experience, it helps to know what those energetic announcers are talking about.<\/p>\n
World Cup broadcasts are packed with soccer-specific terms that many American sports fans may not recognize.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s a beautiful set piece!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s several free kicks or set-piece situations, corner kicks, goal kicks, and direct or indirect free kicks around the field. They usually happen after a foul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-oh! A well-placed nutmeg always sends a message!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nutmeg is a dribbling technique that goes through somebody\u2019s legs. It requires a lot of skill and deception. It\u2019s often seen as, \u2018Wow, I put one over on you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a dummy! It\u2019s a dummy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA dummy is when the ball is played to me, and I intentionally let it go through to a teammate to fool the defender. It requires good coordination between attackers. It\u2019s pretty sophisticated and really showcases creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n
A bicycle kick?<\/p>\n
No bike required.<\/p>\n
Just courage, timing, and an incredible amount of athleticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really, really hard to do. You\u2019re literally flipping upside down in the air, trying to coordinate your body to strike the ball. When they\u2019re struck well, they\u2019re almost never saved. But it is incredibly difficult to execute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does it! Brace yourself for the brace!\u201d<\/p>\n
A brace simply means one player scores two goals in a match.<\/p>\n
And if that player scores three?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a hat trick.<\/p>\n
\u201cA brace is scoring two goals. A hat trick is three.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no! Struck by lightning? An earthquake? No… it\u2019s a flop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think referees are trying to force it out of the game. Players will sometimes flop to earn a penalty kick, because that\u2019s one of your best opportunities to score. It does happen. I don\u2019t love it, but it\u2019s part of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, there\u2019s one soccer term that needs no explanation. It\u2019s understood in every language.<\/p>\n
Now you\u2019re ready for kickoff\u2014and maybe even ready to impress your friends with a little World Cup vocabulary of your own.<\/p>\n
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. <\/p>\n
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