Sprechen Sie Fußball?

In this section I hope to flag up a few footballing terms that English speaking people listening to German commentaries may come across but don't normally crop up in the average German evening class!   This is very much a work in progress and, is in no way whatsoever complete, but I'll add things as I come across them and when I have time.   Native German speakers, please drop me a line if you have any corrections . . . . . .

Abseits - offside

Abwehr - the defense

Alter Schwede - an equivalent to "Wow!" or "What the heck!?!" if something surprises you.

Ampelkarte - a red following a second yellow. A "traffic light card"

Auswärtssieg - an away win

Blütenweiße Weste (Weste) - a clean sheet

Doppelpack - a brace

Doppelpass - a one-two

Ecke  -  corner    

Eigentor (EM)  - Own goal

Englische Woche ("English week") - a week where teams play both in the week and at the weekend

Feld -  the pitch

Freischuss - A free kick

Freundschaftsspiel - A friendly

Gäste - visiting team

Gelbe Karte - yellow card

Hertha BSC - the finest team in Germany!

Hinrunde - the first half of the season before the Christmas/winter break

Jungs - lads / guys / boys

Kampfgeist - fighting spirit

Kantersieg - a walkover or whitewash

Kopfball - header

Länderspiele - An international match

Latte - crossbar

Mannschaft - team

Mauer - a defensive wall set up for a free kick

Die Nationalmannschaft - The national team

Netz - net

Notbremse - a "professional foul"

Pfosten - post

Rote Karte - red card

"Rote Laterne" - the team at the foot of the table, in last place carries the "Red Lantern".

Rückrunde - he secnd half of the season, after the Christmas/winter break

Schwalbe ("swallow", as in the bird) - an obvious dive

Sonntagsschuss - a blasted shot from distance

Spitzenreiter - front runner

Strafraum - penalty area

Strafpunkt - penalty spot

Tor - goal

Viererkette - the back four

Zweikampf - a dual or struggle between two players

 Aufzugsmannschaft / Fahrstuhlmannschaft - a "yoyo team", one that goes up and down between two leagues from season to season.  A West Ham of the German leagues (sorry Hammers).

Thanks to the Talking Fußball podcast team for their inspiration on this section and especially to Alex (@bundesligafooty) for his permission to republish some of the footballing terms and expressions explained in the podcast in the early days.