Learn English Through Football

This football language podcast looks back at Day 13 of the 2020 European Championships. We talk about some football phrases connected with goalkeeping and the Portugal versus France match. You can read a 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. (DB=Damon)
Full Stretch – Football Language: Euro 2020 – Day 13
DB: You’re listening to languagecaster.com’s football language Euro 2020 podcast. Welcome everyone to languagecaster and our daily Euro 2020 football language podcast. My name is Damon, one half of the languagecaster team. I’m based in Tokyo and have been watching the Euros most evenings and mornings over here. How are things with you? I hope you are well and enjoying all of the great football taking place at the moment.
On this show, I will be talking about action from the Portugal versus France game, which ended 2-2 but was a real see-saw game, with the referee pointing to the spot, awarding a penalty, an incredible three times. I’d like to particularly focus on some goalkeeping action from the second half involving the Portuguese keeper, Rui Patrício.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (Portuguese).
Fingertip Save
DB: Yes, you are listening to languagecaster and that message was in Portuguese.
OK, the language I want to focus on today is not connected with penalties, even though three were awarded. Instead, I want to talk about a great moment when the Portugal keeper, Patrício, kept Portugal in the hunt for a last 16 spot with some great goalkeeping.
Here is how the BBC match report described the action: “Goalkeeper Rui Patricio also made a vital contribution – brilliantly denying Pogba from long range with a fingertip save, before recovering to palm away Antoine Griezmann’s rebounded effort in the second half.“
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There are two saves by the keeper and both deny France a goal. The verb ‘deny‘ is often used to describe a save. For example, Patrício denied Pogba means the goalkeeper stopped, saved, Pogba’s shot and stopped him scoring.
The first save was a fingertip save. This is when the keeper just manages to touch the ball and move it away from goal. A fingertip save is great save made with the end of the fingers.
Full Stretch
We can also say, he was at full stretch when he made the save. Full stretch is when a goalkeeper jumps and extends his arms fully, reaching for the ball. They are at their maximum possible reach. Patrício was definitely at full stretch when he made a great fingertip save to deny Pogba.
Then there was a second dramatic save. The BBC report describes it, remember, by using the phrase to palm away: he palmed away Griezma...