Announcing Cliches In Soccer, Ranked

The World Cup didn’t quite feel the same without Ian Darke to call it, but at least there was another month of (mostly) British announcers populating our soccer broadcasts. Here’s a celebration of the phrases only heard when watching the beautiful game.

“A cracking shot”/“An absolute cracker”

“An absolute howler”

“Orgasmic”/“Celestial” (Ray Hudson only)

“A cynical challenge”

“And now (attacking team) is asking the questions”

“Park the bus”

“Queueing up a cross”

“Substitution for an injection of pace”

“Tremendous bit of skill”

“Did well to cut out that pass”

“If you don’t buy a ticket, you can’t win the lottery”

“Top of the table”

“Schoolboy defending”

“Cleared only as far as (midfielder)”

“Like for like”

“In-swinger”/“Out-swinger”

“Rainy night in Stoke”

Studiously keeping track of the corner count

Running into a parked bus

“On frame”