Soccer Terms in Italian - Vocabulary Practice

You don’t have to study Italian for long before you learn that Italians love soccer. Historically and currently it’s referred to as il calcio. (Have you heard of an event called il Calcio Storico Fiorentino? It won’t look quite like the soccer matches you’re used to!) Nowadays, though, there are coaches and referees from other countries, players on loan from all over the world and tifosi (fans) internationally. In Italy, in matches ranging from the Coppa del Mondo (World Cup) to Serie A, from international friendlies to the friendly pick-up game in the piazza, a multitude of languages are spoken—not just Italian. But even so, there are advantages to knowing Italian soccer terms. If you were to attend a game in-person in Italy, chances are that youll still hear Italian spoken most of the time. And if your goal is to improve your Italian language skills, then reading Corriere dello Sport  or Gazzetta dello Sport (which is famous for its pink colored pages - even the website maintains this pink color!) for the latest results of your favorite squadra (team) or listening to soccer broadcasts in Italian is a very effective way to advance in the standings, so to speak. Besides knowing the vocabulary words that you see below, you’ll also want to know about the different teams, their nicknames, and how the leagues are structured. Common Soccer Vocabulary Words i calzoncini—shortsi calzini (le calze da giocatore)—socksi guanti da portiere—goalkeepers glovesil calcio dangolo (il corner)—corner (corner kick)il calcio di punizione—free kickil calcio di rigore (il rigore)—penalty (penalty kick)il calcio di rinvio—goal kickil campo di/da calcio—fieldil cartellino giallo (per lammonizione)—yellow card (as a caution)il cartellino rosso (per lespulsione)—red card (for expulsion)il centrocampista—midfield playeril dischetto  del calcio di rigore—penalty spotil colpo di testa—headeril difensore—defenderil difensore esterno—outside defenderil dribbling—dribbleil fallo—foulil fuorigioco—offsideil gol—goalil guardalinee—linesmanil libero—sweeperil palo (il palo della porta)—post (goalpost)il pallone—soccer ballil parastinchi—shin guardil passaggio diretto (della palla)—pass (pass ing the ball)il passaggio corto—short passil portiere—goalkeeperlala—outside forward (winger)lallenatore—coachlammonizione—sending-offlarbitro—refereelarea di rigore—penalty arealarresto (della palla)—receiving the ball (taking a pass)lattaccante—strikerlostruzione—obstructionla bandierina di calcio dangolo—corner flagla linea di fondo—goal linela linea di metà   campo—half-way linela linea laterale—touch linela maglia—shirt (jersey)la mezzala—inside forward (striker)la partita—matchla respinta di pugno—save with the fistsla rimessa laterale—throw-inla riserva (il giocatore di reserva)—substitutela rovesciata—bicycle kickla scarpa da calcio—soccer boot (shoe)la squadra—teamla traversa—crossbarlo stadio—stadiumlo stopper—inside defendersegnare un gol—to score a goaltifosi - fans For vocabulary words related to other sports, like skiing and cycling, read, 75 Vocabulary Words for Talking About Sports in Italian.