Association Football Terminology - G

G

• Game of two halves: expression used by commentators to describe a close match where one team dominates each half.
• Game 39: proposal to play an extra round of Premier League matches played outside of the United Kingdom. Also known as the 39th game.
• Ghost goal: situations where a ball fairly crossed the goal line but did not result in a goal, or a goal was awarded despite the ball not crossing the line.
• Giant-killing: cliché used to describe a lower division team defeating another team from a much higher division in that country's league.
• Give-and-go: see One-two.
• Goal: the only method of scoring in football; for a goal to be awarded the ball must pass completely over the goal line in the area between the posts and beneath the crossbar.
• Goal average: number of goals scored divided by number of goals conceded. Used as a tie-breaking method before the introduction of goal difference.
• Goal difference: net difference between goals scored and goals conceded. Used to differentiate league positions when clubs are tied on points.
• Goalkeeper: player closest to the goal a team is defending. A goalkeeper has the job of preventing the opposition from scoring. They are the only player on the pitch that can handle the ball in open play, although they can only do so in the penalty area. Known informally as a keeper or a goalie.
• Goal kick: method of restarting play when the ball is played over the goal line without a goal being scored.
• Goal line: line at one of the shorter ends of the pitch, spanning from one corner flag to another, with the goalposts situated at the halfway point. Also spelt goal-line.
• Goal poacher: type of striker, primarily known for excellent scoring ability and movement inside the penalty area. Also known as a fox in the box.
• Goalmouth: the section of the pitch immediately in front of the goal.
• Goalmouth scramble: when multiple players from both teams attempt to gain control of a loose ball in the goalmouth. This often results in a short period of chaotic play involving attackers shooting towards goal and defenders blocking shots, balls ricocheting around the goalmouth, and players falling over. Also known as a scrimmage.
• Goal of the century: usually used to refer to Diego Maradona's second goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
• Goalpost: vertical bars at either side of the goal.
• Golden Generation: an exceptionally talented set of players who are expected to achieve a high level of success.
• Golden goal: method of determining the winner of a match which is a draw after 90 minutes of play. Up to an additional 30 minutes are played in two 15-minute halves, the first team to score wins and the match ends immediately. See also Silver goal.
• Groundhopping: hobby among fans, in which the objective is to visit as many football stadiums and grounds as possible. Participants are known as groundhoppers or simply hoppers.
• Group of death: group in a cup competition which is unusually competitive, because the number of strong teams in the group is greater than the number of qualifying places available for the next phase of the tournament.