The Beautiful Game 1

10 October, 2009

Football is one of the most popular sports on the planet, millions of people follow their favorite team each week. The Premier league is the world's most popular. Here two ordinary British guys talk about the beautiful game.

This exercise practices some common informal English words. Before you listen you will need to know the meaning of these words.

Not sure? you can look them up in this dictionary. (They are all nouns except carry on.) The dictionary will open in a new tab or window.

Listen and put the words in the box into the correct spaces.

• Fill the gaps
• See the script

Stuart and Gray talk about the beautiful game

.
Did you see the match last night?
What? On the ?
Yeah.
Better than that mate, I went to the stadium and watched it live.
No!
Yes, I did. Cost me fifty for a ticket.
Fifty quid! I can’t believe it is so expensive nowadays, just to watch 22 grown men kick a bit of around.
I know, Still it was a good match though.
Yeah? Who won?
It was all square at the end.
Oh, that’s always boring.
No, it was a really entertaining. The Arsenal scored two in the first half but we pulled one back just after the and then hit the in the 93rd minute.
93rd minute?
Yeah, injury time. It was a lovely goal.
You were a bit lucky though, scoring with the last kick of the game.
Not at all mate, we thoroughly deserved it, we were all over them in the second half, we hit the bar, hit the post twice and had a goal disallowed for .
Was it offside?
I couldn’t see properly from where I was, but it looked ok. The referee was terrible though so it wouldn’t surprise me if it had been onside.
What do you mean the ref was terrible?
Well you know he gave Arsenal every free kick and gave us nothing all game.
Really?
One of their defenders clearly handled the ball in the eighteen yard box. Definitely handball, and the ref just waved play on. I couldn’t believe it.
Oh right. Still a point won at an away game. You have to be happy with that. Right?
Yeah if we playing like that we just might win the league.
In your dreams.
Yeah, you’re probably right.
Another drink?
Yeah a please.

Stuart and Gray talk about the beautiful game

.
Did you see the match last night?
What? On the telly?
Yeah.
Better than that mate, I went to the stadium and watched it live.
No!
Yes, I did. Cost me fifty quid for a ticket.
Fifty quid! I can’t believe it is so expensive nowadays, just to watch 22 grown men kick a bit of leather around.
I know, Still it was a good match though.
Yeah? Who won?
It was all square at the end.
Oh, that’s always boring.
No, it was a really entertaining. The Arsenal scored two in the first half but we pulled one back just after the break and then hit the equalizer in the 93rd minute.
93rd minute?
Yeah, injury time. It was a lovely goal.
You were a bit lucky though, scoring with the last kick of the game.
Not at all mate, we thoroughly deserved it, we were all over them in the second half, we hit the bar, hit the post twice and had a goal disallowed for offside.
Was it offside?
I couldn’t see properly from where I was, but it looked ok. The referee was terrible though so it wouldn’t surprise me if it had been onside.
What do you mean the ref was terrible?
Well you know he gave Arsenal every free kick and gave us nothing all game.
Really?
One of their defenders clearly handled the ball in the eighteen yard box. Definitely handball, and the ref just waved play on. I couldn’t believe it.
Oh right. Still a point won at an away game. You have to be happy with that. Right?
Yeah if we carry on playing like that we just might win the league.
In your dreams.
Yeah, you’re probably right.
Another drink?
Yeah a pint please.