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Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Match Actions & Skills

Cross

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

/krɔːs/nounCore term

In football (soccer), cross means: A pass from the side of the pitch into the penalty area, aimed at a teammate who can head or shoot. As a verb, to cross means to deliver such a pass.

In Turkish: orta

How it is used

Wingers and full-backs put in, whip in or deliver crosses. Crosses can be low, high, early, near-post or far-post, and defenders try to block or clear them. Commentators often judge the quality of the delivery.

Example sentences

  1. His cross was perfect, but nobody attacked the near post.

  2. Get to the byline and cross it low!

Common collocations

  • whip in a cross
  • early cross
  • low cross
  • far-post cross
  • cross into the box
  • wingerAn attacking player who plays near the touchline on the right or left, using pace and dribbling to beat defenders and create chances.
  • headerA shot or pass made by hitting the ball with the head, usually with the forehead.
  • full-backA defender who plays on the right or left side of the back line, defending against wingers and often joining attacks down the flank.
  • assistThe final pass or touch that sets up a teammate to score a goal.

More terms: Match Actions & Skills

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