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Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Positions & Players

Winger

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

/ˈwɪŋər/nounCore term

In football (soccer), winger means: An attacking player who plays near the touchline on the right or left, using pace and dribbling to beat defenders and create chances.

In Turkish: kanat oyuncusu, açık

How it is used

Wingers stay wide, beat their full-back and cross or cut inside. An inverted winger plays on the side opposite their stronger foot so they can cut in and shoot. Commentators talk about "pace on the wings".

Example sentences

  1. Their winger cut inside and curled it into the far corner.

  2. Our wingers need to track back and help the full-backs.

Common collocations

  • right winger
  • inverted winger
  • pacy winger
  • out-and-out winger
  • 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.
  • crossA 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.
  • dribbleTo run with the ball while keeping it under control with small touches, often to get past one or more opponents.
  • strikerAn attacking player who plays closest to the opponents' goal and whose main job is to score goals.

More terms: Positions & Players

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