CR7
CR7 is a nickname for Cristiano Ronaldo which combines his initials and favoured number. The Portugal star has turned the nickname into a brand, selling underwear, fragrance and other items under the name.
Cap-tied
When a player is cap-tied in international football it means they have played a senior competitive game for one particular national team and cannot change to another for which they may have been eligible.
Example: Former Barcelona forward Munir El-Haddadi was eligible for Morocco, but cannot switch allegiance to them because he played for Spain once in a European Championship qualifier, meaning he is cap-tied to Spain.
Catenaccio
Catenaccio is an Italian term for a tactical system of play which uses a strong defensive system. The word means ‘door bolt’ or ‘chain’. It was notably used by Inter in the 1960s as well as many of Giovanni Trapattoni’s teams.
Caught sleeping
When a player or defence is described as having been “caught sleeping” it means they have not been concentrating enough on their job or paying attention to the player they are supposed to be marking. Variations of “caught sleeping” include “caught napping” and “switched off”.
Example: “The Chelsea defence were caught sleeping when they failed to close down Ronaldinho, who used the space to pick his spot and send the ball sailing past Petr Cech.”
Awful mistakes by great defenders
Chip shot
A shot that is kicked from underneath the ball to provide some arc for it to go over the opponent: Lionel Messi is one of the best at this skill.
Top chip goals in football
Class act
A player/manager that deserves praise especially with their attitude and manners off the field.
Clean sheet
A clean sheet is when a team does not concede any goals in a match. Sometimes known as ‘a shutout’ in North America, it uses the image of an unblemished garment.
Example: “Despite the best efforts of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Alisson managed to keep a clean sheet at Anfield.
Corner flag
Flags are placed in each of the four corners of the pitch to help mark the boundaries of the playing area.
Corner kick
Kick taken from within a one-meter radius of the corner flag; a method of restarting play when a player puts the ball behind their own goal line without a goal being scored.
Cracker
A breathtaking football match or an outstanding goal, mainly from a long distance.
Cruyff Turn
The Cruyff Turn is the name of a dribble technique which was popularised by Netherlands star Johan Cruyff when he used it to evade Sweden’s Jan Olsson at the 1974 World Cup. The move involves feigning a pass and switching the ball to the standing foot by performing a 180 degree turn.
Cruyff turn tutorial
Cup-tied
The rules of many cup competitions prohibit a player for playing for two different clubs in the same competition in the same season. If a player plays for one club in round one of a cup then transfers to another club which is competing in the same cup, they would be cup-tied for the remainder of the competition.
