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Word-perfect start to the World Cup

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Conor McNamara | 13:37 UK time, Tuesday, 8 June 2010

metatarsal

Editor's note: we're back. The World Cup is upon us so we're going to have plenty to blog about for a few weeks. Here, to kick things off, is 5 live's match commentator, Conor McNamara, on World Cup language - SB.

As the build up to World Cup 2010 continues, and I think it's time to address a big issue. It's not just the players who need to fine-tune their preparation at this stage; wherever you rank on the spectator scale - from casual to die-hard - it's time to brush-up on your World Cup terminology. Admittedly, this is an area that has come on leaps and bounds over recent tournaments... no-one says "broken foot" anymore, not since "" entered the national vernacular.

But as the usual World Cup rituals begin - you know the ones; a goalkeeper drops a bottle of aftershave on his foot and misses the tournament; a high-profile player of a lesser nation falls-out with his coach etc... Now is the time to nail-down the correct usage to see you through to the final in Soccer City on Sunday 11th July.

Let's start with the metatarsal, an area where we can all raise our game. While dogs in the street now speak in authoritative tones of "...doing a metatarsal", impress your mates in the pub by wondering aloud whether it is the "tarsometatarsal joint" that is causing the problem? Or patiently explain to lesser mortals why a broken metatarsal is called a "March Fracture" in the trade (such an injury used to be suffered by military recruits after long marches).

On to the ball itself - The ritual of goalkeepers worrying about a new light, unpredictable balloon that swerves all over the place is a regular feature of any World Cup build-up. The suggestion that footballs are getting lighter and lighter every tournament used to be embraced by professionals; my colleague Jimmy Armfield tells of kicking a cannonball around Chile in 1962. Nowadays goalkeepers complain of "movement in the air", while free-kick takers moan that they can no longer get the ball "up-and-down again" over the wall.

This year's ball is called the 'Jabulani' (meaning 'to rejoice') and, if the early reviews are to be believed, travels 5% faster than previous versions. Goalkeepers have not been 'rejoicing' all that much. David James says its "dreadful", other goalkeepers not endorsed by the manufacturer seem to agree. However, the same comments have been made before every tournament since the 1980s - think of it as an insurance policy for the Custodians' Trade Union.

Of course, our focus here is on the terminology - so instead of the old fashioned hexagonal pieces of leather stitched together to form a sphere - we need to describe the '8 thermally-bonded 3-D panels' that make up the new ball. Basically, the difference is that even with no air inside, this ball remains perfectly round. Not good for packing one in a suitcase! Which is what I am off to do now. My first commentary on Five Live is France v Uruguay on the opening night. I'll be providing regular updates of life in South Africa on these pages over the next month or so.

I'll leave you with an example as to why terminology is so important: I'm sure you have read about North Korea's attempts to pull a fast one by naming a striker as one of their three goalkeepers - giving them extra attacking option. But now FIFA have ruled that Kim Myong Won can only play in goal for the duration of the tournament. Fairly basic terminology that one - 'Goalkeeper: keeps goal'.

Conor McNamara is one of 5 live's commentators for the World Cup

  • Conor will be shooting video from behind the scenes for the blog throughout the tournament.
  • Keep up with 5 live's World Cup coverage on the web site and on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Sport's .
  • Luke Benedict in the Daily Mail looked into .
  • by . Used .

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