Grand pont
January 26, 2006
I managed a "grand pont" (big bridge) on an opponent last night at football. I know "petit pont" (little bridge) is "nutmeg" (when you kick the ball between your opponent’s legs), but what about "grand pont"? The only resource on football vocabulary I know of is this glossary of olympics sports, and it gives the following explanation rather than an equivalent: "overplaying an opponent on the one side while overrunning him on the other". In other words, you kick the ball to her right (or left) and run around her on her left (or right), before collecting the ball and running off with it. Any football fans out there willing to enlighten me?
Posted by céline, in Words, on January 26, 2006The famous and oft shown one was the great Brazilian Pele in the 1970 World Cup where he went round the opposition goalkeeper. Unfortunately it didn't result in a goal. I assume unlike your outcome last night?
Posted by Daniel Hinge on January 26, 2006 12:20 PMI was on the wing, darted down, crossed the ball in and my striker fluffed it. Remind me to tell you this weekend about the goal I scored once without touching the ball. Pele, eat your heart out.
Posted by céline on January 26, 2006 1:01 PMFrom what I see in football.guardian.co.uk my impression is that 'nutmeg' means both petit and grand pont. If it can help, the Italian 'tunnel' refers to both kinds of ponts.
TV commentary talks about a nutmeg as the "petit pont" only. ("Nutmeg" is apparently rhyming slang for leg).
It is fairly rare bit of football skill and might not have, or need, an equivalent in English.
I have heard "oh!" (such a rare bit of skill always preceded by an exclamation) "he's gone right round the outside of him" from TV commentators before now.
andy
Posted by andy on January 27, 2006 1:43 PMAs viewers of the excellent BALDERDASH AND PIFFLE (BBC2 MONDAYS @ 9p.m.) will know, the origin of the term 'nutmeg' is uncertain.
Posted by Andy on January 31, 2006 9:55 AMHi Céline
'Nutmeg' is indeed the translation of 'Petit pont'. 'Grand pont' does not have a nice snappy equivalent in English - a football commentator would normally say 'Céline goes round Zidane' or 'Céline skins Zidane'(quite slangy, this one, but I prefer it).
Posted by MG on February 3, 2006 2:47 PM"Céline goes round Zidane" - how fantastic does that sound?!
("Céline goes round Zidane and dribbles past Roberto Carlos and Sergio Ramos before sending a missile into Casillas' top right corner in the last minute of the Champions' League final" sounds even better)
I know that "grand pont" In Brazil, is called "drible da vaca", literally "la feinte de la vache". I just love that expression.
Posted by Carol on February 14, 2006 11:07 AMPrevious: January 24, 2006
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