This week’s weekly football phrase is go over the top.

* Find out more about this phrase by reading the transcript below.

* You can also find many more examples of soccer vocabulary by going to our football cliches page here and our huge football glossary here.

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(to) Go over the top

The verb phrase to go over the top, is used to describe a dangerous tackle. In this kind of tackle, a player tackles the opponent not the ball – the foot goes over the top of the ball and into the other players shin or ankle. This kind of tackle can cause a bad injury. If a player commits this kind of tackle, they often receive a red card. Other ways to describe going over the top are a studs up challenge or a leg breaker. To go over the top.

* Example:The Ghanaian’s studs raked into Hamann just below the knee as he went over the top for a loose ball and Hamann did not hide his disappointment afterwards. “That is the worst tackle I have ever received,” he said. (lfchistory.net)

* Example: De Jong’s rugged, over-the-top challenge left Nagbe writhing in agony and triggered a prolonged melee between players from both sides. De Jong escaped with a caution. (abc.net.au)

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