A goal awarded despite the ball not crossing the line, or denied when it clearly did. Before goal-line technology, these caused huge controversies. Lampard's shot against Germany in 2010 clearly crossed the line but wasn't given; Luis Garcia for Liverpool against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final in 2005; Geoff Hurst's 1966 World Cup final goal probably didn't cross but was given. Technology has mostly eliminated ghost goals, but the term lives on.
A player standing behind their penalty-taking teammate, mirroring their moves as they run-up to strike the ball. If the penalty taker side steps or does a stutter penalty, the player outside of the box does too in synchronisation. Is it superstition, a ploy to put off the keeper or just a tactic to be ready and in the right place for a rebound?
Youri Tielemans has history of doing a ‘ghost penalty run-up’. In the Premier League match against Ipswich, he copied Bruno Fernandes has he ran up to take a penalty, and at his previous club Aston Villa he was known to do the same.
When a lower league or underdog team knocks out a much bigger club, usually in a cup competition, particularly synonymous with the FA Cup. The smaller team has nothing to lose, give absolutely everything for 90 minutes, and the favourites often look like they can't be bothered. Home advantage at a tight, hostile ground helps too.
Do you remember Mickey Thomas' screamer against Arsenal in '92? What a giant killing.
The Golden Ball trophy is awarded to the best player at the World Cup. A shortlist is drawn up by the FIFA technical committee and the winner voted for by the media. Not to be confused with the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the top scorer in the tournament. In the men’s World Cup, it was first awarded in the 1982 edition, and in the women’s World Cup it has been awarded since 1991. Runners-up receive the Silver Ball and third place the Bronze Ball.
In 2023, England’s Lucy Bronze actually won the Silver Ball, just missing out on both the player of the tournament and a Bronze for Bronze.