P

An insult for a player whose goal stats are padded by penalties. Used to dismiss achievements by arguing they couldn't score as many from open play. Common in online debates comparing strikers, though it's often unfair to designated penalty takers who didn't choose to be handed spot kicks. Bruno Fernandes at United is a frequent target.

If a knock-out tournament match is level after 90 minutes it will then move on to extra time and penalties if still no winner can be found. Each team has 5 chances to score from a penalty kick, taking it in turns, the team that scores the most goals wins. The pressure builds as you reach the end of the 5 kicks. If it is level after 5 kicks each, sudden death begins. A penalty shootout could go on forever in theory, with every player taking a kick, including goalkeepers, until one team scores and the other misses. In big games like the World Cup, there is nothing quite like the intensity of a penalty shootout!

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The former name of the official refereeing body in England responsible for the training, development, and match appointment management of referees and assistants for professional football matches in the English football pyramid. It was originally called the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB) and for the start of the 2026/2027 season has been renamed again to Pro Ref.

The creative midfielder who runs the game, creates chances, and controls tempo. Classic number 10s like Maradona and Zidane played between midfield and attack. Deep-lying playmakers like Pirlo and Xavi do similar things from further back. Pure playmakers are rarer now because teams spread creative duties around instead of relying on one player. But the role still gets romanticized as football at its most artistic.

"Juego de posición" in Spanish. Players occupy zones rather than fixed positions, maintain good spacing, and create overloads in key areas. Originally developer by Cruyff, Guardiola refined it. The idea is structure over improvisation - everyone knows where they should be relative to the ball and their teammates. Unlike total football's constant position-swapping, it stays organised while allowing creativity within that framework.