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Sports Expressions Matching Cards Game 

Author: Dennis Delany  

 

Page 1 of 3

3

 

r: Katie Jones.

 

Set 1 

 

  

What are 

… it takes. 

Anything … 

feeling/instinct. 

They face 

… in depth. 

There are four 

… against it. 

I have 

… can/could/may/might happen. 

They have what 

… the prospects? 

They are in 

… a massive/tough/huge challenge. 

They are up 

… my doubts. 

They have strength 

… main contenders. 

I trust my gut 

… with a chance/shout. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set 2 

 

Can they spring 

… their act together. 

Can they pull 

… them out. 

They need to get 

… the killer instinct. 

It’s a big 

… record. 

You have to factor 

… to be reckoned with.  

You can never rule 

… as a team.  

They are a force 

… it off?  

Look at their track 

… in home advantage.  

They play 

… a surprise? 

They lack 

… ask.  

 

 ©  Pearson Education 2010 

PHOTOCOPIABLE 

background image

 

 

Sports Expressions Matching Cards Game 

Author: Dennis Delany  

 

Page 2 of 3

3

 

r: Katie Jones.

 

Teacher’s Notes 

This activity can be done individually, in pairs or in groups.  

Individually – one copy of each table per student.  

For pairs, cut the table in half and give one half to each student.  

For groups, cut into individual cards and place face down on a table. Each student picks up two cards at 

random and if they match, places them to one side (Pelmanism). If they don’t match, the student replaces 

them and it is the next student’s turn. 

 There are two sets of cards in case you want to vocabulary intake more manageable. 

 

As a follow-up, students can test each other by reading out the first part of the phrase and asking a 

classmate to complete it. You may also want to combine this with the Football Pundits’ Predictions 

Dialogue to consolidate this vocabulary.  

 

SET 1 

 

What are 

the prospects? 

Anything 

can/could/may/might happen.  

They face 

a massive/tough/huge challenge. 

There are four 

main contenders.  

I have 

my doubts. 

They have what 

it takes. 

They are in 

with a chance/a shout. 

They are up 

against it. 

They have strength 

in depth. 

I trust my gut 

feeling/instinct. 

SET 2 

 

Can they spring 

a surprise? 

Can they pull 

it off? 

They need to get 

their act together. 

It’s a big 

ask. 

You have to factor 

in home advantage. 

You can never rule 

them out.  

They are a force 

to be reckoned with.  

Look at their track 

record.  

They play 

as a team.  

They lack 

the killer instinct.  

 ©  Pearson Education 2010 

PHOTOCOPIABLE 

background image

 

 

Sports Expressions Matching Cards Game 

Author: Dennis Delany  

 

Page 3 of 3

3

 

r: Katie Jones.

 

 ©  Pearson Education 2010 

PHOTOCOPIABLE 

Answer Key