For all the debate about the British terms that have become ingrained in the American soccer lexicon, there's already some Italian influence that has infiltrated.
Take stock for a moment: There are the "ultras" (diehard) supporter groups in a few MLS markets. And we call those illustrious displays by those same supporters by the word "tifo" (from the Italian word for "supporter").
On the field, some have resorted to the "catenaccio" term to describe Montreal's play (the tactic of sitting back on defense and countering).
And we also used to have the now-defunct "scudetto" in MLS: the badge that is attached to the jersey to show the current MLS champion. They still use it in Italy.
WATCH: Bradley teaches Totti English
Get ready for the next two months for your fair share of "Giallorossi" (yellow-and-reds) now that AS Roma have been unveiled as the 2013 opponent for the AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 31.
As we get ready to be immersed in some Italian soccer culture, we give you a basic cheat-sheet of terms below as well as the next batch of Italian words that will be part of the US soccer discourse in just a matter of time. We even use them in sentences for you:
Forza Red Bulls! (Go! Come on Red Bulls!)
Can you believe that tacco by Thierry Henry (back-heel pass or back-heel shot)
They gave Zac MacMath an autogolwhen the ball smacked off his face into his own net (own goal)
Let's get some people from the office and have a partitella (kick-around or pick-up game)
Few teams have a fantasista like Lee Nguyen (creative playmaker … thank you, Christopher Sullivan)
Wells Thompson is the Chicago Fire'sjolly(all-around utility man, who can fill any spot)
The Rossoneriare bottom of the league in MLS (Black-and-Red at D.C. United)
Saturday's almost here. Gotta go online to fill out the totocalcio for this week (pick'em game)
Basic English-Italian Soccer Dictionary
Soccer = Calcio
Corner kick = Calcio d'angolo
Free kick = Calcio di punizione
Penalty kick = Calcio di rigore
Header = Colpo di testa
Foul = Fallo
Offisde = Fuorigioco
Goal = Gol or rete (net)
Soccer ball = Pallone or palla
Referee = Arbitro
Match = Partita
Throw-in = Rimessa laterale
Shot = Tiro
Supporters = Tifosi
Goalkeeper = Portiere
Head coach = Allenatore
Forward = Attaccante (center forward = centravanti or punta, winger = ala)
Defender = Difensore (centerback = stopper, fullback = terzino or difensore di fascia)
Midfielder = Centrocampista (winger = ala, defensive mid = mediano, attacking midfielder = fantasista or trequartista)
Ball kid = Raccattapalle
