Meaning & use
central forward
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Meaning
nouncountablesport
An attacking player in soccer who plays in the middle of the field, close to the opponent's goal.
Grammar: Countable noun: a central forward, two central forwards.
Patterns
- play as a central forward
- a central forward for [team]
The team's central forward scored twice in the second half.
He usually plays as a central forward, but sometimes drops back to midfield.
The central forward needs good positioning to receive passes in the box.
Word forms
| plural | central forwards |
|---|
Common combinations
- play as a central forward
- She plays as a central forward for her national team.
- a central forward position
- The coach is looking for someone to fill the central forward position.
- the central forward scored
- The central forward scored the winning goal in the final minute.
Synonyms and how they differ
- striker
- A striker is a more general term for a forward whose main job is to score goals; a central forward specifically plays in the middle, not on the wings.
- center forward
- Center forward is the American spelling and is also used in other sports like hockey; central forward is more common in British soccer writing.
Commonly confused: central forward or center forward?
central forward vs center forward
Center forward is the American spelling and can refer to a similar position in various sports. In soccer, central forward is more specific to the middle attacking role.
Practice
In soccer, which player is most likely to be called a central forward?
Choose one answer.
A central forward is an attacking player positioned centrally, close to the opponent's goal. The other options describe different positions: goalkeeper, central defender, and defensive midfielder.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “central forward”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.