parking the bus
All behind the ball
Parking the bus is a defensive soccer strategy where a team positions most players near their own goal, prioritizing preventing the opponent from scoring over attacking.
The phrase evokes the image of literally blocking the goal with a large vehicle.
Critics use it disparagingly to describe overly cautious, unexciting play: They parked the bus for the entire second half.
- low blockDefensive move protecting lower body
- back fourTeam's rear defenders
- wallVertical enclosing structure
- backs to the wallDesperate, no retreat available
- clean sheetZero goals conceded
stonewalling · box · digging in · holding out · bodies · smother · block · zone defense · bunker · swarm · battening down the hatches · offside trap · playing it safe · safety first · circling the wagons · all hands on deck · laying low · wingbacks
- soccer tacticsformation, pressing, passing, counter-attack, counterattack
- Soccergoal, soccer, pass, football, goalkeeper
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- formationsline, circle, triangle, ring, spiral
parking the buspushing forward
Continuing toward a goal
throwing caution to the wind · going for broke · tiki-taka · gung-ho · high press