forward line

forward line (plural forward lines)

1. (military) The soldiers in the furthest forward position in an army.
2. (Gaelic football, Australian rules football) Collectively, the three full forwards
3. (soccer) Collectively, the attackers
   • 6 September 2013, Daniel Taylor, “Danny Welbeck leads England's rout of Moldova but hit by Ukraine ban”, in The Guardian‎:

     Now Hodgson just has to work out a makeshift forward line against a Ukraine team who warmed up for Tuesday by doling out the obligatory thrashing to San Marino, knocking in four goals by half-time and another five in the second half.

• narrowfield