startingeleven
nounUK /ˈstɑːtɪŋ ɪˈlɛvən/
US /ˈstɑrtɪŋ ɪˈlɛvən/
The starting eleven are the eleven players who begin a soccer game for their team.
The coach picked a strong starting eleven for the big match.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The group of players chosen to play from the very first minute of a match.
Their starting eleven stayed the same all season.
3. In sports like cricket, the eleven players who start the game on the field.
The starting eleven took the field under cloudy skies.
4. A team's strongest set of players at the beginning of a competition.
Fans debated who should be in the starting eleven.