launch an attack/assault/offensive - Intellectual Horizons

　DY（08/05/12付）のLONDON OLYMPICS / Nadeshiko knock off Brazil / Overcome relentless attack to set up semifinal clash with Franceより英語表現を拾います。

　Japanese players had expected that Brazil would dominate possession in the early half of the game. However, Brazil's attacks were even sharper than they had thought. In the first 20 minutes, Japan had almost had no opportunities to launch an offensive against Brazil.
　"I felt as if there were 12 Brazilian players on the field," midfielder Mizuho Sakaguchi said.
　However, defense leader Iwashimizu was calm under Brazil's barrage. "We kept losing possession of the ball, so I decided to move our defense line back closer to our goal to prepare for Brazil's attacks," she said.
　Instead of chasing the ball aggressively when it was in Brazil's half of the field, Japan's players retreated to their own half of the field to counter Brazil's attacks there.
　Japan used counterattacks to try to score instead of battling Brazil for ball possession.
　The change in strategy proved effective. When Japan had a chance for a free kick in the 27th minute, Homare Sawa quickly kicked the ball to Ogimi after noticing that Brazil's defense was unprepared. Ogimi dribbled past Brazil's defenders and calmly netted the ball.
　Brazil continued to dominate possession in the second half. However, Japan launched a counterattack in the 73rd minute. Ono received a long, looping pass from Ogimi near the penalty area and scored to double Japan's lead.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T120804003519.htm

　launchというと，「（ミサイルなど）を発射する」や「（事業など）を始める」という意味が大学受験では有名ですが，ここでは違います。『スーパーアンカー英和辞典』（学研）によれば，「（攻撃）を加える，（攻撃）を仕掛ける」という意味があります。LDOCEを見ると，launchはタイトルにあるような語を目的語に取るときにこの意味になることがわかります。そもそもlaunchの語源はlance（「槍」）で，「槍をほおる」ことにあります（『リーダーズ英和辞典』研究社）。これを考えると，attackなどのような語と共起することがしっくりきます。

　最後に，先日取りあげたpop one's into headも見つけたので，followしておきます。ここではheadの代わりに，mindが使われています。
"The memory of the final against the United States, in which we won by maintaining our solid defense until the end, popped into my mind," Iwashimizu said.