Upper-Intermediate - World Cup Football (D0160)

A 世界杯6月9号要开幕了。你今年看好哪个队?
shìjièbēi liùyuèjiǔhào yào kāimù le. nǐ jīnnián kànhǎo nǎge duì?
The World Cup opens on June 9th. Which team do you favor this year?
B 我是亚洲人,理论上说应该支持亚洲球队。但是我觉得他们的实力还是没办法和欧洲,南美洲或者非洲的球队相比。
wǒ shì yàzhōurén, lǐlúnshàng shuō yīnggāi zhīchí Yàzhōu qiúduì. dànshì wǒ juéde tāmen de shílì hái shì méi bànfǎ hé Oūzhōu, Nánměizhōu huòzhě Fēizhōu de qiúduì xiāngbǐ.
I am Asian, so theoretically I should support the Asian teams. But I think that they still can’t match the level of play of teams from Europe, South America, and Africa.
A 但是上届韩国进了四强。我觉得亚洲这几支队伍还是有可能成为黑马的。
dànshì shàng jiè Hánguó jìn le sì qiáng. wǒ juéde Yàzhōu zhè jǐ zhī duìwǔ hái shì yǒu kěnéng chéngwéi hēimǎ de.
But Korea got into the semi-finals in the last tournament. I think these Asian teams might possibly create an upset.
B 不过我认为真正的黑马还是非洲的球队。大多数队员平时都在欧洲联赛踢球,所以技战术水平很高。
bùguò wǒ rènwéi zhēnzhèng de hēimǎ hái shì Fēizhōu de qiúduì. dàduōshù duìyuán píngshí dōu zài Oūzhōu liánsài tīqiú, suǒyǐ jì zhànshù shuǐpíng hěn gāo.
But I still think that the African teams are the underdogs that could go all the way. Most of their players are in European leagues. Their tactics and techniques are excellent.
A 那你觉得这届最有希望拿冠军的是哪个队?
nà nǐ juéde zhè jiè zuì yǒu xīwàng ná guànjūn de shì nǎge duì?
Which team do you think has the greatest chance of winning this year?
B 巴西。他们的实力确实比其他队要强很多。怪不得是卫冕冠军。
Bāxī. tāmen de shílì quèshí bǐ qítā duì yào qiáng hěn duō. guàibude shì wèimiǎn guànjūn.
Brazil. They are a cut above the other teams. It’s no wonder they are the defending champions
A 我觉得英格兰,阿根廷都挺有希望的。还有德国,东道主占天时、地利、人和,绝对不能小看。上届的韩国就是最好的例子。
wǒ juéde Yīnggélán, A1gēntíng dōu tǐng yǒu xīwàng de. háiyǒu Déguó, dōngdàozhǔ zhàn tiān shí, dì lì, rén hé, juéduì bùnéng xiǎokàn. shàng jiè de Hánguó jiùshì zuìhǎo de lìzi.
I think England and Argentina both have hope. Don’t forget Germany. The hosting nation has all kinds of advantages, so they certainly can’t be overlooked. Korea in the last World Cup is the best example.
B 我觉得最热门的还是巴西。他们的阵容很出色,小组赛分组也特别有利。但是,英格兰和阿根廷分到的简直就是死亡之组。你支持谁啊?
wǒ juéde zuì rèmén de hái shì Bāxī. tāmen de zhènróng hěn chūsè, xiǎozǔ sài fēnzǔ yě tèbié yǒulì. dànshì, Yīnggélán hé A1gēntíng fēndào de jiǎnzhí jiùshì sǐwáng zhī zǔ. nǐ zhīchí shéi a?
I still think Brazil is the best. They’ve got an excellent line-up and are in a good position in the small group. But England and Argentina are in tough groups. Which do you support?
A 谁有实力我就支持谁。我不像有些球迷那么狭隘。
shéi yǒu shílì wǒ jiù zhīchí shéi. wǒ bù xiàng yǒuxiē qiúmí nàme xiáài.
I support whoever plays well. I am not narrow-minded like some soccer fans.
B 你说谁呢?
nǐ shuō shéi ne?
Who are you referring to?

Key Vocabulary

开幕了 kāimù le to open
支持 zhīchí to support
实力 shílì strength
jiè [measure word]
黑马 hēimǎ black horse
欧洲联赛 Oūzhōu liánsài Europe
水平 shuǐpíng level
战术 zhànshù tricks
巴西 Bāxī Brazil
卫冕 wèimiǎn defend a title
英格兰 Yīnggélán England
阿根廷 A1gēntíng Argentina
东道主 dōngdàozhǔ host
小看 xiǎokàn to look down upon
热门 rèmén hottest
阵容 zhènróng line-up
狭隘 xiáài narrow

Supplementary Vocabulary

闭幕式 bìmùshì closing ceremony
加时赛 jiāshísài overtime (OT)
点球 diǎnqiú penalty kick
裁判 cáipàn referee
红牌 hóngpái red card
黄牌 huángpái yellow card
犯规 fànguī foul
射门 shèmén to shoot (at the goal)
角球 jiǎoqiú corner kick
前锋 qiánfēng forward
后卫 hòuwèi fullback
门将 ménjiàng goalkeeper