June 11, 2010
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A replica of the Jabulani match ball is seen on the pitch
at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. The opening match between
South Africa and Mexico will take place today. REUTERS
JOHANNESBURG: ‘‘Vuvuzela’’ trumpets blasted and football chants rang out across South Africa on the eve of the continent’s first World Cup which Africans hope will transform negative global perceptions of them.
In hotels and training grounds across the vast and beautiful nation, players and coaches of the 32 competing nations had their eyes set on an equally lofty goal — lifting the globe’s most coveted sporting prize on July 11.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma unrealistically urged the local ‘‘Bafana Bafana’’ (The Boys) team to bring him the trophy. But the more likely benefit for the hosts is a legacy of tourism, investment and greater social unity.
South Africa go into today’s opener against Mexico brimming with confidence after a 12-match unbeaten run.
The majority of 90,000 people in Soccer City will be backing Bafana Bafana with a cacophony of vuvuzelas that have already become a symbol of South Africa 2010.
‘‘This is big history, I can’t believe it,’’ local fan Alice Satege said, shaking with tears as she cheered a team parade.
South African Presdient Jacob Zuma, centre right, visits
the South African national team at their training camp at Wits
University in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Mexican fans laughing and singing under a statue of Nelson Mandela in sunny Johannesburg on Thursday said they had no qualms about spoiling the local party. Other pockets of fans chanted in multiple languages in Nelson Mandela Square.
Uruguay face France in the second match of the 64-game tournament’s opening day. Among foreigners pouring in, none can have taken a more epic journey than a Uruguayan family who have driven 100,000km across 41 nations in a tiny car since early 2007 before reaching the World Cup by ship.
For lowly-ranked South Africa, just reaching the second round — and not becoming the first host nation of a World Cup to go out at the start — would probably be triumph enough.
Other African nations like Ivory Coast and Ghana have much stronger sides, though the loss of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien respectively are a blow to their chances.
Few expect an end to Europe and South America’s stranglehold on the World Cup, with Spain and Brazil everyone’s favourites.
Argentina have arguably one of the most gifted sides, though their chances could depend on the chemistry between maverick manager Diego Maradona and brilliant forward Lionel Messi.
Usual wild expectations associated with England’s team of Premier League players are tempered this time round after some unconvincing friendlies and injuries to key players.
replica – an accurate copy of something งานศิลปะที่จำลองจากของจริง, ของจำลอง
vuvuzela – a long plastic instrument blown by football fans
trumpet – a musical instrument that is a curved metal tube with a wide end. You play it by blowing into it as you press buttons on the top. Someone who plays the trumpet is called a trumpeter or a trumpet player แตร
chant – shouting or singing a word or phrase many times โห่ร้อง
eve – the day before วันก่อน
continent – one of the seven large land masses on the Earth's surface, surrounded, or mainly surrounded, by sea and usually consisting of various countries ทวีป
transform – to change from one form into another เปลี่ยนไปสู่อีกสิ่งหนึ่ง
negative – bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
global – throughout the world ทั่วโลก
perception – a particular way of understanding or thinking about something ความเข้าใจ
vast – extremely large in area, size, amount, etc. กว้างใหญ่, มหาศาล
lofty – very high; based on high standards สูงส่ง
covet – to very much want something that someone else has อยากได้ของผู้อื่น
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
trophy – a large silver cup or similar object given as a prize to the winner of a competition ถ้วยรางวัล
host – a country, city, group, person, etc. which provides the space and other things necessary for a special event เจ้าภาพ
legacy – something that someone has achieved that continues to exists after they stop working or die สิ่งที่สืบทอด
brimming with confidence – full of confidence, a belief in your ability to do something เต็มไปด้วยความเชื่อมั่นในตัวเอง
majority – more than 50 percent of a group เสียงส่วนใหญ่
cacophony – an unpleasant mixture of loud sounds เสียงดังที่ผสมปนเปกัน
symbol – someone or something that represents a particular idea or quality สัญลักษณ์
qualms – thoughts that what you are doing might be bad or wrong ความรู้สึกไม่สบายใจ
pocket – a small area which has a particular quality that makes it different from the areas around it
epic – an event or activity that lasts a long time and is difficult or complicated งานที่ยิ่งใหญ่
triumph – a great victory or success ชัยชนะครั้งใหญ่
respectively – in the order in which they were mentioned ตามลำดับstranglehold
gifted – with an impressive natural ability ซึ่งมีพรสวรรค์, ซึ่งมีความสามารถพิเศษ
chemistry – an emotional relationship between people วิถีทางที่ทำให้เกิดความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างบุคคล
maverick – of an independent person who has ideas and behaviour that are very different from other people’s แนวความคิดหรือการกระทำที่สวนทางกับแนวความคิด หรือการกระทำของคนหมู่มาก
brilliant – very skilful, impressive, or successful ยอดเยี่ยม
expectations – the belief that something will happen สิ่งที่คาดหวังว่าจะเกิดขึ้นในอนาคต
temper – to make something less strong or extreme, especially by adding something that has the opposite effect ทำให้บรรเทาหรือน้อยลง
friendly – a game that is not part of a competition but is played for fun or to practise skills
World Cup begins today
The World Cup is ready to begin. You can get a head start with the vocabulary you are likely to see during the tournament with my World Cup English.head start – an advantage over other
people in the same
situation as you, especially in a competition; a situation in which you
start a
race before your opponent or from a position that is further ahead
การเริ่มต้นก่อนทำให้ได้เปรียบคนอื่น
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audio file, right click here
Africa ready for first World Cup
ANDREW CAWTHORNEA replica of the Jabulani match ball is seen on the pitch
at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. The opening match between
South Africa and Mexico will take place today. REUTERSJOHANNESBURG: ‘‘Vuvuzela’’ trumpets blasted and football chants rang out across South Africa on the eve of the continent’s first World Cup which Africans hope will transform negative global perceptions of them.
In hotels and training grounds across the vast and beautiful nation, players and coaches of the 32 competing nations had their eyes set on an equally lofty goal — lifting the globe’s most coveted sporting prize on July 11.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma unrealistically urged the local ‘‘Bafana Bafana’’ (The Boys) team to bring him the trophy. But the more likely benefit for the hosts is a legacy of tourism, investment and greater social unity.
South Africa go into today’s opener against Mexico brimming with confidence after a 12-match unbeaten run.
The majority of 90,000 people in Soccer City will be backing Bafana Bafana with a cacophony of vuvuzelas that have already become a symbol of South Africa 2010.
‘‘This is big history, I can’t believe it,’’ local fan Alice Satege said, shaking with tears as she cheered a team parade.
South African Presdient Jacob Zuma, centre right, visits
the South African national team at their training camp at Wits
University in Johannesburg on Wednesday.Mexican fans laughing and singing under a statue of Nelson Mandela in sunny Johannesburg on Thursday said they had no qualms about spoiling the local party. Other pockets of fans chanted in multiple languages in Nelson Mandela Square.
Uruguay face France in the second match of the 64-game tournament’s opening day. Among foreigners pouring in, none can have taken a more epic journey than a Uruguayan family who have driven 100,000km across 41 nations in a tiny car since early 2007 before reaching the World Cup by ship.
For lowly-ranked South Africa, just reaching the second round — and not becoming the first host nation of a World Cup to go out at the start — would probably be triumph enough.
Other African nations like Ivory Coast and Ghana have much stronger sides, though the loss of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien respectively are a blow to their chances.
Few expect an end to Europe and South America’s stranglehold on the World Cup, with Spain and Brazil everyone’s favourites.
Argentina have arguably one of the most gifted sides, though their chances could depend on the chemistry between maverick manager Diego Maradona and brilliant forward Lionel Messi.
Usual wild expectations associated with England’s team of Premier League players are tempered this time round after some unconvincing friendlies and injuries to key players.
replica – an accurate copy of something งานศิลปะที่จำลองจากของจริง, ของจำลอง
vuvuzela – a long plastic instrument blown by football fans
trumpet – a musical instrument that is a curved metal tube with a wide end. You play it by blowing into it as you press buttons on the top. Someone who plays the trumpet is called a trumpeter or a trumpet player แตร
chant – shouting or singing a word or phrase many times โห่ร้อง
eve – the day before วันก่อน
continent – one of the seven large land masses on the Earth's surface, surrounded, or mainly surrounded, by sea and usually consisting of various countries ทวีป
transform – to change from one form into another เปลี่ยนไปสู่อีกสิ่งหนึ่ง
negative – bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
global – throughout the world ทั่วโลก
perception – a particular way of understanding or thinking about something ความเข้าใจ
vast – extremely large in area, size, amount, etc. กว้างใหญ่, มหาศาล
lofty – very high; based on high standards สูงส่ง
covet – to very much want something that someone else has อยากได้ของผู้อื่น
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
trophy – a large silver cup or similar object given as a prize to the winner of a competition ถ้วยรางวัล
host – a country, city, group, person, etc. which provides the space and other things necessary for a special event เจ้าภาพ
legacy – something that someone has achieved that continues to exists after they stop working or die สิ่งที่สืบทอด
brimming with confidence – full of confidence, a belief in your ability to do something เต็มไปด้วยความเชื่อมั่นในตัวเอง
majority – more than 50 percent of a group เสียงส่วนใหญ่
cacophony – an unpleasant mixture of loud sounds เสียงดังที่ผสมปนเปกัน
symbol – someone or something that represents a particular idea or quality สัญลักษณ์
qualms – thoughts that what you are doing might be bad or wrong ความรู้สึกไม่สบายใจ
pocket – a small area which has a particular quality that makes it different from the areas around it
epic – an event or activity that lasts a long time and is difficult or complicated งานที่ยิ่งใหญ่
triumph – a great victory or success ชัยชนะครั้งใหญ่
respectively – in the order in which they were mentioned ตามลำดับstranglehold
gifted – with an impressive natural ability ซึ่งมีพรสวรรค์, ซึ่งมีความสามารถพิเศษ
chemistry – an emotional relationship between people วิถีทางที่ทำให้เกิดความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างบุคคล
maverick – of an independent person who has ideas and behaviour that are very different from other people’s แนวความคิดหรือการกระทำที่สวนทางกับแนวความคิด หรือการกระทำของคนหมู่มาก
brilliant – very skilful, impressive, or successful ยอดเยี่ยม
expectations – the belief that something will happen สิ่งที่คาดหวังว่าจะเกิดขึ้นในอนาคต
temper – to make something less strong or extreme, especially by adding something that has the opposite effect ทำให้บรรเทาหรือน้อยลง
friendly – a game that is not part of a competition but is played for fun or to practise skills