June 24, 2010
The US team was in a similarly precarious position and it didn't make things easy for its fans last night. Read the second story to find out why.
You might want to be begin by watching highlights of the England-Slovenia game and the USA-Algeria game fromt he fifa.com website.
on the brink – the point in time when something very bad (or very good) is about to happen
tournament – a competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is played, and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is left การแข่งขัน
anxiety – an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future ความวิตกกังวล
precarious – likely to change or become dangerous without warning; not safe or likely to fall ที่ไม่ปลอดภัย, ไม่มั่นคง, ใกล้อันตราย
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Click button to listen to England-Slovenia and rightclick to download
England striker Jermain Defoe, right, scores after 23
minutes during the Group C match against Slovenia at Nelson Mandela Bay
Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday. AP
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AFP) – England's World Cup campaign finally took off Wednesday at the third attempt as Fabio Capello's side qualified for the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Slovenia to secure runners-up spot in Group C.
Jermain Defoe started for England in place of Emile Heskey in one of the biggest gambles of manager Capello's career and the move paid dividends with the Tottenham striker's 23rd minute volleyed goal.
"This was the team which I loved to see in qualifying," said Capello. "We played with freedom, our minds were free."
Defoe was delighted with his contribution.
"The victory was more important than my goal. We came out fired up for the game, we passed the ball well and got the early goal. We're through to the next round and that's the important thing."
An opening 1-1 draw with the United States followed by the lame goalless stalemate with Algeria had left England staring at the possibility of failing to progress from the group stage for the first time since 1958.
But England started brightly and Wayne Rooney raised the temperature when he raced onto a superb through ball and Slovenia's defence had their work cut out to stop Gerrard heading in his cross to the far post.
England's goal came from a superb high ball sent over by James Milner on the right wing for Defoe to volley past Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic.
After accomplishing their do-or-die mission, England now face the winners of Group D, which contains Germany.
campaign – a series of matches in a tournament
secure – to get or achieve something ได้รับ, ทำให้ได้ผล
runners-up –second place in a competition รองอันดับหนึ่ง
gamble – an action or plan that involves risks but will bring important benefits if it is successful การเสี่ยงโชค, การเสี่ยงทาย
pay dividend – to get a good result
volley – kicking (or hitting) the ball before it touches the ground ตีวอล์เลย์
delighted – very happy or satisfied about something ยินดีมาก,สุขใจ
contribution – something that you do that helps to achieve something or to make it successful ผลงาน,การช่วยเหลือ
draw – a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
lame – done poorly ไม่ได้เรื่อง ใช้ไม่ได้
stalemate – a draw, a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
stare – to look at someone or something very directly for a long time จ้องมอง
superb – of the highest quality ยอดเยีี่ยม
have your work cut out – to have a very difficult job to do
accomplish – to achieve something ทำได้สำเร็จ
do-or-die mission – a job that you must succeed in doing or something bad will happen, in this case, being forced out of the World Cup
Click button to listen to USA-Algeria and rightclick to download
Landon Donovan (photo) scored a goal seconds into stoppage
time yesterday to give the United States a dramatic 1-0 victory over
Algeria, and handing the Americans a place in the last 16 of the World
Cup.
The victory gave the Americans top spot in Group C, finishing on five points like England — 1-0 winners over Slovenia also yesterday — but the US edged them on goals scored.
Donovan, who matched a US record with his 11th World Cup appearance, set up the decisive move with a long pass to Jozy Altidore, who raced into the penalty area only for his shot to be blocked by Algerian goalkeeper Rasis Bolhi.
Donovan following up blasted home the rebound for his fourth World Cup goal, equalling another US mark.
The Americans were minutes from crashing out as a draw with the Desert Foxes would not have been enough to move ahead of Slovenia.
At the final whistle, the Americans began jumping for joy, Donovan kicking the ball into the stands.
‘‘I have been on a long journey the last four years. I’m just shocked and so proud of our guys, unbelievable,’’ Donovan told US television after the match. ‘‘We’re alive, baby.’’
Already smarting from a disallowed goal late in a 2-2 draw with Slovenia last week, the Americans were stung by another questionable decision in the 20th minute against Algeria, one that grew more haunting as the match went on.
Herculez Gomez, starting in place of suspended US forward Robbie Findley, recovered his own rebound on a blocked shot and slid the ball across the goal to Clint Dempsey, who put the ball in the back of the net.
But the offside flag was up, although television replays appeared to show Dempsey onside.
In the US-Slovenia match, Mali referee Koman Coulibaly disallowed a header from Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu in the dying seconds that would have given the Americans a victory. AFP, REUTERS
last gasp – done at the last possible moment
stoppage time – extra allowed at the end of a half of football for stoppages during normal time, especially for injuries
dramatic – exciting and impressive ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
edge – to beat someone in an election or a competition by a small amount เฉือนชนะ ชนะอย่างหวุดหวิด
match – to equal something; to be the same number or amount as something else เท่ากันกับ
blast – to kick, throw or hit with great force
rebound – a ball that has hit a surface and then move quickly backwards again การกระเด้งกลับ
smart – to hurt with a sudden sharp pain เจ็บเสียว,เจ็บปวด
disallow – to not allow something, in this case, to not allow a goal to be counted ไม่อนุญาต, ไม่ยอมให้
questionable – involving doubts about whether something has been done properly ที่น่าสงสัย
haunting –causing repeated suffering or anxiety ทำให้กังวล
suspended – not allowed to participate or to do a job for a period of time
offside – in the wrong position according to the rules in a game such as football or hockey ที่อยู่ในตำแหน่งล้ำหน้า
"Home" team goes through
Most Thai football fans are probably far more familiar with players on the English World Cup team than they are with their own national side. Thus, with England on the brink of crashing out of the tournament, there was almost as much anxiety here as there was in faraway England itself. As you can see from the first story below, the situation has improved.The US team was in a similarly precarious position and it didn't make things easy for its fans last night. Read the second story to find out why.
You might want to be begin by watching highlights of the England-Slovenia game and the USA-Algeria game fromt he fifa.com website.
on the brink – the point in time when something very bad (or very good) is about to happen
tournament – a competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is played, and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is left การแข่งขัน
anxiety – an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future ความวิตกกังวล
precarious – likely to change or become dangerous without warning; not safe or likely to fall ที่ไม่ปลอดภัย, ไม่มั่นคง, ใกล้อันตราย
Click button to listen to England-Slovenia and rightclick to download
Defoe fires England into last 16
England striker Jermain Defoe, right, scores after 23
minutes during the Group C match against Slovenia at Nelson Mandela Bay
Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday. APPORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AFP) – England's World Cup campaign finally took off Wednesday at the third attempt as Fabio Capello's side qualified for the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Slovenia to secure runners-up spot in Group C.
Jermain Defoe started for England in place of Emile Heskey in one of the biggest gambles of manager Capello's career and the move paid dividends with the Tottenham striker's 23rd minute volleyed goal.
"This was the team which I loved to see in qualifying," said Capello. "We played with freedom, our minds were free."
Defoe was delighted with his contribution.
"The victory was more important than my goal. We came out fired up for the game, we passed the ball well and got the early goal. We're through to the next round and that's the important thing."
An opening 1-1 draw with the United States followed by the lame goalless stalemate with Algeria had left England staring at the possibility of failing to progress from the group stage for the first time since 1958.
But England started brightly and Wayne Rooney raised the temperature when he raced onto a superb through ball and Slovenia's defence had their work cut out to stop Gerrard heading in his cross to the far post.
England's goal came from a superb high ball sent over by James Milner on the right wing for Defoe to volley past Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic.
After accomplishing their do-or-die mission, England now face the winners of Group D, which contains Germany.
campaign – a series of matches in a tournament
secure – to get or achieve something ได้รับ, ทำให้ได้ผล
runners-up –second place in a competition รองอันดับหนึ่ง
gamble – an action or plan that involves risks but will bring important benefits if it is successful การเสี่ยงโชค, การเสี่ยงทาย
pay dividend – to get a good result
volley – kicking (or hitting) the ball before it touches the ground ตีวอล์เลย์
delighted – very happy or satisfied about something ยินดีมาก,สุขใจ
contribution – something that you do that helps to achieve something or to make it successful ผลงาน,การช่วยเหลือ
draw – a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
lame – done poorly ไม่ได้เรื่อง ใช้ไม่ได้
stalemate – a draw, a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
stare – to look at someone or something very directly for a long time จ้องมอง
superb – of the highest quality ยอดเยีี่ยม
have your work cut out – to have a very difficult job to do
accomplish – to achieve something ทำได้สำเร็จ
do-or-die mission – a job that you must succeed in doing or something bad will happen, in this case, being forced out of the World Cup
Click button to listen to USA-Algeria and rightclick to download
Last-gasp US advance
Landon Donovan (photo) scored a goal seconds into stoppage
time yesterday to give the United States a dramatic 1-0 victory over
Algeria, and handing the Americans a place in the last 16 of the World
Cup. The victory gave the Americans top spot in Group C, finishing on five points like England — 1-0 winners over Slovenia also yesterday — but the US edged them on goals scored.
Donovan, who matched a US record with his 11th World Cup appearance, set up the decisive move with a long pass to Jozy Altidore, who raced into the penalty area only for his shot to be blocked by Algerian goalkeeper Rasis Bolhi.
Donovan following up blasted home the rebound for his fourth World Cup goal, equalling another US mark.
The Americans were minutes from crashing out as a draw with the Desert Foxes would not have been enough to move ahead of Slovenia.
At the final whistle, the Americans began jumping for joy, Donovan kicking the ball into the stands.
‘‘I have been on a long journey the last four years. I’m just shocked and so proud of our guys, unbelievable,’’ Donovan told US television after the match. ‘‘We’re alive, baby.’’
Already smarting from a disallowed goal late in a 2-2 draw with Slovenia last week, the Americans were stung by another questionable decision in the 20th minute against Algeria, one that grew more haunting as the match went on.
Herculez Gomez, starting in place of suspended US forward Robbie Findley, recovered his own rebound on a blocked shot and slid the ball across the goal to Clint Dempsey, who put the ball in the back of the net.
But the offside flag was up, although television replays appeared to show Dempsey onside.
In the US-Slovenia match, Mali referee Koman Coulibaly disallowed a header from Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu in the dying seconds that would have given the Americans a victory. AFP, REUTERS
last gasp – done at the last possible moment
stoppage time – extra allowed at the end of a half of football for stoppages during normal time, especially for injuries
dramatic – exciting and impressive ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
edge – to beat someone in an election or a competition by a small amount เฉือนชนะ ชนะอย่างหวุดหวิด
match – to equal something; to be the same number or amount as something else เท่ากันกับ
blast – to kick, throw or hit with great force
rebound – a ball that has hit a surface and then move quickly backwards again การกระเด้งกลับ
smart – to hurt with a sudden sharp pain เจ็บเสียว,เจ็บปวด
disallow – to not allow something, in this case, to not allow a goal to be counted ไม่อนุญาต, ไม่ยอมให้
questionable – involving doubts about whether something has been done properly ที่น่าสงสัย
haunting –causing repeated suffering or anxiety ทำให้กังวล
suspended – not allowed to participate or to do a job for a period of time
offside – in the wrong position according to the rules in a game such as football or hockey ที่อยู่ในตำแหน่งล้ำหน้า