June 15
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Click button to listen to Brazil-North Korea and rightclick to download
Brazil’s soccer head coach Dunga, right, gives instructions
to Kaka and Luis Fabiano during practice at Randburg High School. AFP
JOHANNESBURG AFP The extraordinary crush of media and fans’ expectations has exerted even more pressure on Brazil to get off to a flying start against North Korea in their World Cup opener today.
Such is the unrealistic demands heaped on the five-time world champions not only to win but in style that coach Dunga and his players are under excruciating scrutiny to produce the goods against the Asian minnows at Ellis Park Stadium.
Brazil go into their Group G match expected to come away with three points against the reclusive North Koreans in their first-ever encounter.
Brazil are ranked number one and North Korea, playing their first World Cup since their sensational debut in 1966, come in at 105, so the gulf between the rivals is monumental.
Dunga has not enamoured himself to the massed ranks of his country’s football media by banning reporters from training for the third time in a week ahead of their World Cup opener.
More than 400 media personnel are in South Africa to report on the squad’s every move, further heightening fractious relations ever since Dunga took charge of the team in 2006.
Dunga’s emphasis on work-rate and defensive duties has left the supporters of the ‘‘jogo bonito’’ (beautiful game) fuming, but the World Cup-winning skipper is intent on forging the Brazil approach in his own image.
Dunga can point to just four defeats in his 55 games in charge as proof that his methods are bringing results.
But even though he has been successful in lifting the Copa America and Confederations Cup, the media see the 1994 World Cup-winning skipper as a cautious individual whose team lacks flair.
Dunga remains defiant in the teeth of the hostility. ‘‘If we have to get down and dirty to win then we will — the important thing is to win,’’ he said.
It is imperative that Brazil come away with nothing less than a win over North Korea as they have tough examinations to come in their ‘Group of Death’ against Portugal and Ivory Coast.
North Korea provide one of the intriguing stories of this World Cup.
It is their first World Cup tournament in 44 years when back in England they shocked the world with a 1-0 win over then two-time world champions Italy before going out after an epic 5-3 loss to Portugal in the quarter-finals.
The North Koreans go in with nothing to lose against the red-hot favourites, although there is a steely belief within the squad that they can prove an irritant to Brazil.
Their best-known player Jong Tae-Se hopes his team can change the image of the isolated nation and believes they could topple mighty Brazil.
Striker Jong, who plays in Japan’s J-League, said: ‘‘We want to change the North Korean image. Our core mentality is like Germany, Germany’s spirit.
‘‘We’re brave. We can win against Brazil. (What) everybody thinks about that game is we can’t win but we have a brave heart and brave spirits.’’ AFP
pressure – a worried feeling that you get when you have to deal with a difficult or complicated situation ความกดดัน
vanquish – to defeat someone or something completely
extraordinary – very unusual and surprising เกินธรรมดา, ผิดธรรมดา
exert – to put force or physical pressure on something
heap – to give someone a lot of something, e.g., praise, blame, pressure
excruciating – causing extreme pain or difficulty
scrutiny – careful and thorough examination การตรวจสอบอย่างละเอียด
produce the goods – to get a good result
minnow – a small fish that lives in rivers and lakes, often used to describe a weak or unimportant team or organisation
reclusive – living alone and avoiding other people or countries
encounter – a meeting between opponents in a sports competition การแข่งขัน
sensational – extremely exciting or shocking ตื่นเต้น
debuting - performing or being introduced to the public for the first time การเปิดตัว
gulf – a large and important difference between people or groups การอยู่ห่างจากกันมาก
rival – a person, group, team or business that competes with another คู่แข่ง
monumental – very large in a bad or good way
enamoured – impressed with or enthusiastic about something
massed – gathered together in large numbers
ranks – all the people within a group, organization etc
media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ
ban – to say that someone is not allowed to do something ห้าม
fractious – causing problems and difficult to control มีปัญหา ไม่ราบรื่น
fuming – very angry
skipper – the captain or manager of a team
intent on – planning to do something มุ่งมั่น, เจตนา
forge – to work hard to achieve something
in his own image – in his own way or style
cautious – careful to avoid danger ระมัดระวังไม่ให้เกิดขึ้น
flair – an attractive, skilful, or interesting way of doing something
defiant – refusing to obey a person or rule
hostility – opposition to something; unfriendly or threatening behaviour or feelings towards someone
imperative – extremely important, necessary and urgent
intriguing – very interesting, especially because of being strange or mysterious
epic – an event or activity that lasts a long time and is difficult or complicated งานที่ยิ่งใหญ่
favourite – a person or team who is expected to win a competition, such as a football match
steely – showing a calm and firm attitude
irritant – something that annoys you
image – an opinion that people have about someone or something ภาพลักษณ์
isolated – set apart from; disconnected from; alone with no one to support you โดดเดี่ยว แยกออกมา ตั้งอยู่เดี่ยวๆ
topple – to cause to fall คว่ำลงมา
mighty – powerful มีกำลัง, เข้มแข็ง
core – the most important or most basic part of something ที่สำคัญที่สุด
mentality – a particular attitude or way of thinking จิตใจ,ความคิด,เชาวน์,ปัญญา
Looking forward
We have been focusing on news reports of matches that have already been played. Everyday, however, the Bangkok Post also has reports of the matches to be played that evening. Here is a report on one match just about everyone is looking forward to.look
forward to –
to feel happy and excited about something that
is going to happen รอคอย
Click button to listen to Brazil-North Korea and rightclick to download
Pressure on Brazil to vanquish N Korea
Brazil’s soccer head coach Dunga, right, gives instructions
to Kaka and Luis Fabiano during practice at Randburg High School. AFPJOHANNESBURG AFP The extraordinary crush of media and fans’ expectations has exerted even more pressure on Brazil to get off to a flying start against North Korea in their World Cup opener today.
Such is the unrealistic demands heaped on the five-time world champions not only to win but in style that coach Dunga and his players are under excruciating scrutiny to produce the goods against the Asian minnows at Ellis Park Stadium.
Brazil go into their Group G match expected to come away with three points against the reclusive North Koreans in their first-ever encounter.
Brazil are ranked number one and North Korea, playing their first World Cup since their sensational debut in 1966, come in at 105, so the gulf between the rivals is monumental.
Dunga has not enamoured himself to the massed ranks of his country’s football media by banning reporters from training for the third time in a week ahead of their World Cup opener.
More than 400 media personnel are in South Africa to report on the squad’s every move, further heightening fractious relations ever since Dunga took charge of the team in 2006.
Dunga’s emphasis on work-rate and defensive duties has left the supporters of the ‘‘jogo bonito’’ (beautiful game) fuming, but the World Cup-winning skipper is intent on forging the Brazil approach in his own image.
Dunga can point to just four defeats in his 55 games in charge as proof that his methods are bringing results.
But even though he has been successful in lifting the Copa America and Confederations Cup, the media see the 1994 World Cup-winning skipper as a cautious individual whose team lacks flair.
Dunga remains defiant in the teeth of the hostility. ‘‘If we have to get down and dirty to win then we will — the important thing is to win,’’ he said.
It is imperative that Brazil come away with nothing less than a win over North Korea as they have tough examinations to come in their ‘Group of Death’ against Portugal and Ivory Coast.
North Korea provide one of the intriguing stories of this World Cup.
It is their first World Cup tournament in 44 years when back in England they shocked the world with a 1-0 win over then two-time world champions Italy before going out after an epic 5-3 loss to Portugal in the quarter-finals.
The North Koreans go in with nothing to lose against the red-hot favourites, although there is a steely belief within the squad that they can prove an irritant to Brazil.
Their best-known player Jong Tae-Se hopes his team can change the image of the isolated nation and believes they could topple mighty Brazil.
Striker Jong, who plays in Japan’s J-League, said: ‘‘We want to change the North Korean image. Our core mentality is like Germany, Germany’s spirit.
‘‘We’re brave. We can win against Brazil. (What) everybody thinks about that game is we can’t win but we have a brave heart and brave spirits.’’ AFP
pressure – a worried feeling that you get when you have to deal with a difficult or complicated situation ความกดดัน
vanquish – to defeat someone or something completely
extraordinary – very unusual and surprising เกินธรรมดา, ผิดธรรมดา
exert – to put force or physical pressure on something
heap – to give someone a lot of something, e.g., praise, blame, pressure
excruciating – causing extreme pain or difficulty
scrutiny – careful and thorough examination การตรวจสอบอย่างละเอียด
produce the goods – to get a good result
minnow – a small fish that lives in rivers and lakes, often used to describe a weak or unimportant team or organisation
reclusive – living alone and avoiding other people or countries
encounter – a meeting between opponents in a sports competition การแข่งขัน
sensational – extremely exciting or shocking ตื่นเต้น
debuting - performing or being introduced to the public for the first time การเปิดตัว
gulf – a large and important difference between people or groups การอยู่ห่างจากกันมาก
rival – a person, group, team or business that competes with another คู่แข่ง
monumental – very large in a bad or good way
enamoured – impressed with or enthusiastic about something
massed – gathered together in large numbers
ranks – all the people within a group, organization etc
media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ
ban – to say that someone is not allowed to do something ห้าม
fractious – causing problems and difficult to control มีปัญหา ไม่ราบรื่น
fuming – very angry
skipper – the captain or manager of a team
intent on – planning to do something มุ่งมั่น, เจตนา
forge – to work hard to achieve something
in his own image – in his own way or style
cautious – careful to avoid danger ระมัดระวังไม่ให้เกิดขึ้น
flair – an attractive, skilful, or interesting way of doing something
defiant – refusing to obey a person or rule
hostility – opposition to something; unfriendly or threatening behaviour or feelings towards someone
imperative – extremely important, necessary and urgent
intriguing – very interesting, especially because of being strange or mysterious
epic – an event or activity that lasts a long time and is difficult or complicated งานที่ยิ่งใหญ่
favourite – a person or team who is expected to win a competition, such as a football match
steely – showing a calm and firm attitude
irritant – something that annoys you
image – an opinion that people have about someone or something ภาพลักษณ์
isolated – set apart from; disconnected from; alone with no one to support you โดดเดี่ยว แยกออกมา ตั้งอยู่เดี่ยวๆ
topple – to cause to fall คว่ำลงมา
mighty – powerful มีกำลัง, เข้มแข็ง
core – the most important or most basic part of something ที่สำคัญที่สุด
mentality – a particular attitude or way of thinking จิตใจ,ความคิด,เชาวน์,ปัญญา