疯狂英语阅读：SpecialReportoftheWorldCup

文章作者 100test 发表时间 2007:07:02 11:26:05
来源 100Test.Com百考试题网

1

England and Sweden are through to the final 16 of the World Cup. But it was disappointment for Argentina as they followed in the footsteps of defending champions, France, and crashed out of the tournament.

In a dramatic encounter Argentina dominated the opening half but missed a 1)stack of chances. Anders Svensson gave Sweden the lead with a free kick on the 59th minute driving the ball passed goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero. Hernan Crespo 2)equalized in the 18th minute on a 3)rebound after goalkeeper Magnus Hedman blocked Ariel Ortega’s penalty kick. But the draw was not good enough for the Argentines. They needed to win to advance to the next round.

It was an unconvincing England who 4)scrapped through “The group of death”. Nigeria, with nothing to play for other than pride, more than matched an English team who struggled to reproduce the form shown in last week’s one-nil victory over Argentina.

A disappointing afternoon for the English was summed up late in the game when 5)substitute Teddy Sheringham scooped a shot over the bar from close range. The match ended in a goalless draw.

2

We turn to China’s disappointing exit from the World Cup. They were knocked out of the tournament without scoring a single goal going down three-nil to Turkey.

It was a 6)crushing blow to China’s World Cup dreams. They started the match minus their two most experienced players, Fan Zhiyi of Scotland’s Dundee and Manchester city’s Sun Jihai. Both were injured in China’s opener against Costa Rica. Poor Chinese defending after six minutes saw the Turks go one-nil up. Hasan Sas seized on a mistake by Li Weifeng to 7)blast high into the net.

Soon afterwards China’s captain and goalkeeper Jiang Jin was picking the ball out of the back of the net again. Bulent’s back post header from across by Hasan Sas. The early 8)blitz could have knocked the fight out of China, but they responded to the setback well moving confidently forward. They almost pulled one back near the half-hour mark when Yang Chen saw a thunderous volley come smashing back off an upright.

Turkey dominated proceedings after half time but made heavy weather of breaking down the World Cup’s 9)debutante’s defense. Chinese attempts to 10)staunch the Turkish 11)onslaught remained more difficult on 58 minutes when second half substitute Shao Jiayi was sent off for a clumsy tackle on Emre Belozoglu. The third Turkish goal came six minutes from time with Umit Davala drilling home a low right-foot 12)volley.

The three-nil win puts Turkey to the next round but sends China back home. But in spite of their team’s loss many Chinese fans seemed content to soak up the atmosphere in South Korea.

3

In World Cup action Senegal has qualified for the quarter finals by defeating Sweden 2-1 on a golden goal.

In 13)sweltering conditions at Oita’s Big Eye Stadium, it was Sweden who dominated early play. Henrik Larsson netted his third goal of the tournament, giving Sweden the early lead in the 11th minute after he headed in a corner kick passed Senegal goalkeeper Tony Sylva. Senegal thought they had equalized on 25 minutes with a close range shot from Papa Bouba Diop. The effort was disallowed in a tight offside decision.

Eight minutes from half-time Senegal leveled with a marvelous goal from Traore Amara drilling a low shot passed Magnus Hedman. Both sides created plenty of chances in the final 45 minutes of regulation but neither side had the finishing touch. The attacks continued in extra time as Anders Svensson rocketed a shot off the outside post. But it was Senegal who finally found the net. Henri Camara scored the golden goal in the 104th minute, giving Senegal a 2-1 victory over Sweden. Senegal will now face either Japan or Turkey in a quarterfinal clash on Saturday.

4

The second semifinals in underway in Japan at the Soccer World Cup Finals. Brazil are up against Turkey and the score is nil-nil after about 20 minutes. The winner will face Germany in Sunday’s final after the Germans ended South Korea’s dream run.

Millions of people had flooded the streets of Seoul to watch the first semi-final between Germany and South Korea on huge television screens. South Korean expectations, which had swelled over the past three and a half weeks of tournament action, were abruptly shattered. Michael Ballack’s 75th minute goal against the Koreans brought down the curtain on a party which began six years ago, when South Korea won the right to co-host the World Cup with Japan.

This morning’s World Cup hangover was made easier to bear while the knowledge that South Korea had put Asian soccer firmly on the world stage by becoming the region’s first semi-finalists.

Praise poured in from around the world. One exception was bitter second round losers Italy, but even then South Korea had the last word. Ahn Jung Hwan, who was fired by his club Perugia after scoring the winning goal against Italy, rejected requests to return to the Italian side preferring to seek greener 14)pastures in Britain, Germany or Spain.

5

Well, as we know, two of the things the Brazilians do best are playing football and party and celebrations are still going on after their fifth World Cup triumph.

Brazilians turned out en masse, many choosing coco cabana beaches a venue to watch the game on a huge television screen. Some prayed that the ghost of France ’98 would finally be laid to rest when they face Germany in the final in Yokohama. Ronaldo whose worst nightmare was realized in Paris four years ago again showed signs of nerves in front of goal.

The woodwork also played a role, firstly denying Kleberson and then coming to the rescue of Brazilian keeper Marcos, who pushed Oliver Neuville’s 15)thunderous free kick onto the upright. Ronaldo regained his finishing touch in the 67th minute when Oliver Kahn failed to hold onto Rivaldo’s shot and the tolerance top scorer added to his 16)tally. Ronaldo was unstoppable again 12 minutes later leaving Kahn stranded and sealing a two-nil victory for Brazil.

Brazil’s fifth world title marked a four-year turnaround for the nation’s soccer fortunes highlighted by Ronaldo’s remarkable return to form. Across Brazil, fans marked the occasion with music and dancing.