美国国家公共电台 NPR--Mexicans are disappointed that their team didn't do well at the World Cup

Mexicans are disappointed that their team didn't do well at the World Cup

Transcript¹

Mexico is one of the great soccer countries in the world. The country's team exited the World Cup early — something they haven't done since 1978.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Mexico is one of the great soccer countries in the world, which explains why Mexicans are so sad about their national soccer team. It was eliminated in the worst performance at a World Cup since 1978. NPR's Eyder Peralta reports.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking Spanish).

EYDER PERALTA, BYLINE²: Even before the World Cup started, Mexicans were already girding for heartbreak. Jorge Pineda, 29, was selling team jerseys³ near the Zocalo. But when I ask him how he thinks his team will do, his face contorts.

JORGE PINEDA: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: "Frankly," he says, "bad."

PINEDA: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: He says the team isn't even good enough to get past the group stage, the first round of the World Cup. Mexicans have reason to despair. This football-crazed nation has never won the World Cup, and the last time the team made it to quarterfinals was back in 1986. Pineda says sometimes he lets himself dream that his Tricolor could win it all.

PINEDA: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: "But," he says, stopping himself, "the higher we fly, the harder the fall."

Across the street, Aztec healers perform ritual cleansings.

(SOUNDBITE OF WATER TRICKLING)

PERALTA: With conchs and herbs and fire, they promise to cleanse⁴ your problems. Maybe, I suggest, the national team should have stopped here first. Pineda laughs. He's not sure anything would work on them.

(SOUNDBITE OF CONCH HORN)

PERALTA: But miracles do happen here in Mexico. The virgin⁵ Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego and left her image on his mantle⁶. It's why so many Mexicans became Catholic. The Cruz Azul, the Bad News Bears of Mexican soccer, made it to the finals six times. And each time, they choked. But last year, they finally won a championship. But as the World Cup kicked off, the Mexican squad⁷ looked mediocre⁸. They tied to Poland in a scoreless match. They lost 2-nil to Argentina. And that left them with an almost impossible task to stay in the tournament. They not only had to beat Saudi Arabia, they had to do it with multiple goals.

UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Chanting in Spanish).

PERALTA: After the first half, it actually seemed possible. The Tri came alive. They attacked aggressively. And the crowd, watching on a big screen in downtown Mexico City, started to believe.

LUPITA MERCADO: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: Lupita Mercado says, as a Mexican, hope is what dies last.

MERCADO: (Speaking Spanish).

PERALTA: Her grandma used to tell her, the cornered cat will always make a great escape. And for the second half, Mexico defied all odds⁹ - a goal at 46 minutes.

(SOUNDBITE OF CROWD CHEERING)

PERALTA: A goal at 51 minutes. In the end, a staggering performance - 24 shots on goal. They beat the Saudis 2-to-1. But it wasn't enough. The team missed the next round on a goal difference. Over and over, I heard, this is football in Mexico. You let yourself believe, and it always ends in heartbreak.

Eyder Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City.

(SOUNDBITE OF REUBEN VAUN SMITH'S "UNDER THE THUNDER")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 jerseys   

n.运动衫( jersey的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The maximum quantity of cotton jerseys this year is about DM25,000. 平方米的羊毛地毯超过了以往的订货。 来自口语例句
• The NBA is mulling the prospect of stitching advertising logos onto jerseys. 大意：NBA官方正在酝酿一个大煞风景的计划——把广告标志绣上球服！ 来自互联网

4 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

5 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

6 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

7 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

8 mediocre   

adj.平常的，普通的

参考例句：

• The student tried hard,but his work is mediocre. 该生学习刻苦，但学业平庸。
• Only lazybones and mediocre persons could hanker after the days of messing together.只有懒汉庸才才会留恋那大锅饭的年代。

9 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？