英语听力精选进阶版 6344（在线收听）

The pundits are running out of superlatives to describe the Spanish football team after they lifted the Euro 2012 trophy on Sunday.

They are the first football team in history to retain their crown in the European Championships having also won the competition in 2008. With their World Cup victory in South Africa in 2010 this makes Spain the only international team ever to win three major tournaments back-to-back.

The margin of victory was also record-breaking. The Spaniards routed their opponents Italy four-nil, which was the most one-sided result in the tournament's history. It was a masterclass in the passing style of football for which they have become known. Some experts are describing their scintillating performance as one of the greatest in history, comparing the team to such legendary sides of the past as Brazil in 1970 and France from 1998-2002.

So what makes this Spanish team so special? There is the individual brilliance of players such as man-of-the-match Andres Iniesta. But it's their artistry as a unit which has been most impressive. One statistic alone indicates why Spain have such a stranglehold on the world game: this team has not conceded a single goal in a knock-out game since 2006. That's over 17 hours of football. The fact of the matter is that their opponents simply can't get the ball long enough to play.

They also have the courage to follow their convictions. It might seem ridiculous now but the team were getting criticised for being 'boring' earlier in the competition. But the coach, Vicente del Bosque, stuck to his guns and continued to play in an unorthodox formation which contained no striker. The coach was vindicated by a display of such magnificence that one BBC expert claimed the match will still be talked about in 40 years' time.

Quiz 测验

1. Who won Euro 2008?

(Spain) are the first football team in history to retain their crown in the European Championships...

2. Has any country won three major international football competitions in a row before?

No... this makes Spain the only international team to win three major tournaments back-to-back.

3. What word is used to describe a demonstration given by an expert?

Masterclass. It was a masterclass in the passing style of football.

4. Do Spain use a normal formation?

No... an unorthodox formation which contained no striker.

5. According to a BBC expert, will the game be memorable?

Yes... the match will be talked about in 40 years' time.

Glossary 词汇表

superlatives 最高级的

to retain their crown 保住了皇冠

back-to-back 连续，紧接

the margin of victory 胜利的系数

record-breaking 创纪录的

routed 彻底击败

one-sided 一边倒的

a masterclass 大师级的表现

scintillating 才气横溢的

legendary 传奇的

brilliance 才华，光辉

man-of-the-match 场上最佳球员

artistry 艺术技巧

stranglehold 束缚

knock-out game 淘汰赛

the courage to follow their convictions 有追求他们信念的勇气

stuck to his guns 坚持己见

striker 前锋

vindicated 证明正确的

magnificence 宏伟，精彩