2006年VOA标准英语- Italians Celebrate Win Over Ghana

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
13 June 2006

 
Italian fans watch Italy vs Ghana, Group E, World Cup 2006, soccer match, on a giant screen set up in downtown Duomo square in Milan
  
Italians celebrated¹ their victory over Ghana in the first soccer game in the World Cup Championship under way in Germany. Millions of fans shaken by the massive match-fixing scandal at home were relieved when their national team won 2-0 in Hannover.

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In squares across Italy, joyful² fans celebrated the national soccer team's victory over Ghana. Thousands of Italians watched the game on giant screens set up in cities all over the country. When Italy scored, fans went wild with happiness.

Two goals by Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Laquinta resulted in Italy beating Ghana Monday night in Hannover, Germany. It was Italy's first match in the World Cup Championship and it could not have gone much better.

Ecstatic fans said this is the Italy they like to see on the field. Ghana missed a number of chances, but showed itself worthy³ of playing among soccer's elite⁴.

The win came at an important moment for Italy, which has been rocked by a massive match-fixing scandal at home. It showed the team managed to keep its focus and morale⁵ high despite the scandal.

This Italian fan says it was an important victory after all the recent criticism. As always, he added, the national team unites amid all the criticism that divides Italy. At last it was the players on the field who had to do their part and at last they showed they could win.

Newspapers Tuesday also celebrated the win saying the victory had allowed Italians to forgot the widespread corruption⁶ scandal which has engulfed⁷ the national league. Prosecutors⁸ in four cities are investigating scores of people, including team officials, referees⁹ and player agents

After the games, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who has had to defend himself of allegations of illegal betting, said the team got what it wanted. Now, he added, let's please talk about soccer.

Italy is tied with the Czech Republic atop the Group E standings. The Czechs opened with a 3-0 win over the United States. Italy face the Americans next on Saturday

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

3 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

4 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

5 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

9 referees   

n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人

参考例句：

• The fiery player has had numerous run-ins with referees. 这位脾气暴躁的队员曾和裁判员发生过无数次争吵。
• If you want to appeal, the Court of Referees will decide. 如果你要上诉，可以由仲裁法庭去判决。 来自辞典例句