2006年VOA标准英语-Portugal Beats Netherlands, Reaches World Cup Q

By Parke Brewer¹
Nuremberg
26 June 2006

Portugal has edged the Netherlands, 1-0, to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in Germany. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer reports from Nuremberg that it was a rough, physical game in which numerous yellow cards were issued.

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Russian referee² Valentin Ivanov shows the red card to Portugal's Costinha, (6) during the match with the Netherlands   
  
There were 16 bookings in the match here, tying a World Cup record. The first yellow card was issued by the Russian referee, Valentin Ivanov, in the second minute and it seemed nearly every time there was a hard foul³ a yellow card was shown.

By the end, two players from each side had accumulated two yellow cards and were ejected. That had never before happened at the World Cup finals. There were times when the players nearly came to blows.

Portugal got the only goal of the game from Maniche in the 23rd minute on a right footer from the top of the box that went inside the right post. He was named Man of the Match.

Maniche was clearly unhappy with the way the game was called.

"I think the referee did not have a good game," said Maniche. "He did not dignify⁴ football. We tried to play football. Obviously there were a lot of nerves. Everybody wants to win. Sometimes we have a few situations. But I just talk for Portugal. We didn't want to have any problems. We had an intense game."

Dutch and Portuguese⁵ fans outside the stadium  
  
Dutch coach Marco Van Basten, also was not pleased with the officiating.

"I think that its a pity that in the second half, very little football was played," said Marco Van Basten. "We saw very little football. Its a pity. I think its also a pity that the referee, in such an important game, should take decisions in this way. We haven't been [were not able] to see enough football in the second half."

Eleven of the yellow cards and three of the four ejections came in the second half. Van Basten credited the veteran Portuguese for knowing how to protect its one-goal lead even when it was playing a man short during the match.

More Dutch and Portgugese fans   
  
"Portugal is an experienced opponent, which tonight I think was the difference between our team and the team of Portugal," he said. "They were just a little bit more experienced with all these tricks and wasting time, etc. That was a pity."

Portugal's coach, Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, said his team did well considering the rough play.

"We played nice football, good football, and we also adapted to the circumstances at certain times of the game," said Luiz Felipe Scolari. "So I believe the victory was normal. It wasn't calm, but it was normal."

Normal because the Portuguese have not lost in 18 straight international matches. They will take on England in the World Cup quarterfinals

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。

3 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

4 dignify   

vt.使有尊严；使崇高；给增光

参考例句：

• It does not dignify the human condition. It does not elevate the human spirit.它不能使人活得更有尊严，不能提升人的精神生活。
• I wouldn't dignify this trash by calling it a novel.这部劣等作品我是不会美称为小说的。

5 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。