2006年VOA标准英语-Ukraine Reaches World Cup Quarterfinals in Shoo

By Parke Brewer¹
Cologne
26 June 2006

Ukraine, playing in the World Cup football finals for the first time ever, has reached the quarterfinals in Germany. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer was in Cologne for the former Soviet² Republics shootout win Monday night over Switzerland and has a report.

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Ukrainian players celebrate  after their 3-0 penalty kick shoot out win over Switzerland
  
This was not what followers³ would describe as an attractive football match. Even some of the play throughout the game drew boos, jeers⁴ and whistles from the sellout crowd.

As the match dragged on without a goal being scored, it could almost be predicted that it would be decided⁵ in a shootout, and it was. Neither Switzerland nor Ukraine scored in regulation or extra time, leading to penalty kicks.

Ukraine's star striker Andriy Shevchenko was the first to step up to the penalty spot, but his shot was blocked. The Swiss failed to convert on their first three attempts, with two saves by Ukraine's goalkeeper and one shot hitting the crossbar. The Ukrainians converted their second, third and fourth attempts to win the shootout, 3-0.

Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn explained his teams failures.

"The nerves," said Koebi Kuhn. "A bad case of nerves. This morning everybody took aim at different corners of the goal, and our goalkeepers didn't stand a chance. They were good at practice, but the nerves were shot."

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said he got so nervous he went to the dressing⁶ room and did not watch the penalty kick shootout.

"I think both teams would have deserved to go on to the quarterfinals, but a penalty shootout is like Russian roulette really," said Oleg Blokhin. "I didn't actually see the penalties myself, because for 120 minutes I had to watch the game and it was simply too much for me to take."

The 3-0 shootout win over Switzerland has earned Coach Blokhin and Ukraine a quarterfinal berth⁷ against Italy.

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 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

4 jeers   

n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They shouted jeers at him. 他们大声地嘲讽他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The jeers from the crowd caused the speaker to leave the platform. 群众的哄笑使讲演者离开讲台。 来自辞典例句

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

7 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。